Rimoun's Story
Rimoun is an electrician who has a mailbox, a coffee machine and a small apartment along the motorway in Köflach, Austria. He comes from the city of Homs and is a refugee. He worked in the same profession before he fled Syria, and was able to find a job doing the same work in Köflach, and has been employed since March of 2017.
Rimoun stands in his kitchen. His apartment is located on the motorway in the city of Köflach, Austria.
“It’s super,” he says. Rimoun is a man of few words, but he likes his work, though he says it is quite different from the work he did in Syria, and more challenging because of the differences in housing construction due the cold weather – weather that Rimoun doesn’t particularly enjoy each winter. He’s looking forward to summer, though, when the valley will once again be lush and green and he’ll be taking his first business trip to Spain, which will be his first time in the country.
Rimoun came to Austria from the city of Homs, Syria, where he has two brothers (one is his twin) and a sister in late 2015 to avoid being drafted into the Syrian army. It was a sudden and drastic change for him.
“I was at work and the police came. They said that in two days I have to go to the army. When the shop closed, I ran. But where? This question: in two days where do I go?”
His only choice was to travel with a family friend, but they were separated in Turkey before he made his way westward to Austria. He didn’t know anything about Austria, and had no idea what to expect, but he’d heard of Vienna, and already had a few friends there.
“I just came, I didn’t have an idea of where I was going. That’s how you think when you’re fleeing. You don’t think about the city, the country, how it looks.”
Rimoun attends a visit to the Parliament in Vienna. He took part in many of the KAICIID-sponsored cultural orientation visits to Vienna.
When he arrived, he couldn’t speak any German, but he was happy to be safe in Austria. Vienna, the first city that he visited made a deep impression on him. He immediately took part in German language courses that were offered to him, and with the support from new friends in Köflach, he made quick work of overcoming the language barrier. As soon as he was granted asylum, he found work and began to build a life in Austria.
Rimoun’s work jacket hangs in the entranceway of his apartment. He has made his home in Köflach, through most of his friends have since moved to Vienna. His quiet apartment lies on the next to the motorway. During the cold months, he spends most of his time at home, but he enjoys the warm weather in the summer time.
Rimoun has made his home in Köflach, through most of his friends have since moved to Vienna. He has a few friends in the city, but travels when he can to reconnect with his friends. He particularly fond of Vienna, as it was the first city that he came to in Austria, and it made a profound impression on him.
Despite his sudden decision to come to Austria, he is happy in his new home. “Austria is great, it’s beautiful here.”