The German Connection

Whenever Capt. Zexiv hears or reads about people questioning the concept of multiculturalism, different races and religions living in peace, or even the wisdom of mixed marriages, he likes to cite his maternal grandparents as an example.

In the late twenties, Zexiv's grandfather or Opa, was sent to Germany for post graduate studies in Medicine. Opa was a very outgoing and charming man (aside from being a smart dresser), and quicky adapted himself to his new surroundings. He quickly picked up the local language and made new friends.

At a party in Berlin, he and another fellow countryman were engaged in mischievious conversation, in Engish, about one of the other female guests, which was overheard by the woman who would become Zexiv's grandmother, or Oma. Opa noticed Oma looking at them smiling and, asked her if she understood English, to which she replied, "Yes".

To make a long story short, Opa and Oma started dating and shortly afterward were married and had their first child, Zexiv's Aunt Maly, who was born in Germany. Apparently their relationship was not something that was objected to by Oma's family, although Oma's brother would tease her by asking her about that mysterious "dark man" she was going out with. Opa's family though in the Philippines would learn about the marriage much later shortly before the couple returned.

Opa and Oma returned to the Philippines shortly after the birth of their first child, making the long voyage by ship. Sadly, Opa's father never got to meet Opa's new bride, and passed away during the trip home.

The young couple settled intially in Dagupan City, which is about 4 hours' drive from Manila nowadays. Back then though, it was a relatively sleepy and unsophisticated place (even now, most places outside Manila are simply referred to as "the provinces"), with no airconditioning, or washing machines, or any of the more modern conveniences we are used to nowadays or which they would have had more of in the larger cities. Oma must have loved Opa very much and been quite adventurous, travelling thousands of miles to an unfamiliar place where she had no family and where the language, food, and climate were very different. Oma however, was of a very adaptable sort and amazed the locals by being able to get around by herself and do things like bargain in the public market in the local dialect. She bore Opa 9 children and raised them well. Later on she experienced the difficult years under the Japanese occupation and the tragedy of losing 2 young sons to polio.

Many years after, when Ramon Magsaysay became president, Opa was appointed Vice Consul to Hamburg, heading the country's first foreign legation to the country and Oma was finally able to able to return to Germany after many years' absence. They brought along almost the whole family, except for one daughter who was already married. It was a very happy time for the family. Many of the children who were of school age actually learned to speak German more fluently than English, with their first language of course being the native dialect from Pangasinan.

After Germany, Opa was posted to Vancouver, and finally to Guam, before going home to retire in Dagupan City. Througout those years, Oma was with him, watching their children all grow up, get married, and have families of their own. Oma even decided when she was already in her 50s, to study for a college degree in English in Guam while Opa was assigned there.

Opa lived until his early 80s while Oma outlived him by about 20 years, until her mid 90s. She remained very active doing her gardening and going to the market and church almost daily. She also loved doing crossword puzzles, played a mean game of Scrabble, and made really good Christmas cookies. Many of her recipes were passed on to Zexiv's mother.

Zexiv considers himself extremely fortunate to have been able to know his grandparents while they were alive. He is also proud of his German heritage, has been to Berlin once, and has met a number of his German relations (who have been to the Philippines a number of times), whom he thinks quite highly of. Although he has yet to fulfill his plan someday of taking German language lessons, he credits his German heritage for his love of beer, coffee, sauerkraut, German sausages (which Puff learned to prepare for Zexiv), roladen, and pigsknuckle. He hopes to make another trip to Germany in the near future.

There is more to this "German connection" - Zexiv's sisters and Puff all went to a school founded by German Benedictine nuns. Zexiv's brother-in-law spent a year while in high school studying in Germany. Puff has a sister working in Bonn as an environmental lawyer. And Puff's younger brother, who will this month be starting a masters program in the States, just found out he will have a German roommate ...

Yes there is indeed hope for multiculturalism, mixed marriages, understanding, and peace between different races.

P.S. Oma used to tell Zexiv and his siblings about an incident that happened when she was a little girl. Oma's father at that time ran a little inn or tavern and one day an elderly man came to visit. While being served, the customer noticed Oma and said he would tell her fortune. He said that Oma would leave her family and would travel thousands of miles away overseas when she grew up. Oma's father became upset, and said, "drink up your beer, and leave, old man!".