In this piece, queer.lu’s travel columnist Alexander Raßbach introduces himself. With each edition, we dispatch Alex to diverse events around the country, so you can follow his adventures and explore the hotspots for LGBTIQ+ people in Luxembourg.
Coming from Germany, most people are very surprised when I tell them that I left the bustling city of Cologne in order to study in Luxembourg. “Why would you go somewhere that is so tiny and niche?”, they asked. The honest truth is it just so happens that this niche perfectly fits my life, my hopes, and my dreams!
But before delving into the philosophical, let me introduce myself: My name is Alex, I am 20 years old, and I just moved to Luxembourg a couple of months ago to study French Linguistics and Literature, all while trying to nurture my passion for writing.
Before moving here, I did not have a lot of experience with this country. I had visited it
a couple of times when I was little, I knew about the enigmatic Luxembourgish language, and I was at the same time very relieved to know that you could get by just using French (whether it endears you to others is a different story…). One thing I did not know about Luxembourg which I now call home is its remarkable accessibility for disabled people, particularly wheelchair users, like me. Yes, I have been disabled since birth and the wheelchair is my steadfast companion!
You have to understand that, despite living in one of the biggest cities in Germany, I was and still am not used to having full accessibility. Elevators do not work, ramps are nowhere to be found, public transport is not well-thought-out, sidewalks do not have lowered edges… The list of grievances is endless but, once I settled here, everything seems to have improved. Not only was I suddenly studying at one of the most modern universities with the best library I have ever seen, but I also got a kind of freedom that I had never experienced before: Working elevators, free AND accessible public transport WITH ramps, lowered sidewalks everywhere – An alternate universe where I now spend my daily life and I have never been happier.
Moving from a big city to Luxembourg is a significant change. Not everything is as easily available, the culture is different, and the quiet weekends here still strike me as novel.
Nonetheless, I firmly believe that all these adjustments have been fully worth the move. For me, Luxembourg represents the country where all is possible. Numerous have been the times when I was left utterly surprised by the naturalness with which everything is done for me here. Everyone is helpful and actually wants me to be fully integrated into society and life.
From my experience, this has a lot to do with a huge difference in mindsets, be it social or political.
Consider my case: In Germany, pursuing further studies is not a necessity as the government steps in if needed, especially if you are disabled. While this sounds great at first glance, it unfortunately also means that they do not really see the need to support and help you if you do wish to follow a different path. Simply put: You want to study? Well, that’s a “YOU” problem. Keep in mind that I am not talking about financial support, but rather a human and moral one.
German universities are not used to having a lot of students in wheelchairs, and it shows.
They do not have this outlook that everything must be done in order to guarantee the same or most similar experience as to able-bodied students. Luxembourg operates differently. Reasonable adjustments for exams are granted easily and sidewalks are lowered by the city, because, obviously, the way to and from university has to be assured. Something Germany would and could never do.
I know that politically speaking, you cannot compare Luxembourg to Germany. The country is a lot smaller and different, but still. Why is Germany, the alleged economic powerhouse of the European Union, unable to integrate disabled people adequately? Especially considering that both are founding members of the E.U.?
I am sure that there are several experts who could give me long explanations to this question, but I want to look beyond that, on a human level, and that’s where it becomes complicated.
For now, I have decided to finally enjoy my life, my autonomy, and my freedom here. I want to learn, thrive and build a life in this country which has welcomed me with open arms; a welcome for which I will be eternally grateful.
I cannot wait to discover all the beautiful quirks and places this country has to offer and
share my experiences with all of you. Now, all that remains is to hope that this mindset endures, that I get to learn Luxembourgish (because I believe I should, especially as a future teacher) and hopefully find a boyfriend. A wild ride awaits, quite literally, in my case.
