Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Interviews

Bridging Cultures

by BTM

Sat, 02 October 2021

Bridging Cultures

Hans Lamprecht is a distinguished diplomat, with a globe-trotting career which culminated in a posting in Bahrain. Recently retired, he remains in the Kingdom after falling in love with its culture and people.

“I come from Herrenberg, a small town south of Stuttgart,” says Hans, who is keen to remember exactly where he came from. 

“My hometown is known for its tradition, closeness to nature and family-friendliness. The city has a medieval architecture and is an insider tip for visitors from all over the world. It’s honestly a hidden gem in Germany. 

“For me, Herrenberg is an anchor so I don’t forget my roots and Herrenberg doesn’t forget me either.”

For now, though, as he has been for a long time, Hans is far from home. In 1982, he found employment in the German Foreign Office and worked in the diplomatic service in Bonn, Marseille, New York, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Atlanta, Nouakchott, Berlin, Pristina, Beijing, Miami, and finally the German Embassy in Manama. Arriving in 2014, Bahrain was Hans’ last post in his long and renowned career, before finally retiring in 2020.

He explained: “In Bahrain, I had the function of the head of the consular department (consul) and officer for press and culture. These activities brought me together with many people and authorities in Bahrain and connected me to the country in other ways. In my six years in the Kingdom there were various consular, cultural press events which gave me a diverse experience of both the German and Bahraini community here.”

Despite retiring, Hans still maintains strong relations with the German community in Bahrain, which he always found supportive to his work especially in the economic sector. 

“Many actions could not be carried out without the backing of the German community and our Bahraini friends,” he said. “In particular, I would like to mention the Authority for Culture and the Isa Cultural Centre for their support.”

Hans continues to live in Bahrain after retirement and also married into a Bahraini family. He and his wife have two young daughters and continue to feel comfortable and happy in the Kingdom.

“What I have also learned is that Bahraini families are very different from German families,” he said. “You don’t just marry the daughter, you marry the whole family! You belong to it and you are not so distant. It wasn’t easy, but Bahraini friends helped me to overcome the hurdle and made us feel comfortable. I would like to name one of them, Jaleel AlAnsari, who built the bridge. I hope that many bridges can still be built between Bahrain and Germany, the foundation is there.”

Ultimately, Hans only has positive things to say about Bahrain. “The people are open and friendly and have the right amount of pride in their country. In my opinion, Bahrain is a model country of intercultural and interreligious coexistence and since my arrival this has steadily developed further. Also, the area of environmental protection and reforestation throughout the Kingdom is one of the reasons why I decided to settle here after my retirement,” he concludes.

#GERMANY IN BAHRAIN #INTERVIEWS #BTM OCTOBER 2021 #GERMANY IN BAHRAIN 2021