Interpreting negotiations, ceremonial speeches, conversations of all kinds, city tours and preconceived texts from German into Lithuanian and vice versa requires special skills, concentration and the strength not to let oneself get rattled. It is particularly demanding to translate immaterial topics, i.e. pedagogical and psychological concepts and experiences, in such a way that what is meant comes across.
Nijole Miskinyte, a teacher from Lentvaris in Lithuania, has been doing this for thirty years with great commitment within the framework of the town twinning between Rheine and the rayon Trakai in Lithuania. She made possible a large part of the meetings and exchange programs between the children’s home of the rayon Trakai and the Caritas children’s and youth home Rheine linguistically and thus acquired a large share in the European friendship and development. Adults and children felt best understood and communicatively supported by her.
“Thank you very much, dear Nijole,” said long-time companions Managing Director Winfried Hülsbusch and his predecessor Norbert Dörnhoff and other employees of the Caritas Children’s and Youth Home and many guests during an entertaining afternoon. For Nijole Miskinyte and the mayor Jonas Kriauciunas, who was responsible for the founding of the town twinning at the time, stayed in Rheine for a few days at the invitation of the town twinning association.