Senior moderator Birgt Cramaro invited the former teacher and dialect author Karin Peter to give a lecture at the senior citizens' meeting in the Esther Bejarano House. Around 30 visitors listened to the presentations and were enthusiastic.
“Hello, and a beautiful good morning! Today I would also like to take you on a little tour through my hometown Saarlouis,” Karin Peter greeted the guests at the senior center. And off we went with the story of “Lui,” who lived near the district court and whose first date turned out very differently than he had imagined. From there, the literary journey continued to the Großer Markt (Large Market), where two quarreling market women were encountered. Next, we went to the “Suppengasse” (today Alte-Brauerei-Straße), where the so-called “Baggaasch” used to live. The walk finally led to the old town to the pub “Humpen,” where “Kättche Kerner” once ran her tavern. From here, the tour “strolled” to the Kleiner Markt (Small Market), where the “Lehrbuu” (apprentice) of “Mesje Fisenè” took his instructions all too literally. The tour ended at the hospital with a story about how one can “grow old under one roof.” There was much applause, many laughs, and approving nods from the listeners for the Saarlouis stories. In a second part, Karin Peter recited the fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes” in a reworked Moselle-Franconian version.
Karin Peter was employed in the school service until her retirement. She writes stories from the former life in Saarlouis in Moselle-Franconian dialect. She has now written 10 books, including the well-known "Saarlouiser Mundartbuch" and a collection of swear words from the Saarland titled "Von Aabääter bis Zwuurwel." Both works are only available as rare antiquarian editions. Still available in bookstores are Asterix volumes 1 and 2 in Saarland dialect, as well as "Hans Huckebään, der Òngléckskoof" and "Hall Dich kurrasch" (music by Herry Schmitt). Her latest book contains 10 texts by Hans Christian Andersen, which she has translated into Old Saarlouiser Moselle Franconian.
