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    Navigating A New Culture, A Syrian Refugee In Germany Seeks A Dating Coach's Advice

    In the final episode of NPR's Rough Translation podcast, Aktham Abulhusn seeks help from a dating coach in Berlin to learn the unwritten rules of German culture. He hopes to find a girlfriend.
    by Gregory Warner Sep 26, 2017 5 minutes
    Aktham Abulhusn rides the subway on his way to Berlin Alexanderplatz. He came from Syria to Germany in early 2015 on a student visa and now lives there on a refugee visa. Now that his German language skills are improving, he is trying to find a girlfriend.

    This story comes from NPR's Rough Translation podcast, which explores how ideas we wrestle with in the U.S. are being discussed in the rest of the world.

    Sophia Lierenfeld didn't set out to give dating advice to Syrian refugees.

    The Berlin-based acting teacher and relationship coach wanted to do her part to help refugees integrate into German society. Assimilation is a big issue in German politics these days. Her self-funded workshop, Improv Without Borders, gathers weekly to let Europeans and refugees do improvisational theater together.

    On a recent Thursday afternoon, about a dozen men and women from Afghanistan, Syria, France, Germany and elsewhere milled about awkwardly while Lierenfeld waltzed among them and gave out hugs. After some warm-up games, they broke off into groups to perform skits. A big part of improv involves trying

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