Featured Writer

Ildi Klein

Writing Workshop Participant at Zimmerman Community Center - Open to adults living on a low income

Ildi Klein is 48 years old. She is of Hungarian nationality, and she was born in Romania. She has lived in Portland for 21 years. Ildi earned two Bachelor's degrees and a Master's degree. She describes herself as a "dreamer who hopes for a better world and a bridge-builder between cultures, religions and society levels." Ildi's writing, featured in our newest anthology, and interview follow.

Still Searching for Freedom

by Ildi Klein

I grew up in a communist world. In school we were wearing uniforms. On our left arm, each student had to wear a small tag with the school name and an assigned number for each individual. Your number was your identification. So, if on the street, a youngster forgot to behave, anyone could read the information and report back to the specific school one was attending.

Uniforms were a cause for rebellion in those days. Today looking back at that time, I think it was a great way of bridging social classes. There was no fashion show in schools. I did not know who’s rich or who’s poor. We heard of freedom (radio – Voice of America); we dreamed of freedom. We knew there is in the world a place called USA – there, there is freedom.

Twenty some years ago I reached the land of freedom. After long years of education in this new world, I began to hear among other things that a certain body type in the land of freedom is a reason to disqualify someone’s ability in many ways.

The television ads are jammed with slogans of eat this…eat that…eat this…eat that… Then…Lose weight this way…Lose weight that way…
Today, one of my bread-winning activities is to sell clothes. I do this in an upscale boutique. Beautiful girls, grown-up women and those in the age of wisdom, crones, are mumbling a new slogan: I have to hide my tummy. I have to hide my arms, my side, my legs… the list of hiding things just grows day by day.

Someone may be denied a place to work, because they don’t fit into the mold cut. And this is called freedom. “Hmm…where am I?”

Interview

Write Around Portland Website

Featured Writer Interview - Ildi Klein

Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop.

It was excellent empowerment. Without it, I would not have had the guts to do it [share my writing]. It was good support and reinforcement giving me strength to have my voice.

What did you get out of the workshop?

I learned that people could support me, and I’m not alone.

Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop?

On and off. [Writing was] always part of me, but I need the structure of the workshop.

How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people's stories?

These were absolutely necessary step in developing my own voice and hearing others. All of us tried to be heard and by hearing other writers, I knew what I said was important. Each of us has something to say.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

Oh, definitely! I do that already. I talk to people on the bus about it, everywhere I tell people to take the workshop.

What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer?

To trust myself.

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing?

Listen and you will hear because each voice has meaning and all of it is important.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writer Ildi Klein Writing Workshop Participant at Zimmerman Community Center - Open to adults living on a low income Ildi Klein is 48 years old. She is of Hungarian nationality, and she was born in Romania. She has lived in Portland for 21 years. Ildi earned two Bachelor's degrees and a Master's degree. She describes herself as a "dreamer who hopes for a better world and a bridge-builder between cultures, religions and society levels." Ildi's writing, featured in our newest anthology, and interview follow. Still Searching for Freedom by Ildi Klein I grew up in a communist world. In school we were wearing uniforms. On our left arm, each student had to wear a small tag with the school name and an assigned number for each individual. Your number was your identification. So, if on the street, a youngster forgot to behave, anyone could read the information and report back to the specific school one was attending. Uniforms were a cause for rebellion in those days. Today looking back at that time, I think it was a great way of bridging social classes. There was no fashion show in schools. I did not know who’s rich or who’s poor. We heard of freedom (radio – Voice of America); we dreamed of freedom. We knew there is in the world a place called USA – there, there is freedom. Twenty some years ago I reached the land of freedom. After long years of education in this new world, I began to hear among other things that a certain body type in the land of freedom is a reason to disqualify someone’s ability in many ways. The television ads are jammed with slogans of eat this…eat that…eat this…eat that… Then…Lose weight this way…Lose weight that way… Today, one of my bread-winning activities is to sell clothes. I do this in an upscale boutique. Beautiful girls, grown-up women and those in the age of wisdom, crones, are mumbling a new slogan: I have to hide my tummy. I have to hide my arms, my side, my legs… the list of hiding things just grows day by day. Someone may be denied a place to work, because they don’t fit into the mold cut. And this is called freedom. “Hmm…where am I?” Interview Write Around Portland Website Featured Writer Interview - Ildi Klein Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop. It was excellent empowerment. Without it, I would not have had the guts to do it [share my writing]. It was good support and reinforcement giving me strength to have my voice. What did you get out of the workshop? I learned that people could support me, and I’m not alone. Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop? On and off. [Writing was] always part of me, but I need the structure of the workshop. How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people's stories? These were absolutely necessary step in developing my own voice and hearing others. All of us tried to be heard and by hearing other writers, I knew what I said was important. Each of us has something to say. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? Oh, definitely! I do that already. I talk to people on the bus about it, everywhere I tell people to take the workshop. What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer? To trust myself. Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing? Listen and you will hear because each voice has meaning and all of it is important.	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writer Ildi Klein
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