In a remote German village, mail is delivered by boat during warmer months

印刷用画面を開く

Posted

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. barge / bɑrdʒ / (n.) – a long, large boat with a flat bottom, used for carrying heavy goods on rivers and canals
    Example:

    Because the river is so shallow, a barge is the only type of boat that can safely carry supplies to the village.


  2. waterway / ˈwɒt ərˌweɪ / (n.) – a path made of water that is used by boats and ships to travel from one place to another
    Example:

    Traveling by waterway is often slower than driving, but it is much more peaceful.


  3. embark / ɛmˈbɑrk / (v.) – to go onto a ship, boat, or plane at the beginning of a journey
    Example:

    The tourists embarked on the large ferry to cross the river to the other side of the city.


  4. designate / ˈdɛz ɪgˌneɪt / (v.) – to officially choose or name something for a special purpose or status
    Example:

    The local park was designated as a protected area to save the wildlife living there.


  5. flora and fauna / ˈflɔr ə ən ˈfɔ nə / (n.) – the plants and animals of a particular area, time, or environment
    Example:

    The tour guide told us all about the unique flora and fauna found in the rainforest.


Article

Read the text below.

Andrea Bunar had been waiting for months for the arrival of spring and the day she could finally deliver the mail by barge again through the narrow waterways of the Spreewald Forest delta southeast of Berlin. Several weeks ago, the 55-year-old German postal worker stood at the back of her boat again, using one long oar to row, steer, and navigate her boat through the shallow waters.


“The start of the season is always special for me,” said Bunar, as she embarked on the yellow barge in her postal worker uniform. “After the long winter break, I enjoy being in the nature and back on the water.”


Bunar has been delivering mail and packages to the villagers of Lehde, which is located about 100 kilometers (around 60 miles) southeast of Berlin, for 14 years.


During the winter, she brings the mail by car to farms and homes, but it’s often cumbersome as roads are icy, and it takes much longer than in the summer. From April to October, she’s back on her nine-meter-long (29-foot-long) barge and just drops off the mail Monday through Saturday in the mailboxes that the residents of Lehde have put up right on the banks of the river.


She also sells stamps to the residents living along the remote route, and they can send their own mail with her.


The Spreewald is famous for its network of 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) of waterways, many of them leading through lush forests and wetlands. As an inland delta, the Spree River, which also runs through Berlin, branches into hundreds of small canals in the forest. It was also designated a UNESCO biosphere to protect its ecosystem, including the region’s diverse flora and fauna.


Lehde is the only place in Germany where the mail is delivered by boat. In fact, the village has been getting its mail for 129 years by boat.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The article mentions that Andrea Bunar enjoys being back on the water after the long winter break, during which delivering mail by car is often cumbersome because of icy roads. Do you think the change of seasons affects most people’s moods and how much work they get done? Why or why not? How are you personally affected when the seasons change? Discuss.
  • From April to October, Andrea navigates the waterways by boat, but during the winter, she must switch to a car to reach farms and homes. If you had to choose a career, would you prefer a job that stays the same all year or one that changes with the seasons like Andrea’s? What are the benefits and challenges of having a job that depends on the weather? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Even though modern roads exist nearby, the residents of Lehde have kept their mailboxes on the riverbanks for 129 years to receive mail by boat. Why do you think these residents have continued this practice for over a century? Do you think there will come a time when this tradition finally stops? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How important is it for a place to maintain its traditional practices despite the changes in the rest of the world? What is a traditional practice in your country that you wish would continue even as times change? Why is it special to you? Discuss.