A life-changing ride
Back home, Easter was just around the corner: that’s what both students wanted, they looked for and found each other, as is usual in such cases, via a carpooling agency. Matthias Richter was studying computer science in Dresden at the time, Tanja Urban was studying economics in Leipzig – both wanted to go to Cottbus.
Getting into someone’s car is always somewhat unpredictable and sometimes holds surprises of all kinds. Both of them still have fond and positive memories of this drive home in 2017: they liked each other straight away. This developed into much, much more; Tanja and Matthias became a couple!
Matthias Richter comes from Krieschow, Tanja Urban grew up in Cottbus and Burg. Both have roots in Lusatia and have always imagined spending their future back in their home region. Living and working in Leipzig and Dresden had initially appealed to young people, but the desire for down-to-earthness and a quiet environment became more and more pronounced. “The Spreewald has had something special for me since I was a child,” says Tanja Urban, who currently works for her father Manfred Urban at the “Spreeaue” guesthouse in Burger.
Just a few hundred meters away from his father’s guesthouse, he had the opportunity to realize his own ideas on a plot of land measuring over 5,000 square meters. The former four-sided courtyard looks a little like a Sleeping Beauty – abandoned, but full of possibilities. The couple’s aim is to revive the farm and then one day enjoy the setting sun while sitting by the river in the evening.
When the Polenzweg was built in the 1960s, it simply cut through the plot – for the sake of straight lines. At that time, there was hardly any possibility of objection. If Tanja and Matthias want to go to their barge shed today, they have to cross the road. Fortunately, the Polenzweg is designated as a cycle path and only occasionally sees local traffic. On this other side of the property, on the banks of a small pond, a GDR T174 excavator has been standing for decades. It looks as if the machine operator simply got out and forgot to come back …
As befits new citizens, who are also new burgers, both gave a round of woklapnica, the ancient Wendish custom of “knocking off” the old year and welcoming the new inhabitants. After all, well over 100 guests were present in the Burger school auditorium – not an easy round of drinks in any respect.
Both are confident about the future, they have found their life’s work. They have lived together in Cottbus since 2023 and frequently commute between their home, which is also Matthias’ place of work, and their future construction site. “At the moment, tidying up and clearing out are our top priorities,” Tanja sums up. Matthias Richter adds: “We feel that people want us back home; we are very grateful for that!” And he has another tip: “I can only advise anyone who is thinking about returning to work to make it happen. The region needs young people like us – you just have to give yourself a jolt!”
The carpooling opportunity from 2017, their chance meeting, has turned into a shared journey through life for both of them!
Peter Becker, 28.03.26
