"The foreign German" depicts the story of a Tamil war refugee who came to Germany as an

unattended 12-year-old boy, and who successfully has blended in. In a vivid way Umeswaran

Arunagirinathan narrates his way from being a person with exceptional leave to remain for

humanitarian reasons, to becoming a physician, as well as a German citizen.

In doing so he also fathoms the potential, expectations as well as challenges of the process of an

integration. Furthermore, he critically deals with way of life and culture of his country of origin.

Writing his book the author wants to ask German people for a better understanding of refugees; and

at the same time he wants to encourage the latter to integrate into German society.