Scattered All Over the Earth

Before the panel, Hiruko is working at the Märchen Center, creating drawings to accompany the folktales she tells the students. She finds her first success at the center when she translates a folktale from her homeland, called “Bakékurabe,” and teaches her students the word for metamorphosis. She believes it is good for the students to have a multi-faceted vocabulary that will help them in many situations. The purpose of the center is to help immigrant children assimilate into European language and culture through folktales, and Hiruko earns the job when the center decides it will be more successful if immigrants teach the children. In her job interview, she tells them about Panska, her homemade language, and her wish to use kamishibai (picture drawings) to help teach. The job at the Märchen Center helps her obtain a visa to stay in Denmark and she wonders how her own experiences as an immigrant and refugee compare to the diverse experiences of her students.

One day, while reading a story, Hiruko gets a call from the TV station, asking for her to appear on their panel. She initially refuses but agrees once they suggest that her appearance may connect her to other native speakers and that they will pay for her travel there and even for her trip to Trier the following day. After the show, she receives calls from people across the country—many of them berating her for maintaining any cultural connection to her home country. She agrees to meet Knut only because he is interested in Panska. When they meet, she finds him more attracted to language than to women.

On their flight to Trier, Knut receives a text message from his mother and becomes irritated. He tells Hiruko about his mother and her obsession with the Indigenous people of Greenland. He believes that she meddles because, though she recognizes Greenland’s independence from Denmark, she still thinks Denmark should provide aid—an attitude that, to Knut, smacks of colonial paternalism. Hiruko wonders if his mother treats him the same way and if this is the reason behind their strained relationship.

Akash notices Knut at the Luxembourg Airport bus terminal and finds him attractive. She is there to lead a group of Indian students through Trier on their annual trip, as she, also a student, lives there. Akash identifies as a woman and dresses in saris to present as such. Knut approaches her, recognizing that she and the students speak Marathi. Hiruko tells Akash that they are going to the Umami Festival as they all board the bus for Trier. On the bus, Akash tries to discern if Hiruko and Knut are a couple.

They disembark from the bus at Porta Nigra and begin speaking again, with Akash asking Hiruko why she whispers when speaking English. Hiruko replies that she is afraid of someone overhearing and reporting her, which could result in her being sent to America, where most English-speaking immigrants are sent to work. America has a stagnant economy and shrinking workforce and needs the infusion of new workers, while many believe that Europe’s welfare state is growing too large. Akash directs the students to their hotel and leads Knut and Hiruko to the Karl Marx House for the festival. At the house, there is a one euro shop, and many of the shoppers turn an eye toward Akash and Hiruko. Akash goes into the house to confirm the event and discovers that the Umami Festival is happening at the Karl Marx Museum at seven that evening.

The trio decides to go eat somewhere to kill time, and they settle on an Indian restaurant named Osho. Akash and Hiruko, both believing the name to come from their respective languages, argue over its origin until Knut suggests that the word may be shared. When the menus arrive, Akash is discouraged to see that every offering is in the form of a pizza. The restaurant reflects the cuisine of a specific resort town in India where pizza has become popular, a case of cultural globalization moving in multiple directions. Throughout the meal, Akash, Hiruko, and Knut get to know each other and discuss their opinions on travel and the merits of treating linguistics as religion. After the meal, Akash agrees to help Hiruko and Knut find a hotel, mostly to find out whether they will share a room.

With even more time to waste before the festival, Akash takes them to see the Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths), a popular site of Roman ruins. While they walk, she explains the cultural studies research underway at the university and discusses her process of transitioning to become a woman. Akash explains that everyone’s body changes all the time. As they enter the tunnels under the baths, they see a tall, blonde woman approaching.