Johanna grew up in Romania and for a long time simply considered herself to be German, until wearing the traditional costume gave her a new awareness of her specific identity as a Transylvanian Saxon. After leaving school, she was faced with the choice of emigrating to Germany or staying in her homeland - she consciously decided to stay in order to keep her local culture and traditions alive. Through exchanges with other European minorities (via YEN/YEN), she finally realized that she was not alone with her questions about belonging. Today, she says confidently: "I am a Transylvanian Saxon, not just a German.