But times were changing. According to the regime, my father was in the wrong party and was politically persecuted. He had to go into hiding and was wanted on an arrest warrant. Since he could not be located, my mother was arrested and detained for 2 month.
It was clear that nothing would change in this situation, so my parents, my younger sister and I left the Congo for Germany. My two older siblings weren't allowed to accompany us yet and had to stay with my grandparents. It took them 4 years before they as well were able to join us in Germany.

We came to Cologne first and were sent across Northern Germany from one asylum home to the next within a few month.
We then had our first own apartment in Neumünster. Here I quickly made contact with other children in our street. I went to a reception class, today you would say welcome class, to learn German. I was then integrated into the normal class.
My father insisted that only German was spoken at home. We received only positive motivation and a lot of support from the school, but also from the neighbors. This made it easy for us to settle in and feel comfortable. It was clouded by the absence of our older siblings, who we had to leave behind.

However, the state caused problems for us. They retracted my father's work permit. So we were forced to live on welfare against vour will. Only my mother got a work permit. She has always been working ever since. Despite all of this, I graduated from high school and studied business administration.
The next problem arrose, when my younger sister and I came of age. We were supposed to be deported. Even though I went to school and studied here, I only got a toleration.
If I wanted to leave the City, I needed a special permit from the government. It even went so far, that I was issued false papers for a school trip to Hungary and was arrested upon entry. Such chicanery! After 24 hours of detention, I was sent back.

My teacher accompanied me to Munich, from there I had to continue on my own. He had to go back and stay with my classmates.
As difficult as it was made for us by the state, people from our area helped us and fought with us. After another 3 years, I received my residence permit through the hardship case regulation.
My asylum procedure took a total of 13 years. I have had German citizenship since 2007, like everyone in our family.

A year and a half ago I got a job at Top Shop, a UK company, where I am responsible for overseeing the European operations. As a result, I travel a lot in Europe for work. Before that i worked at H&M for 6 years.
I speak German, French, English and Lingala, the Congolese national language. I improved my English during a two year stay in the USA.

Two years ago I was back in Congo for the first time and saw my grandmother for the first time in 20 years. What struck me the most was the fact, that the people there have to make life with a lot less, but are friendlier and happier.
It was actually strange for me that I was in the middle of millions of people who had the same skin color as me. I had not expected this feeling!

I am very liberal but grew up with Congolese traditions. I owe the person that I am today to Germany. The help we received from all the people here and their social commitment shaped me.
Today I am very involved in the Congolese community in Berlin and translate sermons there. I feel German.