„Berlin – where you can find everything except boredom and stagnation“
I come from Ukraine and am 58 years old. Our family moved to Germany right after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992.
The Quota Refugee Act enabled us to enter the country and later to become naturalized citizens.
My then-husband was a biology scientist. He was hoping for better career opportunities in Germany. His university diploma was accepted immediately.
He was driven and flexible. First he worked free of charge, then he got a job as a scientist. Nowadays he is very successful in his field and even gained the benefits of the civil servant status.
Before emigrating I was a professor at the National Medical University (Latin chair) in Kharkiv, furthermore I wrote poems and songs.
Jelena, own Song, etone30!, 2024
My university diploma in Slavic languages and teaching was initially not accepted in Germany. I worked as a geriatric nurse, so I could get a glimpse into the world of work and get connected.
In order to work in my teaching profession I had to aquire the proper qualifications. First I completed a continuing education course in social management in Berlin, then a service training course at the Christian-Albrecht-University in Kiel, where I got title "coach / learning coach."
Parallel to the qualification process I supervised teenagers with a migration background during their transition from school to work as a part of an integration project in Berlin, additionally I was a freelance family helper on behalf of the youth welfare office in Berlin Mitte.
Due to follow-up qualifications and my professional experience, my academic degree as a teacher was confirmed by the Berlin senate.
Afterwards I worked as a social worker and coach for teenagers in different educational and recreational facilities in Berlin and Brandenburg.
I am currently involved as a mentor for refugees. Before that I acquired knowledge about the refugee problems in another qualification course in Berlin.
My son, who was only 5 month old when we came to Germany, is fully integrated. He graduated from high school with straight A's. After that he was studying medicine at the Charité University in Berlin. Soon he will work as a doctor.
One of the first profound impressions in Germany was an unusual , mild winter, almost snowless.
I instantly fancied the typical German characteristics, like reliability and thoroughness. I only had to adapt to the somewhat excessive accuracy and punctuality of the Germans.
I was repelled by some fellow citizens with a migration background, who are frequenly too loud in public places and facilities. Immigrants should aquire and respect the traditions, customs and habits of the country, that welcomes them with an open heart.
I feel cosy in Germany. I'm still writing poems, now even in German. One of them, called “Mai”, was published at the library for German poems by the German Realis publisher in 2016.
My new poem “Berlin” reflects my fondness for this world class metropolis, which offers a dynamic mood and lots of life, and where you can find truely everything except boredom and stagnation.
“Berlin – where you can find everything except boredom and stagnation”