We received many presents, sweets and 20 DM, which I didn't use until many years later as an 18/19-year old, when I bought goods at the Bahnhof Zoo market, which we re-sold again in Poland. I supported my family with this. We were 5 brothers, two sisters and very poor.

I saw no future in Poland for me and my kids. On the run from my former, abusive husband, I often had to move around in Poland in the middle of nowhere, because he tracked us down again and again. I lived in constant fear of his relentless persecution. Worst of all there wasn't any protection from the justice system.
We were married for 18 years. He was an alcoholic and very aggressive. After I have told him once that I would leave him eventually, he stabbed me in my belly with a knife and left.
„When he can’t have me, no one else will“!
Our almost 3 year old daughter sat next to us and played with building bricks. She was too small to be aware of the situation. But she sometimes has nightmares about it, even these days.
I have to thank my 13 year old son at that time for still being alive. He forgot something on his way to school and came back home. He found me and called the emergency line.
They took my husband into custody for merely 48 hours. After my surgery and the time spent in the hospital I was accompanied home by police protection to retrieve our belongings. Afterwards I moved into a women’s shelter with both of my children in a different city. But I only stayed for three month, I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

I immediately got a job in a hospital; it was pretty tough though, as I could only rely on myself. I got a bit of financial support, but it wasn't nearly enough. My daughter ate at the kindergarten and my son at school. I myself often ate the leftovers from hospital patients. Times were difficult.

After informing myself online in advance I contacted polish people living in Bielefeld via Facebook. A work colleague drove me and my eight year old daughter there with a car. I brought my son over later. He was in training to become a computer scientist, which he wanted to finish for now. I managed to get him hooked up with good friends.
We just started driving and had to stay the first night in the, because I had no place to live yet. It was cold and it rained heavily. We were quite scared, as many bystanders were able to peek into the car from outside.
In the morning I quickly got on the internet and got the advice from my contacts on Facebook, to contact the “German Red Cross” and a temporary employment agency. My work colleagues in the company had really supported me. Some of them were polish as well and knew about the struggles of getting by with nothing. On the same day I had locked down a place to stay and a job. I am so very grateful to the people helping me.

I got a small one room social housing apartment for me and my daughter and was super happy to finally have a roof over my head instead of having to spend the night in the rainy cold again. After all, had to protect my children! That was my motor.
My daughter got enrolled at school a month later. She couldn’t speak German and therefore received separate language lessons for three month. With only eight years she had to grow up very quickly.
Now she is 17 years old and very responsible. She accomplished so much. Currently she's in the process of getting her high school diploma, with straight A's in the exams. While I myself haven't experienced exclusion yet, my daughter sometimes suffers from discrimination at school.

I have a variety of educations and a bunch of different jobs in Poland: tailor, seamstress, artist, baker and confectioner. I worked as a nurse and a supervisor as well.
Unfortunately all this wasn't accepted in Germany. In the beginning I didn’t know a word in German except: “My name is Jolanta.” But I had a big dictionary with me and translated a lot with google.
I realized quickly: Without the language you can't work here, so I told myself: I have to! I have to, because I want to. So I went to a language school and i got good grades. I was so proud of myself.

We were all alone in Bielefeld. That’s why we moved to Berlin in 2017, as my sisters and other family members lived here already. At first I thought to myself: Berlin is far to big and I wouldn’t like it. But there is a park here, as well as many hobbies making me happy. Above all, I like to dance. I danced when something was bothering me, and then I felt happy again.
I used to have depression and great anxiety but I got psychological support. My children and I are healthy, we have a good life.
Three of my professions have now been excepted in Germany. Now I would like to train as an occupational therapist. That’s another three years of training, but my motto in life is: There are only two days a year when you can’t change anything. One is yesterday and the other one is tomorrow.
I have a very pleasant neighborhood, we always stick together. We are a mixed group here. "Multikulti" you might say (multicultural). In my regard there's no difference if you are from Germany, Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, Turkey or Greece. It doesn’t matter.
For me, every person is a blank place initially. People fill this space with their actions, which define them.
What I didn’t know and found most curious, is that you ought to make an appointment if you want to meet your friend.

'There are only two days a year when you can’t change anything. One is yesterday and the other one is tomorrow.'