Hello, my name is Ania. I was born in Poznan, Poland. I came to Berlin in 2003 when I was 22 years old, because I was studying German in Poland for 5 semesters. I only wanted to stay for one semester to complete my language skills. But then it turned out that studying here was easier, so I stayed in Berlin. Germany was not completely foreign to me since I had been to Germany several times before for the European Youth weeks.I finished my German studies, then I studied educational sciences and then did postgraduate studies in Polish again. Without this postgraduate course, I would not have been allowed to teach Polish in Germany. But it quickly became clear to me that I didn’t want to teach children forever. I have been working in student counseling since 2006. Of course it was very difficult for me at the beginning, since I had very little money. So I waited tables in my free time outside of university. My boss was very understanding and working hours were very flexible for me. I really owe him a lot . Funnily enough woman were not valued, they saw me as the woman who came to Germany to work and not the person I really was. It was different with the men, they asked questions and were surprised, that I was actually here to study. I am now married and have 3 children between the ages of 4 and 9. They grow up bilingual. I only speak Polish to them and my husband German. It is very important to me that they master the Polish language as well as the German language. We are in Poland once a month because I have a large family there, but I don’t want to live there anymore. I love the German language because it is very structured, just like me. I have learned to combine positive aspects from both cultures. In Germany you can think and act more freely, while Poland has remained very conservative. I love my grandmother’s Polish cuisine, but I need the multicultural life of Berlin.