I have many memories about my home, the people I spent time with, the things I did when I was little and when I became older. Some of them are sad but others make me feel stronger. I have always tried to cherish these memories. That has helped me when I felt lonely or I missed my home. Even if I have forgotten some things, I still remember many others that are very important since they remind me who I am and where I come from, and this helps me giving a meaning to my current situation.

When I was at home, I spent my free time in different ways and with many people: I used to play football with my friends or to listen to music with Mohammed, my closest friend. When I arrived in the new place, I didn’t know what to do in my free time and with whom also because the spaces were different as well as the customs and the people. I then started asking about the possibility to play and telling the new acquaintances the things I used to do to have fun. So we shared our ideas on how we could spend the leisure time and we started organizing different fun things. At the same time, I also tried to understand the different options offered by the context of arrival.

In my country, the invisible and spiritual dimensions were very present. Religion and other traditional customs such as gathering every evening under the centenary tree were part of our daily community life. However, this aspect was not that recognized or present in the host society. Nevertheless, I wanted to continue practicing my religion and to find moments of connection with this invisible part. I realized that I could ask for a space to pray in the house where I was living. You don’t need to stop practicing your religion and spiritual believes simply because it is uncommon for the people in the new place.

I enjoyed very much studying when I was living in my village. When I arrived in the new country, the people around me proposed me to attend school and study in order also to learn the language, which was very important for me at the beginning. The school subjects, mates, teachers as well as the way to learn were different from the ones in my place. Despite the difficulties with the new language, I explained the things I already learned to my new teachers and to the people supporting me, which was helpful for my learning in the new country. It was also important to ask for certificates of each course or school year completed because they are usually requested for future learning opportunities such as university or work interviews.