This is a story on about my struggles when I first arrived in Poland, completely alone and without knowing anyone.
Remember how difficult it was to secure a visa? That was just the beginning. From the moment I landed at the airport, I encountered a group of Polish ladies who were on the same flight from Turkey. I approached one of them and explained that I was an exchange student and didn’t know my way around. To my surprise, she rallied her group, and all five of them decided to help me. They bought me a ticket from the airport to the train station and helped me with my luggage. One of the ladies, who spoke English, guided me in getting a new SIM card while the others watched over our bags. She even walked me through my train ticket and explained what to expect on my journey.
Lord, I’m so grateful for their kindness. I took a train from Warsaw to Lublin and then a taxi to a hostel I had found on Booking.com. Unfortunately, my card was declined, so I hoped to book it when I arrived. However, when I got there, the place was fully booked. I wandered up and down the street, feeling the biting cold, and I cried as I called my mom, saying I wanted to come back to Turkey because I couldn’t find accommodation. The streets were empty since it was a Sunday.
I spoke to every dark skinned person I met on the road, desperately seeking help. Finally, I was directed to another hostel. The receptionist initially explained why she couldn’t give me a room, but then she offered me a vacant room for two days max, as it had been paid for monthly. I unpacked my things, cried, grabbed something to eat, and collapsed into bed.
The next day, I tried to locate my school, only to find out it was a public holiday. I was relieved, thinking I’d have another day to gather myself. Back at the hostel, I cried and slept some more. When I resumed school the following day, I told every Black person I met that I was looking for accommodation. I even visited the mall, speaking to anyone who looked like me and collecting their numbers.
I returned to the hostel I initially wanted to book, but it wasn’t suitable. It was meant for short stays, and I shared a room with both men and women, meeting a different person every time I returned. I knew I needed to act fast. One day, on my way back from school, I saw Eliza sitting in front of me. I told her about my urgent need for an apartment, and she took my number, saying she couldn’t make any promises but would see what she could do.
Soon after, she reached out to say her housemate was open to having a new roommate. Jonah would become my roommate for the rest of my stay in Poland. The apartment was a furnished three-bedroom place—I didn’t need to buy anything extra! Eliza had one room, Hannah had another, and Jonah l had the last. Jonah had a bed and a convertible couch, so we split the room in two. It was spacious with a balcony, and I claimed the end with the couch bed.
How intentional was God in this situation? Hannah was Yoruba, Eliza was Igbo, and Jonah was Hausa. When they spoke with their families, no one understood each other, but English became our common language. I couldn’t help but feel that God had brought me to a true home away from home.
I shared rent with Jonah and utilities with the house, and I got the best deal! I was paying about 400 PLN in total, while a room alone would typically cost around 800 PLN without utilities.
Isn’t God amazing? Let’s wrap this up with what Leah always says: “Mide, you are graced!”
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post! I’m committed to sharing my journey and feeding your reading appetite with every diary entry. If you have stories of your own or messages to share, feel free to reach out to me on jemmylistens@gmail.com—I’d love to feature your stories too! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, and follow me on Instagram. I’ll be in the comments section, eagerly waiting for your thoughts on this blog I’ll see you here sometime next week!
PS: NO REAL NAMES WERE USED ASIDES MINE !!!
I KNOW YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE ME BEFORE THEN!😉
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