Maria’s parents lived in Russia for many years before they moved to Germany. My parents lived with my mother’s family. They were ten people in one apartment, but they were still happy.” To prepare for their move out of Russia, they worked and saved money. Eventually, the time came for them to leave the rest of the family and go their separate way. “Unfortunately, after Russia, my family had to split up. My mother’s family moved to Sweden, and my parents moved to Germany.” Maria’s mother became separated from her eight siblings. Maria was born in Germany and she is now 28. She grew up with two siblings, an older sister, and a younger brother in Hamburg.

Following in her mother‘s and grandmother‘s footsteps, Maria studied education at Kiel University. She teaches history, economics, and politics in an upper secondary school. At her current school, Maria has not faced discrimination based on her national origin. “The atmosphere is very relaxed. We all get along well, and I don’t feel unwelcome there just because I’m Afghan.” However, she believes that this school’s environment is particularly accepting. “I worked at another school previously and noticed that I was treated differently because I wasn’t of German origin. This was very difficult for me, especially since I was born here. Despite  being born in Germany, I still felt like I didn’t belong there.”

In Maria’s current school, there is a high proportion of foreign students, including Afghans. “It doesn’t matter whether they are refugees or not, since I am the point of reference for most children, especially Afghans, in my school.” Whereas both girls and boys are able to study in her school in Germany, Maria feels saddened that girls in Afghanistan are not allowed to attend school. “Everyone should have access to education. Afghanistan is regressing instead of progressing. If this continues, the future will only get worse. I hope for a more realistic and urgent actions from international communities.”

Although she has never visited Afghanistan, Maria can imagine her home country based on her mother’s stories. “She often tells me about Shir Yakh, street vendors, grilling in the park, and attending Ahmad Zahir’s concert as a child with her family.” These stories paint a vivid picture in Maria’s mind, and she wishes she could experience them for herself.

Today, Germany feels like home in many ways. “I love German discipline; you always have to be orderly and punctual. German laws make Germany special. The law is the ground beneath your feet, something nobody can take away from you. And of course, the most important thing is the freedom you have here. It gives you peace.” For Maria, Hamburg is the most beautiful city in Germany. “Here, you have areas with only ancient buildings and areas with only new buildings. There are many parks, shops, and amusement parks. You have numerous places to spend your free time. If you want to come to Germany, I recommend that you visit Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich.”

Nonetheless, she is concerned that in recent years xenophobia has increased in Germany. “You often feel like a stranger in this country. That is why you feel uncomfortable. A xenophobic party recently received a lot of votes. That shows well how many people think differently.”

She encourages parents to allow their children to decide their own future. “Let them participate in sports. Let them learn musical instruments. Let them pursue hobbies so that they can decide for themselves what they are good at and what they are not. I would like to see Afghan parents support their children more. Children need more support at school but also enough freedom of choice when it comes to studying.” 

In her free time, Maria enjoys working out at the gym and dining out. Her favorite cuisine is , and she appreciates trying out new restaurants with her friends and family. She loves her job, her students, and the diversity in her current school, which makes it a very special place to teach. She appreciates the stability of life in Germany. It can sometimes seem repetitive, almost monotonous, but she enjoys the calm and peacefulness of knowing what to expect from one day to the next. She encourages people to make the most of life while they can, because life can be short.