Daouda Kaba
Country of Origin: Guinea
Profession: Student
What surprised you most while visiting Poland?
The Polish weather was a surprise for me, especially the snow. Another unexpected thing was the way people behave, for example neighbors who live in the very same block of flats, don’t really know each other, or keep in touch with one another. I found a bit difficult to get used to it.
What is different comparing to your country of origin?
Weather, food and behavior are noticeably different. In my country we have two seasons: wet and dry, both of which last six months. As for food, the kind of food depends on where you live. Each region has its own specialty as a main dish. My country is divided into 4 regions (Base Cote, Moyenne Guinee, Haute Guinee and Guinee Forestiere). Where I come from, this typical meal is called manioka.
What have you heard about Polish people? What do you think about us living already here?
Unfortunately, in reference to black people like myself, Poles manifest stereotypical thinking. They think we run away from Africa because of avoid wars, hunger and diseases. They imagine that black people abuse women, particularly their wives, treating them like servant. This is why they think that Polish women who associate with us are naive and stupid. For a Pole, it takes just one instance to judge the rest of community. For them “black” means “worse”. It’s quite common that we’re approached and picked on by drunk people in the streets.
Can you list three dishes you liked the most?
My favorite ones are: pork chops, gołąbki (cabbage rolls with meat and rice), and potrawka (sort of a stew)
Which three places from Poland do you recommend and why?
I would recommend visiting Warsaw as it’s worth to see the capital. There are more facilities in terms of everyday life. You can also enjoy walking in quite big parks and the centre of the city is pretty nice. I also suggest going to Poznań because of its architecture. This is a beautiful city with lots of places to visit. Another destination point would be Łódź, where you can go out and unwind. There’re a lot of clubs and entertainment venues. People are approachable and they make new acquaintances easily. Lots of students live there.
Do you plan to stay in Poland?
My immediate future is strongly connected to Poland. I’ve started a family here and this is where I study. I hope to find a good job here when I’ve graduated.
What exactly guided you to Poland? What was the reason you went or lived there?
I came to Poland to study. My uncle who lives here suggested that I come after I’ve passed my A-level exams. And so I did. I got the scholarship and decided to come.
Are you going to visit Poland one more time?
If I go abroad after I finish my studies, I will be coming back gladly because of many things, for example my friends and family are here.