Linda and Promise, a Nigerian student couple, decided to leave their homeland and continue their education in Poland. During a time of pandemic, they came to a completely new place and focused on their development.

Their relocation was not only over many thousands of kilometres, but also across the large cultural gap that separates Africa and Europe.

To get to know the Nigerian couple better, please read the interview.

Welcome Centre: Welcome to KUE’s International Ambassadors! We are delighted that you joined us! Let's start with a short introduction from you.

Linda: Thank you. I'm excited about the project as well. Maybe I will start with a few words about me. My name is Linda Akabudu and I am a full-time student of Modern Business Management at the KUE. Promise and I we moved to Poland from Nigeria over a year ago.

Promise: And I am Promise Akabudu. Like Linda, I am doing my MA here.

Welcome Centre: And why did you decide to move to Poland?

Promise: Honestly, we just wanted to continue our studies in Europe. We considered the costs, quality of education and the destination, and we came to the conclusion that Poland would be the best choice. We compared several academic rankings and decided on the KUE.

Welcome Centre: And how are your impressions? Did your research turn out to be accurate?

Linda: So far it's been great. We are very pleased with the classes and our professors. I am also happy that the university staff mostly have no problem communicating in English, which makes many things easier.

Promise: That's true. On that issue, we have found the university to be very friendly towards international students. We are also lucky to study with many expats, which means that there are no communication barriers among us.

Welcome Centre: Good to hear that! Most international students complain about having trouble communicating. Have you learned some Polish to help avoid such situations?

Linda: So far, we've been learning from a mobile app. Thanks to this, we already understand the basics, but we still need to keep improving our Polish. Fortunately, we are now surrounded by this language, both at university and at work, and I hope we will be able to speak better Polish soon.

Welcome Centre: How about your activities outside the university?

Promise: We were unlucky to join the KUE in the middle of a pandemic period. I really wanted to get into the football team, but my plans had to wait because of COVID-19. It was also the case that various activities were offered in Polish only, which made us unable to participate in them.

Linda: However, despite the pandemic, we managed to successfully apply for an Erasmus + exchange to Münster, Germany. I was surprised that we both qualified and were not separated as a couple. I am very grateful for this opportunity and for the support of the administration staff.

Promise: I will also remember it as a good experience. I came to study in Europe with development in mind, and such opportunities only confirm that it was the right decision.

Welcome Centre: We love your attitude. On the other hand, given that you already have experience of living in such different places, we are curious whether you spotted any differences between Nigeria, Poland and Germany.

Promise: Well, to be honest, the disparity is very clear. There are a lot of differences between Polish people and Nigerians, especially in human interactions. In Nigeria we are very loud and sociable. Everybody talks to and greets each other, while in Europe I don't see such an approach.

Linda: At first, we even thought that maybe our neighbours are racist because they didn't interact with us, but later it turned out that it is normal here.

Welcome Centre: Cultural differences can be surprising. So can the local food. Speaking of which, how do you find the local cuisine?

Promise: I think Linda will agree with me that home flavours will always come first. We tried many Polish and German dishes, including dumplings and our favourite kumpir [ed. baked potato, stuffed and seasoned]. But Nigerian food will invariably taste best for me.

Linda: That’s true. But I also want to tell a funny story related to eating in restaurants. When we visited one in Poland for the first time and I asked for water, the waiter offered us still or sparkling water. We didn't know the difference. In Nigeria, no one adds bubbles to your water. What surprised us later was also that you pay for it. In Africa, water in restaurants is always free.

Promise: I have another anecdote, I must also add that Nigerians do not care so much about punctuality – I call it the “African sense of time”. In Poland, I once had a football game at 6:00 PM and arrived 20 minutes late, but everybody was already all on the sports ground playing. It is also an example of how our cultures differ.

Welcome Centre: Amusing stories! But staying with this positive atmosphere: do you have anything to say to other international students, applicants or anyone who may hesitating or afraid to go abroad to study? Your path to the KUE was very long, and yet you managed to find it very well! What is your secret?

Promise: I would like to say two things. Firstly to the university authorities about recruiting people from Africa – in our case, we had to come and take entrance exams on the spot, which most people outside of Europe cannot do as we need a visa. The second thing is more optimistic. To convince those hesitating, let me just say I am certainly not finishing my studies with a certificate only. I am completing them with two years of invaluable international experience.

Linda: Indeed. There are many programmes and numerous partnerships with external companies that give students the opportunity to broaden their CV and their portfolio while still studying. I can confidently recommend KUE to any foreign student.

Welcome Centre: Thank you very much! We think it is very important what you shared.

Promise: Thank you for the opportunity to participate!

Linda: It was a real pleasure! Good luck for the future!