I am an Afghan from Panjshir province, Afghanistan.
For most of my life, I lived in my homeland. Everything changed when the Taliban took over the country. Like many others, I was forced to leave behind the only home I had ever known. That moment marked the beginning of a long and difficult journey toward Germany.
My route here was through smuggling. First, I crossed into Pakistan, then Iran, and from there into Turkey. Each border was another test, another uncertainty. From Turkey, I continued through Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland, country after country, moving forward with the hope of safety. Eventually, after all those borders and hardships, I reached Germany. It has now been about two years since I arrived.
When I first came, I went straight to the refugee camp. I had no place to stay, no relatives waiting for me, nowhere to call home. Life in the camp is not easy, but it is manageable. The days can be tiring, but we have no choice except to endure them.
I haven’t participated in camp activities, partly because I’m waiting for the result of my asylum interview. I’ve already submitted my case and received a bank card and other documents. I haven’t started a language course yet for the same reason, I need to know my fate first before deciding on the next steps.
The camp itself doesn’t organize any activities for us. If we want to do something, we must leave the camp and find it ourselves. So, for now, I don’t make many plans. Everything depends on the answer to my case. Once I receive it, I’ll decide whether to continue my studies, start working, or both.
The camp environment is crowded with people from many ethnicities and backgrounds. Sometimes tensions rise, and conflicts break out. I try to stay away from anything that could turn into a fight. I believe nothing good comes from war or conflict, I’ve seen too much of that already.
When the atmosphere feels heavy or when I’m mentally tired, I step outside to breathe fresh air. Going out helps clear my mind. I also spend time with my Afghan friends here. There are a handful of us, and being together gives us a sense of familiarity and comfort.
The government provides us with 400 euros a month. We are not allowed to cook in the camp, but we can cook in the apartment-like rooms they have given us. There are many rooms, shared by refugees like me, and at least inside those walls we can prepare our own food.
My biggest wish for now is simple: I want my case to be approved. If that happens, I can finally get my own house, start a language course, work, and build my future properly. Everything depends on that first step.
As for memories, I consider all these days part of my story, both the difficult moments and the small joys. Spending time with friends, laughing together, sharing meals, these small moments have become our happiness, our way of creating memories in a place far from home.
For the future, I dream of studying, working, and eventually visiting Iran, where my family, my parents and siblings, are staying. I hope one day I can see them again, safe and at peace.
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