I never left Gambia before I came to Greece. I’ve been living in Greece for two years now and I start to feel like a local here in Athens.

Every day I study at the American College in Athens. Being engaged in different social activities helped me to increase my social network and to build new friendships. Through social media I keep in contact with my friends and family in Gambia.

Sometimes I feel like there is a barrier when I try to speak to new people. I’m afraid of how they will react. Maybe they are prejudiced. At the end, I often keep to myself and don’t approach them at all.

I’m looking for a job, but it is not easy to find work in Greece. I have sent my CV to several companies, but the language barrier is a huge issue. I’m taking Greek language classes, but it takes time to learn a new language.

As a recognized refugee I can travel to other European countries, but at the moment I want to focus on my studies entirely.

– Bunja