Popular Zimbabwean vlogger, Carrie (26), speaks about how she moved to Poland to study beauty science, from Zimbabwe, and is feeling sad.

In this episode, Carrie says she feels like she has not achieved what she expected with her life at this stage. She is also not happy that it is difficult to get a part time job in the city she is living.

Carrie says after studying for her Bachelor ‘s degree in South Africa, she went back to Zimbabwe where she worked for about 3 years.

Eventually, the situation in Zimbabwe got so bad and her mother suggested a degree in Poland.

Please read the full transcript of  her video below and watch the full video above this post.

Transcript

So I had studied in South Africa, and they ended up going back to my country in Zimbabwe. And luckily, I feel like new. I don’t know, I, it didn’t take long for me to get a job after my graduation. So I worked at the job for a little while.

And then

that job ended up not working out. I stopped, I was an employed for a little bit of time again and then I got another job. Got my second job And around that time, that’s when things started to really get bad in Zimbabwe, like your salary could be something today and then the next day, it’s nearly nothing, and there was no peanuts Like usually I was at this dead end job, and in peanuts I couldn’t do anything that myself, but then to some extent, I was I was content because I don’t know about you guys but where I’m from, to go to school and then you go to school,

you

get a job in GE from hand to mouth. That in itself to some extent is considered to be some kind of success. So, in a way, I was kind of grateful to at least have a job that I could wake up and go to because, also if you didn’t know like, the unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is wild. So, in as much as this job was not doing so much for me it was not leading me anyway. I was kind of grateful for it. So yeah, but they’re not always complained to my parents and like I feel like I’m not doing anything, yada yada yada yada. So my mom comes with this idea of coming to Poland. And I was like,

Poland.

I had never heard of the country, honestly I’ve never heard of the country like there’s a country called Poland in Europe, okay. So yeah,

she’s like,

I think one of your friends. Her son was applying to the same university that she suggested and she was like, well, the fees are not really bad and then compared to my first question lives we literally had to pay for that, through the nose for the light care the fees are not so bad, you could study nursing is a lucrative industry what

not what not and always hold up,

nursing,

no no no no.

So the moment that she said, nursing, she lost me be in I never considered it for like another two or three months, because I was like, there is no way I’m taking a turn into that industry I just don’t see myself in that industry. I don’t think I’m built for it and I also don’t think that it’s a job that I would enjoy and find fulfilment in. So when she was like, she told me that it’s a nursing school, so I was like, I’m not even gonna look at it like I’m going to look into it, because it’s you know it’s something that I’m not interested. I mean I left it for like two months. The main just continued to do my dead end job, waking up, going to work, getting peanuts and stuff like that. And maybe she came back again. My mom is a relentless person it’s just like, Well, you never came back to me with that missing opportunity, what not, not, not, and I was like, I’m going to look at it. Now, at this point, things have really gone bad. Like, it was so bad, you know, things like just having no more power like electricity has become a luxury, having running your time has become a luxury

and I was like,

no, No, no,

I can’t believe like this, and it was just so bad.

And I was like,

let me look at this thing, even if I don’t like it, I’m just gonna suck it up and I’ll just do it. So I’m like okay fine, send me the links again. So she sent me the link, and then when I was on the University website. I go through the nursing and like my heart is just not into it because you know, you know when you don’t make something. I was like, I can’t do it in my university, they don’t have a lot of programs, and then they had business which was not an option because I’ve already done business. I mean they had tourism again. It wasn’t my type of thing. And when I saw that they had a beauty science program. I was like, Okay, this is something I can do. I actually got excited when I discovered that there just be defined rules and I’m very passionate about all things beauty life because that’s something that I’ve really enjoyed. So,

I was so happy I was like oh my God

and I was so excited, I didn’t know there was anything called Beauty science at university level, I knew like people did like makeup diplomas massage, you know, that type of thing I didn’t know there was like a degree for beauty science. So I was really excited about it. So I think I even called my mom like when I still had the page of like Hi mom. I went to the site and I saw this and I’m like, Okay, I will agree to go to school, if you let you study beauty science. I don’t know about you guys but like most African parents be like, you’re the confessional studies like your normal business. Being a doctor and nursing like not many parents will be receptive of paying 1000s of dollars into their child studying beauty science, because she grew up, my parents have never been the kind that that would say to you, you have to do this or we’re not going to support you like they always support me in whatever I do like, even if I decided

to

start selling bricks right now. They would be like, my biggest cheerleader they’ve always been major cause you can study whatever you want, you know, as long as you’re out of the while they just want was for me to leave the country’s like of course, you can study whatever you want. I talked to my dad, he agrees to word, and,

yeah,

I apply, and then a

few months later I was here,

I did a whole video about how I go to Poland like the process the paperwork and everything. I will link it in the cards up here, so you can check it out if you’re interested in, in the process.

So yeah that’s the story of how I ended up coming to a country that I’ve never had of like literally, I had a fit, I learned to fit in, maybe three months, I was applying to come here. So, obviously, like I was trying to like Google up the place, see what kind of plays, it was, but I don’t know if I have terrible research skills or what but like, I just couldn’t get any useful information, you know, so when I came here,

like

it was, it was a blind decision. To be

honest, I was like, You know what, it’s a European country, we’ll be fine. There’s no way it’s gonna be worse than this, we know, which was true also. So yeah, it was a blind decision and everything it was everything that I’ve experienced is the new discovery and I was like, okay, so this is the face. This is what they do, and stuff like that. So now I’m just going to take you through my journey of how I traveled from Zimbabwe to Poland, because I think on that journey. I had some of the most cultural

shocks that I’ve ever experienced in my life. Before coming to Poland. I had never been to other countries that were outside of Africa. So this was like, initially, my first time being in a country that is outside of Africa, and all my god

knows I

got my visa, it didn’t take me to like it didn’t even take me up to a week to go over the country because I was already late. Remember, like when my mom initially came with the program and stuff, I was reluctant so by the time I got my visa school had been open for like a month or two, so I didn’t have time to be saying goodbye to my friends and all that like it was, get your visa in the country. So yeah, I had, I think had to change my flights to

two times,

So I had one from

Zim to essay that was okay. I was sitting next to these are the girls that were, I think they were going to FA for a holiday that was fine. This is something that I’m familiar with. I mean, I’ve done this before

they even ask me like,

can you take us pictures I take some pictures and everything converges. Before we know it’s the main essay from essay. I got on a flight that was going to Qatar, is it Qatar or Qatar. I don’t know. But yeah, I got on a flight though was going to Qatar and then from Qatar I will then go to Poland.

So yeah, the flight

as well was okay. I was conversing with the person sitting next to me. I think my shock started when I landed in Qatar, and I had 334 hour layover. So, we’re in the new the laundry just sit waiting for your plane because I’ve been taking arrived at a good time, like 12, midnight or something like that. So yeah, we’re certainly remember just being the only black person in that lounge way. The fight was gonna go to Poland. And I was like, there is no way. There is no way of like I’m

looking around and I literally

could not see any other black person, like

oh wow okay.

Add to that I didn’t hear a single person speaking English, and you know like if you’ve ever had Polish people speaking, they sound like you’re fighting. Like, wow. Okay, and what can we get on our flight, and it’s the same way, I was literally actively looking for black people and I could not see, you know, a black person around me and I’m like, what they are places like this. I’ve only ever been exposed to black people, being the majority. So I was like wow. In the end, the fact that nobody is saying anything that I can understand. Except for me with the flight attendants and the captain. So I was like wow, okay. Okay, so we get to shopping, airport in Warsaw, and I had like the

worst

airport experience ever in my life. So we get there, and people are getting no like, what do you call it, like stemmed into the country and stuff like that comes, I give the guy my passport. And then he says, Are you here to study in life, yes. And he’s like, can I see your, I don’t know a letter that he wanted from school, but I had it, so I gave him, and he was like when he says you’re supposed to start school, you don’t understate remember I’ve almost two months late for school. So when I gave him the extension letter that I also had, and he still wouldn’t like stamp my passport and then be called another immigration officer and his like, they take my passport and my letters from squeeze like calm. Can you please follow me.

Oh my gosh, what’s going on,

are they going to send me back and I much really. I am an over thinker, so like at this point, my brain is making up the worst case scenarios and stuff like that.

DON What

am I going into like, I, in my mind I have already been told. We are not going to let you to this country, you have to go back like does this scenario that I

had already created in my mind,

like my opinion, please come with me.

So we go into this office, and it’s like, we just want to check a few things because here it seems like you’re supposed to be starting school. On this day to within your two months late, what not, what not. I was like, but I also have an extension for my. So, how is that a problem,

you know,

it just didn’t make sense to me. And then, so I just sit there. Initially I thought like it was a race thing. I mean, by this time, because I think the time we arrived. Our flight was the only one that had been done. So, by this time, the airport is practically empty, like everyone that I was in the same flight that they’ve already gone except me in this other white person, so I thought like maybe it’s a race thing.

Why is also this girl, you know,

being boarded by these immigration people. I don’t know, even up until now, I don’t know what it was about. So yeah, we sit there,

and then

another like immigration officers keep kept coming and changing, and then another one comes in,

like, can you please go through your bag,

like my hand luggage and they go through everything, like oh my gosh, what’s up to those people and now you know you pack your bags yourself and you know you didn’t carry anything illegal or anything like that but at this point I was just like oh my gosh, what do you like me something and ego and mean, maybe they don’t want to.

But what in this thing,

I think I had what cosmetics and other stuffs. So

yeah, my brain

was just overworking and in the chair, they don’t find anything. Even is like, come with me to where we going, and then we kept going downstairs, you know like when you go underground, like when you’re on the left foot one floor, and you go to the underground flow and felt like we went to, like, three underground floors, we give the, I think I went through like you know those really heavy security doors. I think we went through like a four of those. And then we get into this room, they were like, all the immigration officers like six or seven of them. I didn’t even take my bags you guys at an event take my bags, they took the bullies in there like abuse your bags. I’m like, yes they are. Now I’m trying to really think through

everything that I packed. And now I’m also thinking what if somebody made me

knock something in my bag, like my mind was just going crazy and like, these are my bags and they were like, You pack them yourself. And I was like, Yes I did.

I was so scared you guys, I was so scared. And then they were like, Oh, could you please open them for us. I was like, Okay,

I opened my bags, and they go through every little thing that I had packed my bag, didn’t find anything. And now, like, I’m okay. It means like so. I think they could tell that I was really scared. And then the same time doing maybe trying to make me comfortable because like, now in the

like I had really carried a lot of warm stuff.

So now we need them like oh so you had that Poland this code and there’ll be like laughing and kind of joking,

but then I wouldn’t

laugh because I’m like,

you can’t be joking with me when you’re treating me like I’m a terrorist or something. And I was like, Yeah, I had this feeling like yeah you came prepared, and stuff like that I’m like, yep. So, um, they go through my stuff,

I had two really big bags.

They go through everything, they don’t find whatever it is doing looking for. And they were like, Okay, you can close them. That’s it.

Really, second concert you can close them and go.

Okay. So I close my bags and one of the immigration officers is like, Okay, I’ll show you out because I couldn’t just go back like I told you, we went through like four or five security drawers like high security doors, the door, I will take you back up,

like okay cool and.

Don’t worry, I’ll push your bags for you so now he’s pushing my bags for me, I only have my hand luggage. And yeah,

we went back to the

immigration desk,

I get my

passport stamped

and it’s like you’re free to go make, just like that. Even in like when you’re going on like I’m going to look into, like, oh okay, um, you’re not going to be able to get a train that goes to different from here so you have to go to the center and then

you go to Lubalin I’m like

okay and then he directs me when given a train, and stuff like that. Now we’re being like okay if they hadn’t been really mean but like he was being extra nice I guess because I don’t know they treated me like a terrorist, and they didn’t find whatever it is we’re looking for, and now they kind of thought back. I don’t know. But no, it was just being extra kind of all the best. Now, but she liked it here. So yeah, it’s now me and my two big bags, trying to get to the, to the train. So we get there. And so there’s this machine that you buy your tickets on. So the machine is they are struggling to figure out how it works because in my country, you go to a counter, you buy your ticket. New and go wherever you’re going, but then now I had to do it alone and I’m just blanking, and then the gentleman that was saying was like, Oh, do you need help, even spoke English. Like,

yes please,

I was like, Where do you want to go, like I’m trying to go to the center and so forth, that’s fine. I’m also going to the center so we can, you know, go together. So he buys my ticket,

wait for our train. And we bought in the

center, it wasn’t even like, I don’t think it was a long line. So we go to the sometimes like, are you here for the work and like no, I’m here to study and when to liberally, and stuff like that and I was like

cool okay that’s nice

and then we just start conversing, like what are you here to study I tell them and stuff. And then, yeah, so we get to the center, and he asks me like, Do you know where to get your tickets, and like, I don’t think I’m gonna know it’s like, we’ll figure it out together. So he, he takes me to buy my ticket and buy my ticket and click off. Do you have connection and like, she’s probably going to need a polish line. This ain’t your health couldn’t get my SIM card. And yeah, so take it for like an hour or two away and use like your silly take your train is gonna leave in about two hours you have time, would you like to

walk around and see

awesome like with this bag. Have you seen how big my bags I’m like oh no. And also there was the fact that I was afraid of being lifted by the train I’m like no no no no. So yeah, he says. So your train is going to be like, about two hours away. We can just have big plasma in my lab time.

Okay, so

now I’m being a little bit skeptical because, where I’m from

people,

I mean people are kind,

but they’re not

that kind now I’m thinking, oh

my gosh,

what if I don’t know I get stolen.

I just couldn’t think that this man was just being nice,

like,

but nonetheless, I agree. I’m like, Okay, I won’t go far since you said you don’t want to go far, so we go to the restaurant that was right inside the train station so yeah we just did they, I have my request and just chat out like so why did you decide to come to Poland. By this time, this was like I don’t know, the 20th time, somebody asked me why I am coming to Poland, like, I don’t know what’s up with Polish people in that question they always like every immigration officer I

met. Like,

why did you decide to come to Poland, why didn’t like.

Hello.

You know,

But yeah, so yeah we just um like I told him, like, No, it was a little bit cheaper, and stuff like that. So yeah, we just shut up until like it was time for me to go for my train. I get my train. And I’m on my way to look, but also is really also is like. It’s a beautiful city. It looks like you’re. It looks like you’re in the abroad.

So I want the train

from sitting by the window and

interesting the countryside to do the emphasis in the countryside here it’s not pretty, it’s not even prudently. Well, I, who would have thought that Europe has such an appealing places for Yeah, I’m just on my train. And I get to Lubalin now mind you I did not know anybody in this city like I didn’t know anybody from home. I didn’t know anyone here. So for me, like, settling down was very hectic. So yeah, I get here and I’m just looking, alone, everything for me was just so underwhelming. Because you know like when you’re told that this country is a new job. You’re thinking SkyRise beauty and all that, so I get the, this is all you know in that in the fact that now I have to be constantly glued to my phone, like if I want to talk to my taxi driver. I have to put it on Google Translate explained to him where I’m going, and the waste is going to take me to the wrong place, like, ever since I’ve gotten in this country. My phone has been my best friend because I can’t function without Google Translate. I don’t know if somebody’s saying that Polish people know how to speak English, they just don’t want to because they’re not confident, which to me, really doesn’t make it kind of doesn’t make sense. So, most of the times to navigate, I always use Google Translate. So yeah, I was like wow so this is going to be my,

my good Oh,

had to like navigate. Get lost. At this point I am now bearing in Weigh in spending so much money. You know like when I always think of the money that I spent on Ubers, in my first week. It makes me upset. So yeah, moving everywhere trying to figure things out and so now

our class is very small.

We only work for students in our semester, so it’s very small, everyone is friendly towards each other. So once I went for my first class, everything is simply cut better because now I had people who I could like, ask okay so what do I do when I do this, and then I also had

met another girl

that we’ve Lent, at the same school, so yeah. Once I started missing people, it kind of became medical things been there for longer, and they knew like the other way around. So I could always ask, okay, when do I get this. What should I do and stuff and so for me,

when I

moved here, working in my first semester was never an option, because I knew I had like

two months of school to catch up on sounds

like there is no way I’m going to be able to balance that. And a part time job. So my first semester and women have the job but in my, I had planned for my second semester going on. I needed to get a job, to

get a job.

Wow. Okay. I might have screwed myself over, because this, this is not a, like, trying to get a job in London is a job

on its own,

like, I can never stress this enough. Like people always ask me like, also would you advise someone to come, come to Poland, just don’t come to librium that honestly has been my stand point and point of view, and

it’s really

unfortunate that

I am here and I have kind of invested so much time, money, in the problem that I’m really doing because remember, when you come to university to pay for your first year. So in as much as I wanted to transfer,

I was like,

does it, does it make sense at this point, because after that year I was like no, I might as well

just suck

it up and finish it when I’m gonna front you guys,

I really,

this Slyke, I appreciate it because I mean, my life is so much better than when I was at home and as much as it’s not what I would have hoped for it to be. There is no denying that it’s so much better. But then sometimes I feel like I could be doing more, if I had just decided on a different city, or even if I decided on a different European country or stuff like that. I suppose the story of how I came to Poland, and why I did it because when I came to Poland. I don’t remember ever telling people, everybody was short like later on when I fit it made me posting pictures and stuff and people are like, where are you,

where are you

in Poland,

because when I came here. Remember, in my view, I’m always talking about the difference between my expectation and the reality. So when I first came here, like, in addition to the culture shock. In addition to like the whole city just being underwhelming to me. I literally became like a ghost, like I’m someone who’s active on social media I post I do everything, but like for like a good two or three months, I was quiet like I wouldn’t post anything I wouldn’t do anything. And then when I came back and I was posting people like, where are you. I’m like I’m in Poland it’s like, when did you go. It was like it was such a shock because I just it was so fast. It was so unplanned, I never got to say goodbye to anybody, I just lived, you know, that’s the story of how I came to Poland!