Omar
Omar was born in Panama and raised in Libya. He previously studied in Cyprus before moving to Cracow, Poland, where he is currently living.
In Libya, his family was forcibly displaced while he was a child at school. People who wanted his family to leave were writing messages on walls threatening his family with violence and guns.
He became one of the most successful and well-known students of International Relations at Jagiellonian University in Cracow, always smiling and keeping his back straight.
He told us, "I have no reason to be sad because I didn't have the worst that could happen".
Omar
My name is Omar. I’m 24 years old. I’m originally from Panama, but I was raised in Libya. I’ve been living in Poland for 4 years now.
Home to me is not necessarily a fixed place; to me, it can also be a shared mutual feeling with people. Home could be where your family or workplace is placed. I would say it is more about what you feel. Despite having a family on two different continents, the place that has given me the feeling of being at home is Poland.
It’s comfort and ease of mind. Being able to do what you want. The freedom of speaking what’s on your mind and being true to yourself.
.
Raised in Libya
I spent my childhood and teenage years in Libya.
There are several reasons why I decided to move away from home. The thoughts first came after the Civil War in Libya in 2011.
The instability and ongoing conflict still influence my decision to live away from home.
Why did I want to go?
Libya is quite a conservative country given that the majority is Sunni Muslim. The society was under an authoritarian regime for over 40 years.
There was constant surveillance and no freedom of expression. Growing up as a teenager, it was common to live in a bubble isolated from western society. There was a ban and general distrust towards any import or foreign ideology.
I came from a middle-class background with working parents. It was not common for women to work corporate jobs as most women were stay-at-home moms. My family was very open-minded. We frequently traveled abroad and were far from a “traditional” family. Nowadays, traveling abroad is a distant dream for locals due to our economy and visa difficulties.
In childhood
My country
We have had several armed militias fighting against each other and a constant change of governments over the past 10 years.
There are no signs of progress and locals are exhausted watching the same repeating scenarios and failures. Indifference is the worst emotion that a person can feel.
While I was growing up, people around me had dreams of moving abroad and getting a well-paid job. Most people were humble while a few had living ambitions or fantasies of “Hollywood” movies, including me.
Sadly, this new generation is driven by money and greed. The dream is to have fancy cars and power. But behind power is fear. Our society has suffered for years under the rule of fear that is still implemented in our mindset. Respect can only be gained with fear which is an act that is widely implemented by armed militias.
A lack of knowledge and weapons is a deadly combination.
I lost my home
I lost my home in 2011.
After the fall of the regime, there was a lot of chaos and anarchy in the following years.
During this period, we were threatened to leave our lawful home by a criminal group who claimed to own the land many years ago.
Upon refusal to leave, our home was broken into several times along with threats and intimidation tactics such as yelling, silent calls, and destroying our property. The worst was when our home was stormed by an armed militia and my father was questioned based on a false accusation in a separate incident.
We were unable to sleep due to the stress and paranoia. There was only so much that we could endure mentally. As we reached our breaking point, we decided to temporarily move to a rental with a few of our belongings.
However, our home was demolished to the ground the next day. We felt helpless.
I lost my home
I lost my home in 2011.
After the fall of the regime, there was a lot of chaos and anarchy in the following years.
During this period, we were threatened to leave our lawful home by a criminal group who claimed to own the land many years ago.
Upon refusal to leave, our home was broken into several times along with threats and intimidation tactics such as yelling, silent calls, and destroying our property. The worst was when our home was stormed by an armed militia and my father was questioned based on a false accusation in a separate incident.
We were unable to sleep due to the stress and paranoia. There was only so much that we could endure mentally. As we reached our breaking point, we decided to temporarily move to a rental with a few of our belongings.
However, our home was demolished to the ground the next day. We felt helpless.
Free to fly
I graduated high school in 2015 and the first country that I went to was Cyprus.
I moved to Cyprus to study Accounting and Finance.
Cyprus
A sunny island by the Mediterranean. Sounds like a dream, right?
Not really. I struggled a lot trying to adjust to a new society. As much as I had traveled the world and tasted different cultures, I simply could not shake off the issues and mentality that I had experienced back home.
Perhaps it was wrong timing or a lack of maturity. I found myself very isolated and leaned more towards people of my culture and nationality as a way to feel closer to home, even if I did not share the same ambitions or lifestyle. Looking back, I regret seeking the approval of others to not be alone.
Good decisions come from experience, but experience comes from making bad decisions
First visit to Cracow
It was just a visit. We were just to have a look at the city.
Luckily, I also went to see the university.
Jagiellonian University
I was accepted into the Jagiellonian University.
At first, I had fears of not integrating due to the language barrier and conservative society. My family and friends were not supportive of my initial decision. Poland was thought to have “soviet” mentality according to those around me.
I decided to face my fears and took a leap of faith. It did not take long for me to fall in love with Krakow and the rest of the country. My personality, mentality, and wisdom completely changed positively. Suddenly, I felt fearless and confident in everything that I touched. I describe it to people as a “First Love”. It is intense and at times blinding. An unforgettable emotion that can touch or shape you.
As a way of giving back, I participated in several volunteering roles from multicultural events, crowdfunding, and teaching to migrant/refugee projects. I still hold some of these roles today.
Poland became my home
Poland was definitely my first try at almost everything. I had a lot of first-time experiences here, that’s why I have an affection towards Poland.
I was very happy, I did my best, being in different social groups at my university as well. I think I achieved a lot of things I thought I never was capable of. I began a journey of volunteering outside of class and at my student association, which I later became the president of. Growing up, I was never extroverted enough, and I was eager to change that.
I was invited to take part in an advertising campaign for Jagiellonian University on social media and to the public. Certain people may find it small but for me it was a personal achievement that reminded me of how hard I tried to improve and push myself as a person. Looking at a poster of myself in one of the largest medieval squares in Europe was one of my proudest moments.
What can I say to the strangers?
Take the time and effort to learn, respect, and adjust. Society is not here to serve me, rather I’m here to serve them.
My story has just begun
If you were to ask me two years ago, if I wanted to go back to Libya, I’d have probably said: “Maybe in the future…”
A lot has changed since I left home. My family lives on two different continents and my father passed away two years ago. The sudden loss of my father was devastating and completely changed my perspective and behavior towards my life choices.
My father was the most motivated towards me going back to Libya to start a family, take care of my parents and help in the rebuilding of the new generation. But he passed away, and I don’t feel that I can contribute in any way to my country. Perhaps it is a temporary coping mechanism or emotion, but his death felt like losing a part of myself and my identity.
I accepted that I will make the best of where I am. At this moment, I have a stable job, a good circle of friends, and a partner who makes me feel at home. It’s where you feel safe, appreciated, and respected for your efforts and freedom to be yourself.
