Demi Nutsugah is a young woman from Ghana studying at Freiberg University

AK: How long have you been living in Freiberg now?

DN: I have been living here since September 2006.

AK: Why did you come to Freiberg?

DN: I came here to study. I have a background in natural resources management. But I wanted to have the opportunity to have access to other fields of the business sector and still maintain my environmental field. I found this course through a friend and I felt it was good for me. I checked it out on the net, it was good, and I took the opportunity to come here.

AK: How is your feeling as an international student in Freiberg?

DN: I must say the first time I arrived I was impressed because of this mentor programme that is organised by the university to help foreign students, who are coming here, to settle in Freiberg. I had a very good mentor, so my first days here were very smooth. I really appreciated it. Since then, well… Freiberg is a bit isolated. I’m used to being in a very busy environment. I think that’s about the only problem I have so far.

AK:Do you think it makes a difference for you to be black in comparison to other international students in Freiberg?

DN: Oh yes, it does. Obviously, the colour is very different and being a lady as well makes it even more obvious because you get all kinds of funny stares when you are walking through the town. It does. There is a difference. You feel it in the little, little actions going on around you.

AK:Can you give examples?

DN: Yes, there was one time I was coming back from doing my grocery shopping in Kaufland. On our way back we were walking along the street and there were these guys who were in a car driving past. I was chatting with my colleague who is from Cameroon. We just heard that these people were trying to draw our attention, “hey, hey, hey…”. We turned, and then they were showing us the finger. It was a bit unnerving at first, but I just said it’s best ignoring them. And I just overlooked it and we had a laugh and just left it at that.

Besides walking through town sometimes makes me feel like I am a science specimen under scrutiny from all eyes. At the beginning, it made me feel very awkward but with time I realised that it was curiosity that made people stare the way they did. It still is a little irritating but I have learnt to deal with it and really appreciate it when people approach me to talk to me so I can make them see how human I also am.

Another thing I noticed, was that, on the average, townspeople do not really dress to suit occasions so when I dress up and go out, it makes me stick out like a sore thumb . But hey, it’s good to look, feel and dress good.

AK:Would you say that it makes a difference here at the university?

DN: In part it does, because there is quite a wide variety of international students in Freiberg. It’s basically with the town that people who are not exposed to having travelled before and don’t know that there are other people who exist in this world. They are the ones who kind of make you feel that you are different.

AK:How do you walk around in the city? Do you go out without any problems, especially in the evenings?

DN: During the day I’m very fine because there are people around. But for instance if I’m coming back to Freiberg and it’s very late I don’t consider walking home. I take a taxi and go straight to my Wohnheim. But during the day it’s fine. There are loads of people around. But in the evenings I tend to be extra cautious. It’s better safe than sorry.

Das Interview führte Anton Kir.