His father’s love brought him to Rotterdam at the age of nine. “When I arrived at Schiphol, I mainly saw a lot of rain. I immediately thought: shit, this is not where I want to be,” laughs Fallou from Gambia. “I was also so young back then, I didn’t actually know where I was, I didn’t realize. I only knew I was going to live with my father’s girlfriend.”
That girlfriend lived in Rotterdam and so did Fallou. “Everything was new, the language, the people…” Especially the people surprised him. “I come from a neighbourhood where we are not used to people of different nationalities. In The Gambia, everyone is just from The Gambia. So I thought the Netherlands was a white country so I would only see white people. But I like the fact that there are so many nationalities here. That way I don’t feel alone. And so I can get to know different kinds of people and food. I especially like the different restaurants here.”
Family and food from Gambia
Still, he sometimes misses Gambia… “I especially miss my family and the food. Fortunately, my father can still make food from Gambia. I used to be able to dance Gambian, but I can’t do that anymore. I am a bit stiff,” he laughs. Unfortunately, there are few people from the Gambia in Rotterdam. Then again, it is only a small country. The last time he was in the Gambia was four years ago. Fortunately, he is still in touch with his family using whatsapp.
Making friends with Dutch
Now he has lived in Rotterdam for six years: first in Coolhaven, now in Charlois. By now he is used to the weather, has many friends and speaks fluent Dutch. “I learned that at the transition class. At home, my mother also talked more Dutch, so I learnt it a bit faster. That way I could also make friends faster. Even though there were children from many different countries in my class and we spoke a bit of English with each other there.” That is also his advice for other newcomers to feel at home in Rotterdam quickly. “Do your best to learn the language. And you should live in Rotterdam anyway.”