Yassine
“At the wrong moment, with the wrong words“
Born and raised in Marrakesh, Morocco, Yassine came to Germany in 2014 in order to attend the university. Ever since, he studies sports and sports science at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The city? Quite conservative, just like the whole state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Yassine says. But for him, it’s the mixture of hospitality, friends, family and his studies that just fits. He does not want individual cases of racism to overshadow his seven years in Mainz.
How did you experience coming to Mainz – did you feel welcome?
Well, at the beginning it was a little difficult, I have to say. Because you have no friends, no acquaintances, no family. But you also have to be honest: Mainz is a city that is very hospitable. The people most definitely are. It’s not like in other big cities where everything is just so routine and it’s all about work and all about performance. But Mainz is a city that still has small town vibes.
Did you find it easy to integrate then?
I would lie If I said it is easy. It’s not, you first have to understand German society, you have to approach other people. I play tennis as a hobby and there I usually only meet Germans or only play against Germans and that’s where you really see this hospitality. Some people are more open than others, but that’s just the way it is. In every nation, in every country, in every city, you find people that are open and some that are not.
“Once at a tennis match I definitely experienced racism. I can understand: In sports there are emotions and you let them out – maybe at the wrong moment, with the wrong word. “
Did you sometimes experience some kind of racism?
Once at a tennis match I definitely experienced racism. At the time I didn’t quite perceive it, because I didn’t understand the word at the beginning. I can’t mention the word here. But I heard it from my teammates later on. And then there was also a bit of a dispute between the two clubs. But I can understand: In sports there are emotions and you let them out – maybe at the wrong moment, with the wrong words. But I have also experienced racism elsewhere. Here in Mainz, that is, two or three times. But I can’t focus on the two or three times and then forget the seven years I’ve lived here.