As a new student at Chelsea this year and a refugee (due to this status his home country will be kept unnamed), Freshman Mamadou Doumboya brings a rich tapestry of experiences from around the world. Over the years, Doumboya has learned to speak four languages fluently: Peul, French, Sou Sou, and Spanish. Peul and Sou Sou, languages probably unheard of by most Chelsea students, are some of the languages spoken in a handful of countries in Africa.

“Many African countries have very different languages,” Doumboya said. “In neighboring country Mali, they speak a completely different language than [my country]. Countries like Senegal speak Sou Sou as well, although it’s a different [dialect], so French is more commonly spoken across countries.”

Here in Chelsea, the majority of the students have taken either Spanish or French classes. They know the process of learning even one new language is very time-consuming. Some languages are easier to learn than others; French and Spanish are both Romance languages, helping the learning process transfer in theory. Having experience in learning a variety of languages derived from very different groups, Doumboya gives insight into his process.

“Peul is my first language,” Doumboya said. “I learned Sou Sou after that. In the four to five months I was in Grand Rapids, I learned Spanish. [However,] English has been much harder [to learn] than Spanish.”

Language barriers are something that Doumboya has overcome many times before, as is a change in community. Moving to a new country, or even a new city, can often make one feel out of place. However, Doumboya has found activities in Chelsea that are familiar to him. 

“I’ve played soccer for as long as I can remember,” Doumboya said. “[On the high school team,] I watch and see what the others are doing. Sometimes, I’ll ask the players who speak Spanish. Although I can’t always understand the others, I enjoy playing nonetheless.”

Soccer isn’t the only thing that Doumboya is familiar with. Amongst the unique characteristics of the Midwest is our winter’s intensity. A question commonly posed to foreign students is, “Have you seen snow before?” Doumboya has experienced a Michigan snowfall once before, having previously lived in Grand Rapids. However, that doesn’t mean he is a fan of the frigid precipitation.

“I’ve seen the snow, It’s pretty but cold,” Doumboya said. “I hate the cold, it’s terrible. The summer is beautiful, but the rest is too cold for me.”

While he isn’t the biggest fan of cold weather, there are other things that he does enjoy during the lower-temperature seasons.

“I went to a haunted house,” Doumboya said. “I wasn’t scared for most of it, until the end where there was a guy with a chainsaw who chased us. That part was scary but it was a cool [experience] anyway.”

Despite the challenges that come with adjusting to a new culture, Doumboya is eager to explore new opportunities in Chelsea.

“I am going to [try out playing] basketball,” Doumboya said. “I don’t know how [to play]. It seems like soccer but with five people and a small goal. I’ve never played before, but I [am excited to] learn.”