Mamadou’s story

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What’s your name?

Mamadou Diallo

When and where were you born?

In Guinea, in West Africa.

What year did you arrive in Annecy, France?

Let’s just say, I don’t have the exact dates in my head, but I was in middle school. It was before COVID. I was 14. I know this because people said it so often that it’s was like it was written on my forehead.

 

Why did you come to Annecy, France?

1. There’s nothing better than a good summer by Lake Annecy.
2. What’s prettier than this mountain? Haute-Savoie, how do you say it? It’s high culture, you know.
3. There’s nothing better than good cheese in the middle of winter.
4. Fondue, impeccable, ah, fondue. It’s so mouth-melting.
5. Ahh, let me see. At sunrise, Annecy is beautiful. At sunset, it’s even better. I like Annecy.

How has Lake Aid helped you?

I first met Suzanne as a French teacher in middle school. Later, I was able to go on outings with Lake Aid, like learning to ski: he told me to make pizza (the snowplow), so I made pizza all day, until it hurt!

During the pandemic, I was given a tablet so I could continue my studies remotely. Then there were also Christmas boxes and activities during the holidays every year.

What is your job now?

Anything that moves, anything manual, I like. Now, I work in the cold. [He’s a refrigeration engineer.]

What do you like most about your life now?

Everything, I like everything. I like waking up in the morning without knowing what I’m going to discover during the day. I love my friends. When I’m with them, I sometimes forget all my worries, as if I could fly.

My colleagues are okay. I love my hair to death. And I love food.

What do you like least about your life now?

Getting out of bed in the morning. Waking up is okay, but getting out of bed is hard for me. I sleep very soundly—I can even sleep standing up.

Is there anything you’d like to say to the Lake Aid volunteers who helped you?

Thank you! Thank you for giving your time. When you’re young, you don’t value time. But now I understand that time is precious.