Standing Out in Poland

Hello everyone. My name is Ropafadzo Mutanga and I am 20 years old. Well as you the title of the post you are probably wondering what I am mean by that. I am an African girl in a European country, my skin color is the first thing people notice about me here, which can be both entertaining and scary at the same time.
Here is a little background on me, I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, which is in Southern Africa (not to be mistaken for South Africa which is its own country). Growing up I always went to integrated schools and was always in very diverse environments. I traveled a lot and been to many countries around the world, thus being introduced to different nationalities and cultures. I was pretty educated on the difference between people around the world.
Back to where I grew up, growing up in Zimbabwe was beyond amazing. We are very cultured but modern. We were surrounded by wildlife within driving distance, where I grew up knowing and having seen all the animals of safari and so many wonderful picturesque sceneries and having vast knowledge on these things. I also grew up in a country that was very diverse with many different people from different cultures, countries, religions, and races. So for me, I never really faced any issues of being a person of a different race because we all just lived together with each other and went to the same schools or hang-out spots, just generally saw each other as humans, not white people, black or Asian.
Now coming to Poland, I knew it was going to be very different. From past travels, I already knew that European countries were not that diverse as African countries or America, but it never really bothered me as much because I was in those countries for a short amount of time. This time it was very different, I was coming to Poland for education and that meant staying in Poland for a long time. I was really nervous and excited when I was coming here but never really thought my race would be as big of an issue as it is because I did know I was going to stand out but not that much.
Upon arrival and my first week here, I was faced with the hard truth, that I stood out like a sore thumb. I tried very hard not to let it get to me as much but the first month was the hardest. The constant stares I would get just walking down the road, or going on public transport was honestly the hardest for me. It made me feel like I was just some animal in the zoo for people to look at and stare at and made me feel really uncomfortable and self-conscience about myself and what I wore. At first, I would wear very bland clothing that wasn’t my usual style because I tried not to stand out as much as I already did.
I then slowly got used to the stares and whispers and some of the rude comments I would get for being a different race and slowly got my confidence back. It was then when I realized that not only was I from a different country but from a different world. In the world I am from people aren’t seen by race or ethnicity but just seen as people, they aren’t prejudged or people have already have made a conclusion about you based on stereotypes that they have heard.
But I cannot really blame the people of Poland for their way of thinking because they have not really been introduced to this type of life of diversity and living together in peace and seeing each other as people and not seeing someone different and making them feel uncomfortable and not welcomed or just self-conscience about themselves that they have to try to hide their true selves but at the same time this day and age of technology and internet people should be more knowledgeable or accepting of others,
Poland still has a long way to go but at least one thing I can really praise the people of Poland for is that they are not racist or discriminatory but they can make you feel uncomfortable. And being a young African girl before I enter any situation I always have to make sure the people I will be around are comfortable with me being the race I am before I can get comfortable and try to relax, I am constantly walking around with my walls up and already in defensive mode in case I enter a situation where I have to retreat into a place where I have to be really protective but once I find people like accept me for who I am, you truly see the beauty and kindness of the people.