In 2020, Benjamin Zeier (42) emigrated to Curahuasi, Peru. Accompanied by “Goodbye Germany“, his wife Lena (39) and their five children. Since then he has been working as a doctor in a mission hospital – for free. The family’s life is financed solely by donations.

Son Lucas Zeier learned a lot about other cultures and gained self-confidence during his time in Peru. Now the 16-year-old is about to take the next step: moving to a Christian boarding school in Bath, England, founded in 1868. A very expensive boarding school – the parents were initially unaware of how expensive: the equivalent of 51,000 euros for a year.

“If I had known at the beginning what the school would cost, I honestly wouldn’t have had the courage to send an application there,” said the father of the family. “I still don’t know how we’re going to pay for all of this,” Benjamin admitted. “But I trust that whoever has taken care of us up to this point will always take care of us in time when the next bill comes.” His word in God’s ear.

“Goodbye Germany” emigrant Lucas: Hard first weeks at boarding school

Mama Lena had completely different worries: “I just feel way too young for my child to walk,” she mused. But their children’s education is important to the Zeiers. Like his siblings, Lucas had already attended a private school in Peru and was now grateful for the great opportunity that the new boarding school offered him – later he wanted to become a neurosurgeon…

When mum Lena visited her son in Bath three months later, he had an emotional roller coaster ride. The first two weeks were “terrible”. Actually, he was very keen on punctuality, and in the beginning he was constantly late everywhere because he got lost so often in the labyrinth-like building. He has also changed: “Because you only have the problems from here – which are real problems, but now really no problems on the level of Peru.”

“Goodbye Germany”: Emigrant Lucas fights at the elite boarding school

As he lives with his classmates, he notices how different he is from them: “Fun for me isn’t necessarily what fun is for them. It’s too loud and too messy for me and everything.” There are definitely a few people with whom he clicked – but with some others he “just doesn’t feel comfortable”.

Nobody at school is like him, nobody has even the slightest idea about his life. “I just wanted to sleep every night – and sometimes cry,” he confessed, but assured his mom: “It gets better.” After all, moving to England was his wish. And finally, through his first emigration, he learned that challenges are there to be overcome. He will certainly succeed with this one too.