SU_T_18

[i] Hello [name].
[r] Hello.
[i] How are you?
[r] Fine, thank you.
[i] Welcome.
[r] Thank you, let me introduce myself, I’m [name] and I come from the capital of Morocco, Rabat. I lived in Morocco until I was 25, and then I decided to emigrate because I hadn’t found what I wanted to do in the arts. Because I’m an artist, I’m a musician, music is my life.
[i] [name] why did you choose Italy?
[r] Italy because it’s a country where I feel closer to the Mediterranean, also because we have many things in common.
[i] How long have you been in Italy?
[r] 11 years.
[i] And in these 11 years, what have you managed to achieve, given that you had many dreams that you couldn’t realise in Morocco?
[r] I’ve achieved a lot in these 11 years. First of all I learnt about another culture and met other people and other musicians. I created my own band and worked with many other bands. I did lots of things that I like.
[i] You created a band?
[r] Yes.
[i] And what kind of music do you play?
[r] We play Mediterranean music and traditional Moroccan music and also a bit of jazz, Arabic, Andalusian, we do a lot of things.
[i] We can say that this experience has added something extra to you. What was your first job here in Italy, your first experience?
[r] My first experience was my job in a hotel, I was a waiter, I did everything there.
[i] During the time you’ve been here you’ve obviously made lots of friends. Did you integrate easily or did you encounter any obstacles?
[r] At the beginning it was a bit difficult because I left all my friends and my family. And then I had a language problem, the latter because I had never studied it before. I only spoke French and a little English. It was a bit tough at the beginning, but little by little I went to school and started studying, so I learnt a bit.
[i] [name] In these 11 years, have you managed to preserve your Moroccan Arab culture? Or once you decided to emigrate and leave your country, did you also leave it behind?
[r] No. I still have some of our customs and traditions, but I’ve also adopted other habits from Italian culture.
[i] Have you managed to introduce Italians to your culture?
[r] Yes, by making music, because music has a language we send a message we tell our story. I can express myself through music and I think I’ve done it.
[i] Let’s talk a little about your daily life at home. How is this culture and these customs manifested in your daily life, from food to customs and everything in between. How do you live your daily life?
[r] I live my everyday life normally. Even when it comes to eating, sometimes I eat Italian food, other times Moroccan, it depends on the day.
[i] And since you arrived in Italy have you managed to go back to your country or not?
[r] Yes, I’ve been and every year I go if I can.
[i] And now, seeing as it’s been 11 years since you’ve been here and you’re quite used to Italian culture and European life, when you go back to Morocco how do you experience this difference?
[r] I see a lot of difference because when I came here I took a lot from Italian culture, a lot of customs without realising it. And then when I go back to my country I see these differences.
[i] When you decided to leave your country and bring your family over, how did they take the news of your decision?
[r] Actually my family had decided that I would go to Italy because I had just graduated and couldn’t find a job. And then my mum talked to her cousin about it. And in the meantime they had passed a law here in Italy called ‘Flussi’ to bring immigrants to Italy and I arrived legally.
[i] And on the first day you came to Italy, what was the impact?
[r] The impact on the first day was good. But after the second day I wanted to go back to my country straight away.
[i] Why?
[r] Because I felt lonely. I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t even know how to communicate or express that I was hungry or unwell.
[i] And what did you do to overcome these obstacles?
[r] I was patient and I spent more time with the Italians and I also went to school, which helped me a lot.
[i] Seeing as you’ve managed to achieve so much here in Italy, do you plan to settle here forever or can you see yourself going back to Morocco?
[r] My dream is not only to stay here in Italy, my dream is to travel the world. I would like to get to know other cultures and other people. And to make myself known as a musician, to learn other melodies and to make our melodies heard. This is the life I would like to lead.
[i] And when you’re on stage at a show and you play the melodies of your country, how do you feel?
[r] I feel proud of myself because I’m introducing other people to my culture.
[i] And what has this experience of immigration added to you? Where do you see that you have gained and what have you gained?
[r] It has added many things to my life and I have learnt many things. And then I have had friends who support me and help me. Also some families that make me feel like one of them.
[i] And when you’re with your friends, especially Italians, do you feel like a foreigner or do you feel like one of them?
[r] With my friends, no, I feel like one of them. But there are other people who make you feel the opposite.
[i] And what can you say to these people?
[r] What I can tell them is to get to know the person first and then judge.
[i] Sure. And how are you getting on in the Moroccan community here in Turin? Do you meet up when there are parties or does everyone live their own lives?
[r] Life is a bit busy at the moment, some of us are studying, others are working, sometimes we meet up but not always.
[i] Now you live here in Turin, and the first time you arrived you arrived here?
[r] Yes, I arrived here in the province of Turin in Curgnè.
[i] Have you seen other cities in Italy or not?
[r] Yes, thanks to my music I have travelled.
[i] I would like to ask you another question: if you have any hobbies, do you do any sports?
[r] As a hobby I like to read, I like to play music, I like to do some sport. And I like to eat.
[i] Speaking of eating, have you ever cooked something from your country for your Italian friends?
[r] Yes, they always ask me.
[i] And which typical dish do they ask you for the most?
[r] Couscous or tagine, it depends.
[i] And when you first cooked for your friends, what was their reaction?
[r] Good, were they happy and content?
[i] So you also feel like an ambassador, let’s call it that. You introduce them to your cuisine and they appreciate it too.
[r] Yes, of course.
[i] Have you learnt to cook any Italian dishes?
[r] Of course.
[i] Which ones, if I may ask?
[r] Lots of dishes: pizza, pasta, pasta dishes, lasagne, all these things.
[i] [name] when you go back to Morocco, do your family, your mum, ask you to cook something Italian?
[r] Apart from the fact that my mum is no longer with us, they do ask me.
[i] I’m sorry about mum.
[r] My brothers ask me.
[i] So on the one hand we can say that an immigrant can play a dual role, in the sense that when he is in Italy he makes his culture known and when he is outside Italy he makes Italian culture known.
[r] Of course.
[i] Let’s say if you’ve ever been out and about in the city and you’ve been attacked or judged, how do you react and how do you feel inside?
[r] Inside I feel bad, but with my brain I reason and say that these people are ignorant. Because without knowing the person well you can’t understand who they are.
[i] [name] for this mass of immigrants, guys who come by ship, what do you think of this phenomenon?
[r] I think they are a production for any country. Because most of these guys are people who have escaped from misery or war. So we need to welcome them and give them the opportunity to work and the opportunity to live.
[i] And what advice can you give these young people?
[r] I advise them to study the language. I advise them to look for work until they get settled.
[i] Do you have children [name] are you married?
[r] No.
[i] And once you have children, God willing, will you pass on your culture to them or will you let them live their own way?
[r] I’ll let them live their own way because my parents let me live my own way.
[i] [name] do you have anything else to add?
[r] Like what?
[i] Whatever you like.
[r] I’m happy to be here in Italy because I’ve met so many people. I’ve had so many opportunities to meet other people, even from abroad, thanks to music.
[i] And I wish you a bright future and thank you for answering my questions.
[r] Thank you.