SU_T_43

[i] Peace be upon you, Mr. [name].
[r] Peace be upon you, too.
[i] Welcome.
[r] Thank you for the invitation.
[i] Welcome. Could you tell us who you are, Mr. [name]?
[r] My name is [name]. I was born in 1995. I am Moroccan. I have a Baccalaureate degree and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. I majored in Automotive Engineering. I have a Baccalaureate degree and a Master’s degree in Computer Science. I have been living in Italy for about a year, from April 14th to last year.
[i] Why did you choose to emigrate to Italy?
[r] Italy is a historical country. I liked it when I was young. I was influenced by it. When I emigrated, there were circumstances that made me want to emigrate. I saw that there was no job opportunity. There was a lot of pressure.
[i] Why did you choose to emigrate to Italy? What were your dreams and goals? What do you want to achieve here in Italy?
[r] I don’t have dreams. I have a right to work. I have a right to live. I want to live in comfortable conditions. I want to feel comfortable. Since I am an artist, I want to develop my art and try to mix it with Italian and Moroccan art.
[i] You said that you are an artist. What is your field of art? Do you play music? Do you draw?
[r] I play music.
[i] Do you play any instrument?
[r] I play the guitar and the djembe.
[i] You play the Moroccan djembe.
[r] Yes, the original Moroccan djembe.
[i] What have you been able to achieve so far? How do you live these days here?
[r] Of course, the first thing is that I find it difficult. There is no help. I find it difficult in terms of language and in terms of work. I find it difficult because I work in a field that I didn’t expect to work in. I find it difficult because I work in a field that I didn’t expect to work in.
[i] Less than you deserve.
[r] Less.
[i] What do you do to overcome these difficulties?
[r] I decided to go to school and learn the language. I have been studying Italian for two months now. It is getting better, thank God.
[i] I want to ask you about the first time you went to Italy. How did you find this country, especially since Morocco and Italy are two different countries, neither in terms of architecture nor in terms of culture? How did you feel on your first day in Europe?
[r] I was very happy. It was a mixture of happiness and sadness. On the first day, you don’t feel it. After that, you start to feel that you are in a different environment culturally and intellectually. You feel this difference.
[i] Of course. How do you live this difference?
[r] I tried to co-exist with it. You feel the difference in the nature of life at first. You feel a little annoyed.
[i] At what level?
[r] At any level.
[i] At what level do you feel that you are not comfortable or that you lack something?
[r] Of course, you feel a lack. You are away from your family. You miss the holidays alone. You depend on yourself.
[i] Of course. Are you comfortable with your family in Morocco?
[r] Of course. I am always comfortable.
[i] The day you decided to come to Europe, how did your family react? Especially your parents?
[r] They didn’t like the idea. They didn’t agree with it at first. I tried to convince them. I didn’t want to repeat it. I took the opportunity.
[i] If you could go back in time, would you make the same decision or take a different path?
[r] The same decision.
[i] You know that this is the same decision.
[r] I would take a different path, but it would be the same decision.
[i] Of course. During your time here, how did you live your Moroccan culture? Did you bring it with you? Did you immigrate to Morocco?
[r] No. We immigrated to Morocco to improve our living conditions. To improve our economy in general.
[i] Of course.
[r] Our religion and culture remain in our blood. Our Moroccan religion remains in our blood.
[i] Of course. During your time here, how did you establish friendships with Italian people?
[r] I established friendships with Italian, Moroccan and Algerian people. Especially in the field of art and music. I worked with the Oriundi group of Torino. There were young people who studied in an Italian university. So you didn’t work with Italians, but with Moroccans.
[i] So they’re not Italian, they’re Moroccan?
[r] We worked with Italians at the same time.
[i] How did you live this experience?
[r] It was a beautiful experience.
[i] What did you gain from this experience?
[r] I gained excitement, experience and the nature of music.
[i] How do you see yourself in the future? Do you want to work in the field of art? Or do you want to live a simple life? Or do you have big artistic ambitions?
[r] I have big artistic ambitions and big ideas.
[r] What do you think you need to achieve these ambitions? Do you reach your goal?
[r] I need an opportunity. I want to be honest with my people. The problem is that I don’t have enough documents.
[i] Where do you feel that you have reached? Where do you feel that you are stuck? Where do you feel that you are stuck? What is your situation here?
[r] My situation is not good. It is almost illegal. I am trying to find an opportunity to integrate with society. I am trying to find an opportunity to integrate with society.
[i] I have a question about Moroccan culture and Moroccan cuisine. We know that Moroccan cuisine is very rich. Do you feel a lack of it in your daily life? Do you try to integrate with Italian food?
[r] Sometimes I try. Of course, Moroccan food is the basis.
[i] Of course.
[r] Sometimes I try.
[i] Did you learn Italian food? Do you have a favorite food that you like to eat?
[r] I like lasagna.
[i] Did you learn how to cook it?
[r] I have a friend who cooks it. He is a chef.
[i] Did your Italian friends ask you to try Moroccan food?
[r] Of course. Tagine. Moroccan tagine.
[i] Were you able to taste it?
[r] Yes.
[i] How was it?
[r] It was delicious.
[i] How was his reaction?
[r] He liked it. He liked the taste. He told me that it was delicious. He liked it.
[i] As long as you have Italian friends, you don’t have a problem to integrate with the people and their culture.
[r] I don’t have a problem now.
[i] Do you want to settle here in the future? Or do you want to go back to your country and live there? Or do you want to improve your situation here?
[r] My situation is what I can say. I can’t say anything right now. I don’t know. I don’t know what to say.
[i] Of course. Of course. Another question. Did you visit other cities other than Torino?
[r] I was in Genoa. Genoa is the first one. Novara. Asti. Torino. I am currently living in Genoa. Genoa.
[i] What is the difference between these cities? You can see more people. Can you say that there are better opportunities for immigrants?
[r] For immigrants, the coastal cities are better. Like Riccione, Rimini.
[i] Why?
[r] They are touristic cities.
[i] Of course. Can we see you as a great musician one day? Can you see your head in this picture?
[r] God willing.
[i] What are you doing to achieve this goal?
[r] I am currently working on this goal.
[i] Of course. Mr. [name], as an immigrant, especially since you are new here, what do you think is special in this country to serve the interests of immigrants? What is missing to help immigrants?
[r] To discuss with them. To know the reasons that made them immigrate. Of course, with specialists. One cannot live in his country, in his family. The conditions are harsh. His standard of living is not good. He wants to feel good. He wants to come here and immigrate.
[i] Of course.
[r] As a young immigrant, what do you think of these days of migration? Especially the young people who come through the seas. They travel around the sea. What do you think of this situation? What advice can you give them?
[r] Of course, life has no alternative. He does not deserve to sacrifice his life for immigration. But the circumstances allow him to do so.
[i] What steps can they take to reach this country so that they can integrate and mix in this society without being a burden on this society? What advice can you give them? What are the first steps they can take?
[r] The first steps depend on the circumstances. How can he immigrate for the first time? What are the circumstances in his environment? What is the work he does in his environment? It is difficult for him to move from one place to another. He does not have the financial means. He must be patient and be persistent. Patience is the key to success.
[i] Of course. Mr. [name], what about the Moroccans here? Do you meet them at any event? Do you meet them in person? Do you get together to show solidarity?
[r] Of course. We try to live the moment. For example, we are in Ramadan. I met my friends. We had breakfast together.
[i] Of course. On the one hand, you feel that there is support from the people of your country.
[r] Of course. We try to live the moment. You feel the family and social distance.
[i] Of course.
[i] And in the important Ramadan atmosphere, how do you live this difference? Italy is a Christian country. It does not celebrate Ramadan. How do you live this difference? Do you feel the longing for your country?
[r] Maybe in the first year, you feel that you are alone. You do not have anyone to share this joy. You do not have anyone to share this atmosphere. But as the days go by, you get used to it.
[i] Of course.
[r] Of course, you are not alone with your family. But you have friends and lovers. You try to create this atmosphere. Mr. [name], is there anything you would like to add?
[r] I would like to add that this is a good initiative from your administration. Thank you for the invitation. I wish you all the best.
[i] Thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for answering my questions. Thank you.