Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies Essays-Biographies and parties .
Stephane do Vale ’ s Biography
I am Stéphane do Vale . I am a 32- year- old Portuguese and I am an emigrant .
I work as a Senior Associate Auditor in Luxembourg . I have been working here since last October ( for about four months ). When I came here I had high expectations . However , I also had some difficulties of bureaucratic content and to find a house .
Although I emigrated only a few months ago , I miss my family and friends . The firm I work to helped me to feel integrated . I have never been or felt discriminated . I have a few friends here . In the host country I celebrate e special days with drinks
I like music and dance , so in my free time I usually spend it listening to music and dancing . Maybe I think of returning to Portugal one day !
Joana
Silva ’ s Biography
I ’ m Joana Silva , a Portuguese Biologist Researcher , currently living in Oslo .
When I was twenty-four I left my country to do my PHD in Bergen , Norway . Since then , I have been living here in Norway for about thirteen years . During the first year in Bergen I was without my family . Then , my boyfriend , at the time , and today my husband , a Portuguese Engineer , immigrated to Norway , too .
Before coming to Norway I only knew that it was a very developed , very cold and dark country in Winter and that it was known by its oil and aquaculture industries .
After I ’ ve finished my PHD I applied for a job in the area of my studies - aquaculture . So , I can admit that the reasons that led me to immigrate were , no doubt , professional ones . My expectations were to work in a multinational enterprise in the area of aquaculture . Fortunately , I got the job as a researcher at Biomar in Trondheim .
The first times in Norway were hard . We , my boyfriend and I , lived in different towns . I was not used to living in such a rainy and dark country and above all the language proved to be the most difficult thing I had to face at the time . Fortunately , I could speak and understand English which I used in my job . All those difficulties I managed to overcome with the help of friends I made there and with regular travels to more sunny and warmer countries . Neither in my job , nor in my community did I feel discrimination . I participated in groups activities , such as Latin Dances , languages courses , etc . and that helped me to integrate with others .
In the meanwhile I gave birth to a son . I can tell you I have made some good friends in Norway : In Bergen and in Trondheim , not only Norwegian friends but also from other nationalities . Since last May I changed work and from that moment on we started living in the outskirts of Oslo .
Now , we are a small family living together in Norway and that is very good . But I miss my family in Portugal , the Portuguese sunny days and the Ocean !
I celebrate special occasions in Norway with my family , with our Portuguese , with Norwegian and with friends from other nationalities . I always try to show them a bit of my country . In special seasons like Christmas or Easter I celebrate them with my family in Portugal .
One day I hope to come back to my country . Since our son ’ s birth this idea is coming closer and closer . It depends on professional opportunities .
[ 58 ]