Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies
Interviews
I think it ’ s only that little situation with that kid in the school . Maybe some racist comments from people who are older and who are not as open minded . Although I don ’ t care because I had a really good childhood and if I hear some comments about me that are not that polite and I don ’ t want to fight with people .
Is there anybody who had thought you were Greek and when he or she learned your name or your last name were surprised ?
Actually most of the people that I socialize with , think I am Greek . Neither my appearance nor my last name is Albanian . Moreover my name is Christian , unless I choose to introduce myself with my other name which is Regina . Maybe it ’ s kind of shock for them sometimes but I don ’ t care .
What things are you most proud of ?
I ’ m really proud of my parents because with hard work they managed to build a house and they also brought us up . They basically started from nothing .
What would you like to achieve in the future ? I want to make my own family , here in Greece . I do not want to leave my place again . What do you think can stop these dreams ?
Perhaps the financial crisis is the only thing I can think of now . I don ' t think there is anything else that can stop me from doing it .
What do you think can help make your dreams come true ? The opposite . Improvement of the economy . Maybe , I don ' t know . How do you think immigration has made you a better person and a stronger one ?
Okay . I think what I said before that , because we actually grew up with my brother , we are committed to each other a little bit , it actually made it harder for our parents . I think that made me stronger and made me independent , that is , to count on my own strength , to be able to do what I want on my own , to have the power to do it all ; made me stronger in this way .
If anyone was planning to come to this country , what would you advise them to expect ? The fact that they would experience some kind of racism . What would you tell them about whether or not they should come ?
I would advise them that anything is possible and that once they made the decision to come , not to get disappointed , to have in their mind the reason they were thinking of coming and what they experience here , not to hurt them .
If they decide to come , what advice would you give them to make them have the best experience , a good time ?
I think the advice I would give them is not to listen to what the people are saying and focus on their purpose , the purpose they had and the reason they came here for .
What would you like most people to know about immigrants ?
That they obviously left their country for a better future and not “ We ' ve come here to get your jobs ” which is what most believe .
What are the two most important things people can do to improve the process of coming to a country ?
I think it has more to do with bureaucracy , because Greece has a very strange and complicated bureaucracy system . It might help a lot .
Is there anything you would like to add ? Maybe something that hasn ' t been said , something we haven ' t said ?
Basically I want to add something , because it ' s something I ' m still being asked . They ask me “ How do you feel ? Are you Albanian or Greek ?” This is a very common question . I clearly think I am Greek because , I grew up here in Greece . No matter what , Greece has helped me to become what I am .
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