Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies
Interviews
It was a hard situation . My parents did ‘ t know the language and they were alone in a foreign country with two young children .
What most surprised you ?
Greek people are more open minded . I remember when I was younger I couldn ’ t wear shorts in Albania as I did in Greece . Additionally it was inappropriate for a woman to work as a waitress .
What did you and your parents miss most about your country ? Obvious our relatives . Was there anybody who helped you move ?
Yes , my father had come here a few years before we moved and he had met a man who became my brother ’ s godfather and a woman who became my godmother . These people really helped our parents . When our parents went to work they were taking care of us . In general they helped us socialize .
Migration can be hard . Where did you and your parents find the power and the strength to keep on trying even when the times were hard ?
I think that comes from the family . I mean my parents came here in Greece with two young children , two babies . So they took courage from us , from their children . Because the situation in Albania was awful .
How do you think migration has changed you ?
It has definitely changed me . If I was in Albania I wouldn ’ t be the same because the way little girls grow up
there , is really different from the way they grow up here . I think that the fact that my parents worked really hard and I with my brother had to grow up alone basically has helped me a lot . I , at a really young age , had to do the housework and I was really independent . I also looked up to my parents who were trying really-really hard for our survival and I think all of these things together have helped me a lot .
Which was the biggest and hardest challenge for you so far ?
I don ’ t really think that I had a hard time in my childhood . I was actually lucky enough to never face any sort of racism . Maybe a few situations but not that important . I remember one of them better . I was in the third or fourth grade . I remember there was that boy that had just moved to the village and his parents were kind of racists . He pointed at me and said “ Albanian you ’ re not gonna play with us ”. Luckily I had all the rest of the children on my side and their parents as well . So I don ’ t think I really had a hard time with that .
What about the language ?
As I said before I was really young when we came here so I actually managed to learn the language really fast . Unfortunately it was not that easy for my brother who was older . He faced difficulties in the school where he was alone because he couldn ’ t speak the language . But as the time passed , he learned the language as well .
Do you speak Albanian in your house ?
Yes , we speak Albanian in the house and to be honest it ’ s not that easy for me ; sometimes my parents ask me something in Albanian and I answer in Greek . In general we do speak Albanian in our house and me and my parents try hard so that I don ’ t forget the language .
What kind of sources of happiness did you have ?
I think that friendships that I have made with people throughout the years have really and actually helped me . So when I face any sort of difficulties they really help me . Of course my parents are the first ones to be there for me always .
How do you think your family is doing after they moved to Greece ?
Obviously much better even though we are foreigners in this country , now we are much-much better . We are now a part of this community , of the Greek community . Now no one can tell us apart .
Can you think of the times were you felt unwelcome . [ 90 ]