FROM ITALY TO FRANCE: A COMPLICATED JOURNEY
FRANKA
What is your homeland? Where do you live now?
I come From Bergamo in the North of Italy and I live in St Pierre d' Albigny at present.
How long have you been in France ?
Since 1950. I was 21 when I arrived.
Why did you leave your homeland ?
My mother died in Italy and my father remarried. I had sisters already settled in France. Among my sisters, one lived to Aigleblanche ( Tarentaise), I joined her.
What was your journey to France like ? Did you travel to France on your own ?
I made the journey by car and by train, alone. I was afraid because it was the first time when I left alone and I did not speak a word of French.
Did you find work quickly ?
Yes, My sister made me start work in a hotel as general help, I had to give her all the money which I earned because she accommodated me. Later I was employed at a doctor's, I did everything: the housework, the reception, the telephone, the secretariat … But I was not officially then declared these years did not count for my pension.
Why did you choose to France in particular ?
I chose France because it was not far from Italy and I already had relatives over there.
Do you enjoy living in France ? Have you regrets?
I like living in France, I have no regrets because when I miss Italy I can return to it very easily because it is not far from St Pierre D' Albigny, where I live at present.
Did you find it difficult to integrate into French society ?
The language barrier gave me problems of integration. Furthermore, I was young and without experience of life.
Today do you feel you more French or Italian?
I feel very Italian because I am attached to my homeland and its traditions. I am here but my heart is still in Italy.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
ALFRED
What is your homeland? Where do you live now?
I come From Cismon del grappa in Italy and I live in St Pierre d' Albigny at present.
How long have you been in France ?
My father Nicolo arrived in 1922, alone. My mother, my brothers and I joined him four years later. We were seven brothers and sisters among whom some people were born in France.
Why did you leave your homeland?
We wanted to escape from fascism (regime established in Italy from 1922 till 1945, established by Mussolini and based on the dictatorship of a single party.
What was your journey to France like? Did you travel to France on your own ?
We travelled by car and on foot with very few belongings.
Did you find work quickly?
First I worked as a laborer in a quarry, then as a mason. Finally I was employed by Vetrotex (a large company manufacturing glass fiber) in Chambéry. There was plenty of work at this time but often it was rather hard physical work.
Why did you choose France in particular?
We chose France because there was only a single border to pass. It was close to Italy and France embodied freedom.
Do you enjoy living in France? Have you regrets?
I love France. I was able to build a family and a house here, to work: I was a football referee. My life here satisfies me.
Did you find it difficult to integrate into French society?
In the first years we stayed among Italians, we did not mix. Then with time we were accepted.
Today you feel you more French or Italian?
I now feel more French but this does not mean I do deny my origins.
Mathilde DURET 1ES3
Sunday, November 22, 2009
interviews with immigrants Marie
An English woman’s story
I asked my immigrant a few questions about her reasons for leaving the UK, about her journey, about her living conditions when she arrived in France and about her integration and her situation today.
Her name is April. She first came to live in France in November 1998; she was 19 years old at the time. Before coming to France, she lived in a town called Oldbury which is about a 15 minute drive from Birmingham city center. This is the second largest city in England. She lived in a little house with her parents and her two sisters who are called Joy and Diana.
Before coming to live full time in France, she worked in France in an English children’s camp as a cook, she got to know quite a few French people who lived in the village and she liked the way of life here. She would come back and live here full time.
Therefore, in November 1998 she packed her stuff up said goodbye to her family and travelled down to Dover by coach and got the ferry over to France.
At the beginning living in France was hard because she didn’t speak French. She didn’t have any English friends near by so mentally it was tiring, even watching the television was hard she just watched the images and tired to work out the rest of the story.
One thing, she had to get used to was paying to see the doctor and having to sort out medical insurance. Whereas it’s free in England, unless you go private.
Another thing, she found strange was that everything stops at 12 o’clock a.m all the shops shut up and then reopen at 2 o’clock p.m. In England they stay open nonstop until 5 o’clock p.m.
Also, at lunch time the French eat a good hearty meal, whereas in England normally we have something light like a sandwich. Also they eat late on the evening around 7-8 o’clock p.m, whereas in England it’s about 5-6 o’clock. It was little things like this that she found strange, but then, she got used to it.
Then, learning to speak the language helped, because at the beginning she felt left out not being able to understand conversations, she felt rejected. People probably thought she was being rude as she didn’t participate in the conversation, but when she explained that she was English they seemed to understand.
In conclusion, it’s now been 11 years since she has been living in the north of France in a little village called Bremes-Les-Ardres. She lives with her French boyfriend and they have just had their first children. His name is James and hopefully he will be bilingual. She can speak and read French reasonably well now. She works for a ferry company checking in lorry drivers who are transporting goods to England. She has a lot of French friends but she doesn’t see them as French they are just her friends, and she still loves living in France. She doesn’t think she will ever go back to live in England but she stayed in contact with her family and she sees them for Christmas.
Marie WEPIERRE 1ES3
I asked my immigrant a few questions about her reasons for leaving the UK, about her journey, about her living conditions when she arrived in France and about her integration and her situation today.
Her name is April. She first came to live in France in November 1998; she was 19 years old at the time. Before coming to France, she lived in a town called Oldbury which is about a 15 minute drive from Birmingham city center. This is the second largest city in England. She lived in a little house with her parents and her two sisters who are called Joy and Diana.
Before coming to live full time in France, she worked in France in an English children’s camp as a cook, she got to know quite a few French people who lived in the village and she liked the way of life here. She would come back and live here full time.
Therefore, in November 1998 she packed her stuff up said goodbye to her family and travelled down to Dover by coach and got the ferry over to France.
At the beginning living in France was hard because she didn’t speak French. She didn’t have any English friends near by so mentally it was tiring, even watching the television was hard she just watched the images and tired to work out the rest of the story.
One thing, she had to get used to was paying to see the doctor and having to sort out medical insurance. Whereas it’s free in England, unless you go private.
Another thing, she found strange was that everything stops at 12 o’clock a.m all the shops shut up and then reopen at 2 o’clock p.m. In England they stay open nonstop until 5 o’clock p.m.
Also, at lunch time the French eat a good hearty meal, whereas in England normally we have something light like a sandwich. Also they eat late on the evening around 7-8 o’clock p.m, whereas in England it’s about 5-6 o’clock. It was little things like this that she found strange, but then, she got used to it.
Then, learning to speak the language helped, because at the beginning she felt left out not being able to understand conversations, she felt rejected. People probably thought she was being rude as she didn’t participate in the conversation, but when she explained that she was English they seemed to understand.
In conclusion, it’s now been 11 years since she has been living in the north of France in a little village called Bremes-Les-Ardres. She lives with her French boyfriend and they have just had their first children. His name is James and hopefully he will be bilingual. She can speak and read French reasonably well now. She works for a ferry company checking in lorry drivers who are transporting goods to England. She has a lot of French friends but she doesn’t see them as French they are just her friends, and she still loves living in France. She doesn’t think she will ever go back to live in England but she stayed in contact with her family and she sees them for Christmas.
Marie WEPIERRE 1ES3
interviews with immigrants Louison
Interview with Suzanne Le Puil, an Australian immigrant.
1) First of all what can you introduce yourself and what can you tell me about your immigration?
My home country is Australia and I was born in a town which is called Brisbane. Now I live in Saint Pierre d'Albigny. When I decided to leave Australia I was 25. Two years earlier, I met Serge, who is now my husband, during a trip to Africa. We travelled overland; it took us 6 months to come to France. We crossed Asia, China and east of Europe. We didn't take the plane; we took boats, trains and buses...
2) Do you remember a funny or difficult moment when you arrived in France?
It was difficult in the beginning because I couldn't speak to my mother-in-law. So during the meal I ate a lot because I couldn't speak and everybody said “oh she has a big appetite the Australian girl”. So I went to school in Paris during one month in “Alliance Française”. It took me six months to be able to speak to Serge's Family.
3) Do you appreciate French culture ?
Yes I love French culture. French people talk about everything (politics, religion, and they tell jokes about all the subjects). In France you can also bend the rules.
4) Do you remember if it was difficult to obtain all the right papers?
It was complicated, long and expensive to obtain all the French papers. First I married in Paris but when I arrived in Chambery they told me my papers were not good, however I was already married. I have had the French nationality for one year (it took one year to get the papers). For 20 years I was just resident and I didn't have the same rights, for example I couldn't vote. Besides I'm better paid since I have the French nationality I think it is not normal.
5) Have you already returned to your homeland?
Yes of course, I try to go to Australia every two years but it is very expensive. I have already been to in my homeland on my own and with my family, but my husband almost never comes with me he doesn't really like Australia.
6) Now do you enjoy living in France and have you got a good job?
I really enjoy living in France this is a great area and I love my job. I'm an English teacher in Chambery. But it was very difficult to have a permanent contract, a stable job. For 20 years I had temporary contracts. Besides in France there are the mountains and the snow but I miss the beach and the sea.
7) Did a person help you in particular?
A person who worked in the immigration office helped me to stay in France and to get my French papers faster. In the beginning to be a resident normally I had to work 2 years before I could work in France so because we knew somebody I only waited 1 year before I could work. But they accepted to help just because I was white, I spoke a little French and I come from Australia (a non risk country).there were two different systems in the immigration office: one system for the African people (very slow or nonexistent) and one system for the others.
8) Australia or France ?
It is a good question because now I have lived in France for 20 years, it means so longer in France than in Australia. I don't really know if I am French or Australian. When you are in France you say “Ah Australia is fantastic” but when you are in Australia you say ”Now I am a little bit French, it is not so great...”. When I am in France this is my home but when I go to Australia I say I “go home” so where is home. In this case I leave home to go home.
Louison Muller 1ES3
interviews with immigrants Léo Rubin
An interview with an immigrant:
What are the reasons which made you come to France?
First of all, I left Romania at the age of 23. I had been studying tourism for four years. I decided to leave my homeland in the 4th year of my studies. I thought I would finish them in France. But my main aim was to get professional experience in the tourist industry. Later, as I also really wanted to discover another culture and to improve my professional skills, I decided to leave France for Canada. There, I met THE ONE MAN of my life, he was French you know. So when he proposed to marry me and to live in his country, I didn't hesitate! So that's why I am back in France now...
Could you describe to me your journey from Romania to France by way of Canada?
I had contacts with a French family who helped me to find somewhere to live in Reims (200 Kilometers east of Paris). So I moved to a home with some other young immigrant adults like me. I left Romania on my own but I made friends among the other migrants rapidly. The fact that I wasn't alone as a migrant helped me to become better integrated in France.
I already knew the work I would apply for from the beginning. In France, I worked as a tourist guide for 3 years. Then, in 2005, I saw an ad concerning a national program of immigration between France and Quebec which interested me. Like my first journey from Romania to France, procedures were numerous and long (I had medical visits for instance). I had already left twice to go to Montreal in Quebec. There, everybody in the street was friendly and nice towards me! Just like towards every foreigner. Yet, when I wanted to find a job, it was more difficult.
I stayed 2 years in Canada before coming back to France. As I said I met a French man, we married and decided to live together in France. That's why I am here, living in a magnificent house with my husband in Challes-Les-Eaux .
What were the difficulties that you have met until now?
The first part of my journey went very well and I had few problems. Romanian and French cultures are very similar. From a professional point of view, it was very easy because my skills were recognized and there wasn't any discrimination in my job. Racism could be sometimes present in the French people's words.
In Canada, It was totally the contrary! My diplomas weren't recognized by employers. I felt it like discrimination, It was difficult for me. Moreover, the culture was very different. It looked like that of the USA and not that of Europe. So I had once again to adapt.
When I came back to France, the administration gave me many problems because I was Romanian and because, in 2006, my country wasn't in the European Union. At this time, to have a good job I had to work twice as hard as French people in order to prove my skills! You know, it was very hard professionally speaking.
Do you enjoy yourself in France now?
The problems I meet now are worse than before because I'm unemployed. I think racism is a cause of my situation and if I succeed in obtaining French nationality, it could improve my work conditions. Generally speaking, I enjoy myself in France because I have found the love and a stable emotional life in a beautiful house.
And finally, what did you learn from this experience? What did it bring you?
I have learnt positive and negative things from this experience. I think some things are more difficult in the sense that I always have to “fight” and to struggle to have something in terms of work or administrative things. Leaving Romania, then France and then Canada was an uprooting experience. I began three times something new, and for me this was the most difficult thing.
Yet, It permitted me to know many different mentalities Moreover, thanks to this experience and my studies, now I can speak four different languages: Romanian, French, Spanish and English.
And of course, I've met the man of my life!
Léo RUBIN 1ere ES3
What are the reasons which made you come to France?
First of all, I left Romania at the age of 23. I had been studying tourism for four years. I decided to leave my homeland in the 4th year of my studies. I thought I would finish them in France. But my main aim was to get professional experience in the tourist industry. Later, as I also really wanted to discover another culture and to improve my professional skills, I decided to leave France for Canada. There, I met THE ONE MAN of my life, he was French you know. So when he proposed to marry me and to live in his country, I didn't hesitate! So that's why I am back in France now...
Could you describe to me your journey from Romania to France by way of Canada?
I had contacts with a French family who helped me to find somewhere to live in Reims (200 Kilometers east of Paris). So I moved to a home with some other young immigrant adults like me. I left Romania on my own but I made friends among the other migrants rapidly. The fact that I wasn't alone as a migrant helped me to become better integrated in France.
I already knew the work I would apply for from the beginning. In France, I worked as a tourist guide for 3 years. Then, in 2005, I saw an ad concerning a national program of immigration between France and Quebec which interested me. Like my first journey from Romania to France, procedures were numerous and long (I had medical visits for instance). I had already left twice to go to Montreal in Quebec. There, everybody in the street was friendly and nice towards me! Just like towards every foreigner. Yet, when I wanted to find a job, it was more difficult.
I stayed 2 years in Canada before coming back to France. As I said I met a French man, we married and decided to live together in France. That's why I am here, living in a magnificent house with my husband in Challes-Les-Eaux .
What were the difficulties that you have met until now?
The first part of my journey went very well and I had few problems. Romanian and French cultures are very similar. From a professional point of view, it was very easy because my skills were recognized and there wasn't any discrimination in my job. Racism could be sometimes present in the French people's words.
In Canada, It was totally the contrary! My diplomas weren't recognized by employers. I felt it like discrimination, It was difficult for me. Moreover, the culture was very different. It looked like that of the USA and not that of Europe. So I had once again to adapt.
When I came back to France, the administration gave me many problems because I was Romanian and because, in 2006, my country wasn't in the European Union. At this time, to have a good job I had to work twice as hard as French people in order to prove my skills! You know, it was very hard professionally speaking.
Do you enjoy yourself in France now?
The problems I meet now are worse than before because I'm unemployed. I think racism is a cause of my situation and if I succeed in obtaining French nationality, it could improve my work conditions. Generally speaking, I enjoy myself in France because I have found the love and a stable emotional life in a beautiful house.
And finally, what did you learn from this experience? What did it bring you?
I have learnt positive and negative things from this experience. I think some things are more difficult in the sense that I always have to “fight” and to struggle to have something in terms of work or administrative things. Leaving Romania, then France and then Canada was an uprooting experience. I began three times something new, and for me this was the most difficult thing.
Yet, It permitted me to know many different mentalities Moreover, thanks to this experience and my studies, now I can speak four different languages: Romanian, French, Spanish and English.
And of course, I've met the man of my life!
Léo RUBIN 1ere ES3
interviews with immigrants Laura Voinot
Journey of an immigrant
For this work I chose an immigrant who is a friend of my parents. She comes from Italy.
Hello, can you tell me about yourself please?
Hello, my name is Laura, I’m forty six. I’m Italian.
When did you arrive in France?
I arrived in France in 1977, at the age of my 14.
Did you come to France with your family?
Yes I came with my mother and my two sisters. We went to join my father who had already lived in France for three years.
Why was your father already in France?
My uncle, was much younger than my father, and had left Italy during his adolescence with his parents. My father had stayed in Italy with my mother. His brother had found him a job that’s why he came to live in France. After 3 working years in France, my father had earned a lot of money, and we to join him.
Did you go there for better living conditions?
Yes because we lived in this period in the south of the Italy and living conditions were not good. Moreover we had no family in Italy. And my sisters and I did not know the family towards my father.
What was the journey like?
The journey… A long story! Very hard but not too long. We found it was difficult when we arrived here.
Can you explain?
Sure, it’s finished now and history! To begin with as I’ve already explained my mother my sisters and me, we did not have much money. We succeeded in taking the train from our small village in Calabria then to Cosenza and on to Milan. This trip took us a lot of time, 2 or 3 days, I don’t know exactly. Once arrived in France, we had no more money to take the train which went directly from Milan to France. But we had to go fast because my father was waiting for us at the border. We thus hitchhiked to Turin.
All four of you?
Yes, a truck took us. We were very lucky. Then to go from Turin to the border, we had to travel secretly because at this period many Italians were sent back. A truck driver took us in his lorry. I am going to stop speaking to you about the journey, because it’s not really interesting.
What were your first impression on your arrival here?
At the beginning it was very difficult because we did not speak French, but the inhabitants of our village were very welcoming.
Ok. Thank you for giving me your time.
Laura VOINOT 1èreES3
For this work I chose an immigrant who is a friend of my parents. She comes from Italy.
Hello, can you tell me about yourself please?
Hello, my name is Laura, I’m forty six. I’m Italian.
When did you arrive in France?
I arrived in France in 1977, at the age of my 14.
Did you come to France with your family?
Yes I came with my mother and my two sisters. We went to join my father who had already lived in France for three years.
Why was your father already in France?
My uncle, was much younger than my father, and had left Italy during his adolescence with his parents. My father had stayed in Italy with my mother. His brother had found him a job that’s why he came to live in France. After 3 working years in France, my father had earned a lot of money, and we to join him.
Did you go there for better living conditions?
Yes because we lived in this period in the south of the Italy and living conditions were not good. Moreover we had no family in Italy. And my sisters and I did not know the family towards my father.
What was the journey like?
The journey… A long story! Very hard but not too long. We found it was difficult when we arrived here.
Can you explain?
Sure, it’s finished now and history! To begin with as I’ve already explained my mother my sisters and me, we did not have much money. We succeeded in taking the train from our small village in Calabria then to Cosenza and on to Milan. This trip took us a lot of time, 2 or 3 days, I don’t know exactly. Once arrived in France, we had no more money to take the train which went directly from Milan to France. But we had to go fast because my father was waiting for us at the border. We thus hitchhiked to Turin.
All four of you?
Yes, a truck took us. We were very lucky. Then to go from Turin to the border, we had to travel secretly because at this period many Italians were sent back. A truck driver took us in his lorry. I am going to stop speaking to you about the journey, because it’s not really interesting.
What were your first impression on your arrival here?
At the beginning it was very difficult because we did not speak French, but the inhabitants of our village were very welcoming.
Ok. Thank you for giving me your time.
Laura VOINOT 1èreES3
interviews with immigrants Laetitia
Interview with an Italian immigrant
One day in
The couple chose France because it was the nearest country and there was some work. They preferred settling in Savoie because there were other Italians there and this region is close to the border. They travelled by train. They stayed 20 hours seated in the corridor with their luggage. The journey was long, tiring and hard. It is
First, they lived in a hotel. Luckily, they found jobs quickly: Giuseppina worked as a cleaner and Giuseppe was a builder. Because of their jobs they rented an apartment in Cognin. It was very tricky for them to integrate into French society. In fact, they didn’t speak French, and they didn’t know how to read and write. So, it was hard for the administrative documents likes the driving license and identity papers.
They have been living in France for 47 years and they love this country. They have 3 children who speak the two languages: Italian and French. This family is a mixture of two cultures. The Italian culture is always present in their lives. Frequently, they return to their small Italian village “San Pietro in Amentea” to go back to their roots. They meet up with family and friends again.
So there is the story of my grandparents.
Laetitia MASSARD-COMBE 1ère ES3
interviews with immigrants Florian
Hello, today we will interview an immigrant who will tell us her story. Her name is Marie Rosa; she is 35 years old and lives in France. She is married and has got two children.
Hello Marie Rosa, I am a student at Le Granier High-School and I have to interview an immigrant living in France. So do you agree to tell me your story?
Of course I do!
Thanks. To begin, what was your home country and what were your living conditions in your family?
I was born in Portugal in a little village near Castelo. My family was very poor with five children including three sisters and one brother. My parents earned a small wage and had lots of difficulties to feed us and to pay for our studies...
When did you decide to leave Portugal?
When I was 14 years old, I chose to leave school and to go to France to help my parents.
Why did you choose France?
My brother and one of my sisters already lived in France and I suggested to them that I go to their home so that I would take care of their children.
Could you describe your journey to come to France?
My brother and my sister would go to see my parents by car every year. So I left Portugal with them to go to France. During the journey, it was awful, like a nightmare. I hadn't travelled by car before because my parents didn't have one. The trip lasted two days, it seemed never-ending! I was very carsick. However, I discovered new landscapes as mountains, big cities, skyscrapers… I was very impressed.
Did you speak French?
I didn’t speak any French and I didn’t understand this language. I began to speak French with my brother’s and sister’s children. I didn't learn fast, it was really difficult. I spoke French fluently four years after my arrival.
When did you leave your brother's and sister's house?
When I was 16 years old, I found a job as an au pair in a rich family but it was hard because I wasn’t 18 years old and I hadn’t got any legal papers. So they hired me but it was illegal... They took advantage of the situation by giving me a very little money... It was exhausting because I worked every day without holidays or any days off.
Do you regret now, to be in France?
No, I don't at all! I'm integrated in this country. I'm married, I've got two children and I own a beautiful house. Moreover, I've got my driving license and a lot of friends. By now, all my sisters and my brothers are in France. We also invite our parents to come and see us regularly.
Now, have you got French nationality?
No I haven't yet. But I'm applying to get it. To conclude, I would say that « My soul is Portuguese and my heart is French »
Thanks for your answers. It was very nice of you!
Hello Marie Rosa, I am a student at Le Granier High-School and I have to interview an immigrant living in France. So do you agree to tell me your story?
Of course I do!
Thanks. To begin, what was your home country and what were your living conditions in your family?
I was born in Portugal in a little village near Castelo. My family was very poor with five children including three sisters and one brother. My parents earned a small wage and had lots of difficulties to feed us and to pay for our studies...
When did you decide to leave Portugal?
When I was 14 years old, I chose to leave school and to go to France to help my parents.
Why did you choose France?
My brother and one of my sisters already lived in France and I suggested to them that I go to their home so that I would take care of their children.
Could you describe your journey to come to France?
My brother and my sister would go to see my parents by car every year. So I left Portugal with them to go to France. During the journey, it was awful, like a nightmare. I hadn't travelled by car before because my parents didn't have one. The trip lasted two days, it seemed never-ending! I was very carsick. However, I discovered new landscapes as mountains, big cities, skyscrapers… I was very impressed.
Did you speak French?
I didn’t speak any French and I didn’t understand this language. I began to speak French with my brother’s and sister’s children. I didn't learn fast, it was really difficult. I spoke French fluently four years after my arrival.
When did you leave your brother's and sister's house?
When I was 16 years old, I found a job as an au pair in a rich family but it was hard because I wasn’t 18 years old and I hadn’t got any legal papers. So they hired me but it was illegal... They took advantage of the situation by giving me a very little money... It was exhausting because I worked every day without holidays or any days off.
Do you regret now, to be in France?
No, I don't at all! I'm integrated in this country. I'm married, I've got two children and I own a beautiful house. Moreover, I've got my driving license and a lot of friends. By now, all my sisters and my brothers are in France. We also invite our parents to come and see us regularly.
Now, have you got French nationality?
No I haven't yet. But I'm applying to get it. To conclude, I would say that « My soul is Portuguese and my heart is French »
Thanks for your answers. It was very nice of you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)