by Ian Moone

Created on: October 03, 2010

I have lived in Italy for ten years now. I was 12 years old when I came here with my Mother and Brother to join our Father, who had been living here for more than ten years. Since I moved here, I have never been back, Lord only knows, I miss it. Some people might not understand, giving I come from a poor country. Have you ever felt alone even though you were surrounded by many people? Well, that’s how I feel, even though Italy has been very good to me and my family, It will never be a 100% my home. There will always be something missing, that’s just the way it is.

I count myself to be lucky because I live quite a good life; have the people that I love with me. Think about those of them, who leave their country's to foreign soils to find a living to support their families back home, where they know no one, have very little money and no place to sleep. And back home, they would be thinking that they've had it good. If it's a European country then you'll also have to start to learn the local language to be able to blend and work your way to find an occupation.

Most of my friends are Italians, and sometimes I get jealous when they talk about how they went to visit their grandparents or their uncles and aunties knowing that I haven't seen mine in more than ten years. Sometime ago, my Dad told me a story about how he struggled when he came here about twenty something years ago. He told me about when he was sick and admitted to the hospital but couldn't go home because he had no one available to pick him up because they were all at work. He had to sit in the waiting hall for about 8 hours for his friend and house mate to pick him up after work. I almost cried.

On top of the emotional traumas, in some country's foreigners are maltreated, discriminated against and only get the most humiliating jobs. But there are also positive aspects to it too. You get to learn a new language, new culture and meet different people. I personally think living in Italy has enriched me culturally. Now I can fluently speak, write and read in Italian. I’ve made very good friends, had quite a few beautiful Italian girlfriends. Even though I have loved living in Italy, I can't wait to see my grandparents, uncles and aunties in my home country. That's just the way it is.

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