native of Cortona, in the province Arezzo, the ' ing. Andrea Di Muzio moved to France about 9 years ago. His story - and that of the family that created just over the border with Italy - is very similar to that of many young Italians who, after graduation, seeking a better life abroad. "At the moment - says Andrea - work in a company that produces computer products. My Family like my wife still live in Italy and Italy have left some of our dearest affections. The ties are close, not so much with the community as a whole, as with some people and some traditions. Thankfully be migrants today is very different than fifty years ago: the distances are much shorter and the technology comes in handy to keep in daily contact with family and friends. In addition, I chose to live in a handful of miles from the border: Italy as well - though not one of my origins - is less than an hour's drive.
Andrea, can you tell me about your choice to live and work in France?
We - myself and my partner - started as an adventure that was supposed to last a year or so. Before you even finish my university studies I received an offer to work in France, and in half a day we decided to try to see what it was like to live abroad. Never would have thought that this would then be transformed into a final state.
And today?
today confirmed that choice every day, for several reasons: to live abroad puts us in a particular position twice, in France we are "the Italians", in Italy we are "the French" ... may seem childish but it's always nice to feel "special" allows you to experience both cultures to assess aspects of both of them much more objectively and with greater knowledge of the facts, ultimately, Italy is experiencing a very happy and differences with France will sharpen every day and the quality of life on the infrastructure.
In terms of business ...
The comparison with our country can not even be done: in my profession Italy offers little chance for growth and gratification. I'm also lucky to work in a multi-cultural group that allows me every day to learn new things from the point of professional and personal terms.
speak of "integration". What does it mean for you?
do not think I can give a real definition. I could use the technique of stream of thought to try to make you understand: study, fatigue, adaptation, discovery, satisfaction, diversity ... I will stop here because it is likely to result in the incomprehensible. Trying to sum up, integration is what makes a foreigner living part of a company is a time consuming process - I think infinity - which takes you back baby, had to relearn how to walk, how to talk, how to behave. In my case, "integration" mainly want to say to learn a new language, learn new traditions, new laws and new institutions: a continuous discovery that allows you and forces every day to learn something new. But in the end the cultural base of my two worlds is not so different. Not everything, however, is always stimulating and positive in many moments "integration" is feeling a stranger in your house, feeling "different" in bad sense, as discriminated against. But I must for any immigrant to exert maximum effort to achieve a good level of integration, as civil and moral obligation of every inhabitant of a community to help a stranger in this path as a teacher helps a student in distress.
As an Italian living abroad, what are your considerations on the political and cultural debate in Italy is built around the problems of illegal immigrants?
I think are so bleak as inevitable. Italy is experiencing in recent years that France has lived around the fifties of last century. And in my opinion, neither the politicians nor the people are prepared, just as France was not at the time. Being here also allows an immigrant to have a preferential view of the phenomenon, understanding both the reasons for some of the other. It 'important to welcome those who come to bring wealth to our country - both as workers and as a culture - but at the same time we must ensure, and pretend, integration, especially for what concerns the rule of law and morals. From what I can see every time I return to Italy, our country has become a de facto multi-ethnic society, this aspect I see it as a value, a potential, and not as a threat, provided that the state - understood as institutions and people - able to provide the basis for transforming this potential into actual value.
Living in France there is a value or a characteristic of your being Italian you have "discovered"?
Lots. I have never felt so strong in me pride in my nationality as now. The culture, food, the ability to adapt and always take the most of every situation.
In the city where you live so you have to attend other Italians?
Yes I do not know if this is a case and some mysterious link, but I found myself making friends with many Italians living in my own area. Probably because we share this condition of immigrants, or perhaps because they are the traditions and customs that make it easier to dialogue, but not in a ghetto: I often share dinner tables with friends when they speak different languages \u200b\u200b3-4 , and change the language according to the person with whom we interact.
Your favorite Italian writer?
It 's a very difficult question, and I'm sure that once a the answer I will regret wanting to replace countless times with many different names. But the impulse leads me to say Luigi Pirandello: I am in perfect accord with his vision of man and society, and I think that few have managed to describe as clearly the processes that govern the way we interact with men. But I would be matched by another name, though many turn up their nose, that of Fabrizio De André ...
Why?
Although his lyrics were intended to be music, I consider him one of the best poets of the last century. [ by Carlo Silvano ]
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Engineer. Andrea Di Muzio by the following website:
