[i] Good morning, [name] .

[r] Good morning.

[i] Welcome.

[r] Thank you for inviting me.

[i] Could you tell us who [name] is?

r] [name] Born in 1995 in Morocco, I have a high school diploma. And a diploma of professional technician specialized in automotive diagnostics. And I attended university and for the moment I have been in Italy for almost a year since April of last year.

[i] Why did you choose to immigrate? And why did you choose Italy as your destination?

[r] I chose Italy because I have always liked it since I was a child because of its history. Instead, for immigration there were conditions that pushed me to immigrate. For the fact that you see the lack of job opportunities beyond so many pressures.

And what did you hope to find in this country when you decided to come? What are your goals and dreams that you want to achieve here in Italy?

[r] They are not dreams but they are rights to work right to housing and live in appropriate conditions. To live peacefully because I am an artist I would like to improve myself and combine Italian art with Moroccan art.

[i] Did you say that you are an artist, in which field are you specialized?

[r] Playing.

[i] Which musical instrument are you specialized in?

[r] The guitar and “Gambri”.

[i] It’s a Moroccan instrument. In this period since you arrived what have you managed to do as you live your days?

[r] Obviously at the beginning there are difficulties because there is no one who gives you a hand language problems. You are without a sure job that at the end you accept jobs that you didn’t imagine to do one day. Give yourself your best but you get…..

[i] less than what you deserve.

[r] Less.

[i] And what do you do to overcome the problem of language?

[r] I’ve decided to go to school to learn it now for two months. And there is improvement.

[i] What if I asked you about the first day in Italy. how did you find this country especially that Morocco and Italy are two different countries culturally and other? How did you live the first day?

[r] At first it’s a bit surprising with a bit of joy. The first day you don’t feel the difference, but afterwards you feel in the middle of a different society culturally and socially.

[i] And how do you experience these differences?

[r] I tried to harmonize myself with the situation but you still feel the difference at the beginning and you feel a little discouraged.

[i] How do you not feel comfortable? What do you feel you are missing?

[r] Of course you feel that you are missing something because you are far from your family. Feast it yourself so you have to count on yourself.

[i] Of course. Are you in contact with your family in Morocco?

[r] Of course you’re always in touch.

[i] When did you decide to come to Europe, what was the reaction of your family, especially your parents?

[r] He didn’t like the idea they didn’t accept it at first and I tried to convince them repeatedly.

[i] What if you went back in time, would you make the same decision or would you have taken a different path?

[r] The same decision. He may do it in a different way, but the same statement remains.

[i] Have you been able to live your culture during this time here, or have you left your country with everything since you chose to leave?

[r] I left Morocco only to improve the economic situation. Our culture and our cultural heritage is in the blood.

[i] Right. And during this period that you’ve been here, did you manage to build friendships, especially with Italians?

[r] I made friends with Moroccan and Algerian Italians. Especially in the artistic field of music. I worked with the band “Oriundi” from Turin. With young people who grew up in Italy and studied in Italy and obtained university degrees.

So aren’t they Italians Moroccans?

r] There are also Italians in the band.

[i] How did you live this experience? And what did he add?

[r] He added enthusiasm and experience in the musical field to me.

[i] How do you see yourself in the future? Where do you see how you would work in the music field or in a simple job as long as it guarantees you an entrance? Or do you have bigger goals at the artistic level?

[r] I have artistic ambitions and great ideas.

[i] And what do you see missing to achieve these ambitions and achieve your goal?

[r] I need the opportunity, and there is another problem is that of the stay.

[i] How far has your practice come and where do you have the problem? And what is your situation here?

[r] I am an immigrant with a temporary residence permit and I am trying to integrate myself into this society.

[i] Of course. and of course if you are not yet regular you can not have the opportunity to work you feel excluded from many things.

[i] I’m going to ask you a question a little far from all this. For example, let’s talk about Moroccan culture and Moroccan cuisine. Of course we know that Morocco has a very rich cuisine. Do you miss this aspect? And is the cuisine in your daily life Moroccan or are you adapting to Italian cuisine?

[r] It’s varied, but obviously Moroccan food remains the basis.

[i] Have you managed to learn some Italian recipes or if there is some dish you like better?

[r] I like lasagna.

[i] Have you learned how to make lasagna?

[r] I have a friend of mine who’s good for her and who’s good for me.

[i] Did you happen to cook some typical Moroccan dish for some Italian people?

[r] Of course, a friend asked for the Moroccan Tagin.

[i] And did you manage to cook it?

[r] Yes.

[i] And how was his reaction?

[r] He really liked the taste.

[i] So since you made friends, you mean you don’t have problems socializing with this people and their culture?

[r] For the moment I have no problems.

[i] Do you think in the future to settle here forever or could you come back to your country one day if your situation gets better?

[r] Circumstances that can decide why I can’t give you an answer without knowing what the future holds for me.

[i] Obviously. I want to ask you another question, have you visited other cities or have you always been in Turin since you came?

r] I was in Genoa then Novara Asti and Turin now I am established in Genoa.

[i] How did you find the differences between these cities? And where do you feel better and where do you think there are opportunities for foreigners?

[r] For foreigners, coastal cities like Riccione and Rimini are better.

[i] Why?

[r] because they are tourist cities.

[i] Is it possible that one day we would see ourselves as a great musician? Do you see yourself in this aspect?

[r] if God wants you.

[i] What are you doing to get to this?

[r] For the moment I’m working on this goal.

[i] Right. [name] as an immigrant and also recently what do you see here that it takes to help immigrants what is missing to lend a hand to these people?

[r] Listen to them and understand the reasons why they immigrated. Obviously from the experts. because it is not possible that one leaves his country his family for no reason. there are hard living conditions that are not suitable everyone would like to improve them by choosing immigration as a solution.

[i] Obviously. And you as a young man and immigrant as you see this mass of immigration these days. above all these young people who come by sea with the embarkations and who risk their lives. how do you see this phenomenon and what is the advice can you give them?

[r] Life has no equivalent and it is not worth losing it in this wrong way of immigration but the conditions that push him to do so.

[i] And what are the first steps they have to take once are here to be able to integrate well into this society and without being a burden. What do you recommend?

[r] The first steps depend on each one and their conditions and where they arrive for the first time and what they find in their environment. Also the job I can find because sometimes it is hard to move from one place to another for economic reasons. So you have to settle for what you can have at the beginning and resist and have determination and patience.

[i] [name] do you have a relationship with the Moroccan community? Do you meet when there are parties? Do you gather among yourselves with solidarity?

[r] Of course we meet, for example now is the time of Ramadan for us Muslims, I meet with friends and eat together.

[i] Nice, and this makes you feel that on the one hand you are not alone and that you have some support from your countrymen.

[r] Of course, you try to fill that family void.

And since you are in Ramadan the month of fasting this month important for you. how do you live it and how do you live this difference here since Italy is a Christian country that does not make Ramadan? do you feel nostalgic?

[r] At the first year you feel the fact that you are alone you don’t have with whom to share this joy. It’s true that it’s not like when you’re with your family but when there are friends if you try to create that atmosphere.

[i] [name] , do you have anything else to add?

[r] What I can add is that this is a good initiative on your part and thanks for the invitation and good luck for everyone.

[i] Thank you, and thank you for answering my questions.