Interwoven Narratives of Immigrants and Their Journeys to New Homes
Stories. Every person carries one within themselves. But have you ever stopped to think about the story an immigrant carries? "Living Away from Home," more than just a simple website, presents tales of individuals who have undergone unique journeys during their immigration processes.
In your reading, you will get to know the story of Jane, a foreigner from Nigeria, whose story intersects with that of Marco from Cape Verde. But the articles on this site will take you further as you discover the story of a Cuban family that came to Brazil in search of better opportunities.
In contrast, you will learn about the experiences of Brazilians Arthur and Aline, who decided to live in Australia. You’ll also hear from Englishwoman Maria and New Zealander Oriana, who found new opportunities in the land down under.
"Living Away from Home" was the name chosen to represent the stories featured on this site. In the coming chapters, you will delve deeper into the journeys of seven immigrants with different migration processes, residing in Brazil and Australia. Far beyond interviews, the produced articles detail each experience intimately, highlighting that the act of migrating to another country is different for each individual, yet they share many similarities.
There is no specific reading order to follow. The intention is for you, the reader, to navigate towards the content that interests you most. However, we first need to explore the differences in migration processes, when they began, and the impact of globalisation on the decision to move to another country. Nonetheless, by the end of all the readings, you’ll notice common threads in each story and process these individuals experienced.
According to the United Nations Global Migration Report 2020, it is estimated that there are about 272 million international migrants worldwide. But do you know the difference between immigrating and emigrating? These terms are often confused, and for the stories presented to be understood, it is essential to distinguish between them. According to the Australian dictionary, immigration is the process of entry for an individual or group moving to a new country, while emigration is the process of departure, when someone leaves a country temporarily or permanently to reside in another.
According to the site Politize, in a series of content about migration in Brazil and worldwide, historians and geographers believe that migration processes began even before writing, due to climate changes and the need for food. However, no one knows for sure the starting point of this practice. So, how do we begin to explain the origins of immigration when we cannot even date it with historical records?
At this point, it becomes irrelevant to use a specific date to explain migration movements since we are interested in the individuals and not their documents. These movements occur for economic, political, and cultural reasons, as well as for education, work, and the opportunity to restart in a new place.
The practice of moving to another country goes far beyond the desire or need for a different life. It takes courage to venture into another culture, language, filled with people who have completely different customs, and the possibility of not feeling at home once again.
The name of this site finds its justification here: what is it like to live away from home? Can another country be called a new home? Is there a sense of belonging? Are they more or less happy far from the place where they were born? These are the questions that permeate the entire work done on immigrants. More than deeply understanding the experiences of those who have moved to Australia or come to Brazil, it is about grasping how these people feel. It is about sharing and respecting each individual’s uniqueness.
Every country is filled with different races, colours, people, and nationalities, and it is this diversity that makes them unique. Throughout the articles, you will be surprised by each person selected to be part of this project. We hope you appreciate the authenticity and richness of each story.
Thank you for making it this far, and enjoy your reading!
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