Iulia Berger, celebrate migration

Migrant, European or maybe Austrian?

Migration brings value to every culture. In this time of the coronavirus me and my family are living in Austria and yes, the chancellor of Austria has been often criticised for referring only to Austrians in his speeches. And no, it doesn’t bother me.

As an immigrant in Austria but a born and raised European, I consider myself adressed to. I do not care if they call me Romanian, migrant, immigrant … they can even call me Austrian. Because it doesn’t matter so much how I am called. What matters more to me is what value I bring to society. I see myself part of the new-generation Austrians: international, multilingual, free-spirited, conscious and good hearted.

I identify with more tags, with a diversity of tags, and I feel spoken to regardless how anyone starts a sentence, from “dear Austrians*” to “dear humans*”. I will listen and it will say more about the speaker then it will say about me. And even that is not more than a definition of the circumstances. It does not justify, in my world, apathy and agression.

And for you to celebrate migration, where ever you are and however you define yourself, the first step is to overcome the tags placed on you that hurt and to show empathy. Do your best and trust that other are also doing so. Maybe with more anxiety, maybe with more prejudice. We all need to simplify our worlds somehow. And if you want to include celebrating migration in this simplification, start by not feeling overlooked. You are seen, you matter, you are part of the system and what you created and what you stand and work for is essential. But don’t be clouded by anger or the feeling of being mistreated.

Simplify your life and apprecite yourself, appreciate those around you and as many people as you can. Maybe you won’t make it in the news, but you will be celebrating this amazing new world, this diverse Austria filled with cultures, in which I can promise you: you are important.

Iulia Berger