Viviana Longo
I am an Italian woman living in Scotland. I am a creative person, outspoken and direct. I like to spend my time reading, doing some arts and crafts or upcycling clothes or furniture and staying outdoors. I have been isolated for being a small, bookish kid in my school years, and this taught me to be independent and strongminded. One of my passions is Judo which showed me how to be brave and respectful. It helped me carry on my passions and finding a sense of community and connection. Every week after work I go to the Eric Liddle Centre, where my lovely family run judo club is. Whenever I do Judo there is no difference from Italy or UK. It’s just Judo.
My migration experience has been one of personal growth. I knew I wanted to challenge myself and this is what I did personally and professionally. It has not been a straightforward path and sometimes feelings of self-doubt still creep in and I periodically ask myself if it was right to leave my family, friends and life back in Italy, but the answer has always been that I cannot think of myself living in Italy now. The UK is where I live, work, I have gained my master degree in Art psychotherapy, volunteered, and made many friends from all over the world. I met my partner here, who is from the U.S and we live together in Edinburgh. The UK is where my life is now.
Migration for me is much more intangible, than packing a suitcase and learning a new language: it involves a change of attitude and lifestyle. It is at the same time liberating and frustrating. It includes a kind of split between my life of before in my home country and the life of now in the “new” country. When I think of back home it is always a past version that will never come back. The move made me more self-confident: I had to come out of my shell to leave my family and friends. It helps that the UK society is doing a lot more than Italy to assure that women’s rights are respected and there is a culture of inclusion, which boosts confidence. There was some confusion, too: people from the UK are more reserved and appear kind but cold, compared to Italians. With Italians it is a lot easier to connect and kindness is paired with real care and warmth. This is shown in the kind of lifestyles too. Italians go out to drink a glass or two of wine and to have a great time with people, possibly with some good food involved. While in UK people seem to have to get intoxicated to be more sociable. I don’t always go to the pub, or drink, but I go to work, see my friends, and try to be useful to the community like everybody here. I love spending time with people that I feel comfortable to be myself. When I am having a lovely time, I feel included and valued, that is where I feel like at home.
I bought in Italy a coffee machine called Moka and carried it in Edinburgh to make my shot of caffè (espresso) in the morning, before my classes and work. It reminds me of my dad and mum who also used a Moka every day. It is a connection to my life in Italy, back 10 years ago, when coffee machines like nespresso were not popular yet.