I feel well-integrated into what I want to be integrated into. I learned before I got here, to be human therefore kind, and polite beyond skin color and culture of origin
Justine is 31 years old and arrived in Italy from Kenya in September 2019 at the age of 28 to pursue a master’s degree in International Cooperation at the University of Turin, where she graduated in May 2022.
As soon as she arrived in Italy as a native English speaker, she taught English through the web platform “Le Tue Lezioni” an activity that allows her, to this day, to support herself economically. In addition to English, she also speaks Swahili (both official languages of Kenya), Luhya, the language spoken on the shores of Lake Victoria (a language also spoken in Uganda, Tanzania, and parts of Sudan), and Italian.
In Kenya, after graduating with a degree in statistical economics Justine worked for companies, banks, and NGOs…but she also improvised in other jobs (which had nothing to do with her degree), never giving up: “My strength is that I am tireless, a fighter”. It was through one of these jobs (fitness teacher) that she took part in a Duathlon (running and cycling) competition that took her to Spain for two weeks. There she realized that she had no more opportunities in her country and would have to seek her professional and personal fulfillment abroad. Why Italy of all places? “Turin chose me”-Justine, in fact, having returned from Spain had applied to several European universities and was accepted at UniTo.
Her thesis is based on her experience working at an NGO: Justine studies the success of NGO projects developed by two companies ENI and Tullow Oil Plc present in Kenya and Uganda. She hopes to get support from the University to be able to travel to the area so she can help the companies make the most of and target funding.
After three years in Italy, Justine still stops to realize and remind herself of how lucky she is to live in Italy: “Here I have the mountains, the sea and always riding my bike, I admire the scenery and then we eat well, I love Italian vegetables!!!”.
Of course, there has been no shortage of negative experiences, such as difficulty opening a bank account as a student, or some looks that do not make her feel welcome in some places. In general, “I feel well integrated in what I want to be integrated in. I am 31 years old and I arrived in Italy already with my background of experiences that had formed me; therefore, I integrated but kept what I am and I learned, before arriving here, to be human, therefore kind, polite beyond skin color and culture of origin”.
About her country, she misses her family, and her friends, “there are the Maasai who are beautiful, and the people who are good, crazy, smart, and always in a good mood,” and Nairobi, her city, with its hills and “Enjoy Life” atmosphere.
When asked if she would return to Kenya, however, she tells us that the only thing that would make her return is the certainty that she can have at least the same level of quality of life there as she has achieved in Italy.
“In life, you must always improve, and I am open to change!”
She is happy with Italy, with the friendships she has been able to create and cultivate, and hopes that through her work she can culturally enhance her host people: “Even if only by cooking and saying – In Kenya we do this – I hope to give a different point of view that can be a contribution to growth for each other!”
As an immigrant in Italy, Justine thinks that we need to take care of the place where we are guests.
