(Apr. 17) – “Last October I graduated in linguistic mediation from the University of Viterbo and now I work in the customer care for Reckitt Bankisier, a large British multinational. My dream, however, is to work in a non-governmental organization and this is why I moved here.” Marilena Ricciardi, 27, has been living in London for a year and a half: “I arrived in England during my last year of University. Here I prepared my last exam and the thesis.” Today she does not complain about her actual work but she does not want to lose her aspirations: “In Italy I collaborated on a project for an NGO that deals with immigration and refugee policy. I teated Italian to foreigners and I worked as linguistic-cultural mediator. What I really want is to save some money to attend a master degree and improve my resumee.” Marilena, who comes from the province of Salerno, belongs to the generation of ‘new immigrants’: “The differences between England and Italy are obvious – she says – even if work market is a jungle, at least in England you can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I know that all depends on me and and I just have to try harder.” Marilena also highlights the contractual differences between the two countries: “In England, the employment contracts, after a six-months probationary period, always become permanent.” So there are many positive aspects living in London: “I have never felt the government so near…,” says Marilena with irony. “I’ve been unemployed for a month and I quickly received 400 pounds because I applied for benefit. Not to mention – she concludes – a lot initiatives for young people: free museums and subsidized loans for those who want to buy a house.” Today Marilena does not think about returning to Italy: “I miss my country. I’m 100% Italian: I read newspapers online and I watch Italian TV in web-streaming. I love my country and I suffer from the fact that now I have not the chance to return. But I hope to have it one day.” (Gil/Peg)
