When I first arrived in Catania, I quickly remarked at how many other people are here from all over the world, including many people who have migrated to Italy from countries that are quite far away. I spoke with a Sri Lankan shopkeeper in Italian, I chatted in French and Wolof with Senegalese men who were selling goods on the street and I made a nice connection by speaking Bengali with a young man who was talking to his wife back in Bangladesh on the phone in a public park. My research here in Italy focuses on how people cultivate a sense of community and well-being after moving to a new place, and so I have been curious to learn more about people’s journeys and integration experiences in Catania. It hits close to home, as I have also been going through my own process to find my footing here, looking for an apartment and trying to identify friendly faces who may become friends.
This week, my research came to life in current events, as there are currently four humanitarian rescue ships docked here at the port in Catania or just a little further out at sea. The passengers on the ships consist of several hundred refugees who were rescued at sea. They had all been taking the perilous journey crossing from Africa across the Mediterranean to try to seek asylum here in Europe.
