BIOGRAPHY- A SRI LANKAN IN VENICE
*names have been changed to respect the privacy of those interviewed
Currently over five million immigrants are residing within Italy’s borders, making up 7.4% of the population. They contribute to 12% of the gross domestic product as well as pay €13.3 billion in taxes annually (Giacomo). These statistics show the positive impact immigrants have on the Italian economy, but do not reflect many attitudes towards immigrants. Since residing in Venice, topics of conversation have included the negative perception Italians have on immigrants. I was intrigued to discover how Casa Artom’s own housekeeper, Chrisl, felt about his status as an immigrant, and what prompted his move to Venice. Chris sets a good example for other immigrants in the Italian community by showing how hard work and a positive attitude can lead to positive experiences with the Italian community.
Chris emigrated from Sri Lanka first to Greece, and then to Italy in 1989. He has lived in several different Italian cities before residing in Venice, where he and his wife have lived for the past 18 years. Although Chris has been a resident of Venice for almost two decades, he considers his citizenship as only temporary. In this way Chris is similar me as a student at Casa Artom; we both do not consider ourselves to be permanent Venetian citizens, but we also consider ourselves to be more than tourists. In addition, I will return to my home country once the semester ends to be reunited with my family, a desire that Chris also shares. He explains that he has “no interest” in becoming a permanent Venetian citizen because he hopes to return to his family in Sri Lanka as soon as he has enough money to move.
When asked about Chris's experience with other Italian citizens, he responded with nothing but positive comments. Chris said that overall Venice has made him feel the most accepted, but that no other Italian has “ever given him trouble.” He spoke especially highly of the staff and students at Casa Artom and made a point to mention his high respect for the professors. My resident professor at Casa Artom was present during the interview and Chris refused to call her by her first name. He wanted to call her “professor”, a title that commands respect in the community. Chris spoke of his father’s teachings and how it was instilled in him to respect others, most importantly your elders. It is also customary in the Sri Lankan community to be hospital towards one another, which makes Sri Lankans desired house keepers to Venetians. From personal experience Chris is always happy to greet me whenever I re-enter the home, and has made an effort to learn all of the students’ names. It is hard to imagine anyone in the Venetian community who would dislike Chris's friendly demeanor or who would denounce him because of his immigrant status.
Beyond being a member of the Venetian community, Chris is a citizen of Casa Artom. Aristotle’s model of citizenship acknowledges that there are different communities with different types of citizenship (class notes). In this way Casa Artom is its own community composed of the students, staff, and teachers. We each play an important role in keeping our community running smoothly. Chris's role includes working assiduously throughout the day to provide the students of Casa Artom with a safe and clean living environment. He goes beyond his job requirements to connect with students on a deeper level. Chris and a student living in Casa Artom, Dan, have built an especially strong relationship in which Williams refers to Chris as “Papa.” Dan believes that Chris is both a friend and father figure in the house because “[Chris] never fails to smile and bring joy with him when he walks into a room.” Other students, like Courtney, have also noticed Chris's kind demeanor. “His welcoming attitude made the assimilation into Venetian society much easier for me and I think many of the students in Casa Artom.” Chris's welcoming attitude exemplifies the duty he feels to the residents of Casa Artom and makes him an ideal citizen in the house.
Chris's experience in Venetian society shows how it is possible to still be accepted into a culture that is not your own. He sets a good example for not only Sri Lankan immigrants, but all immigrants in the Italian community. His attitude, behavior and treatment of others are reflected back in his acceptance by the citizens of Venice.
Bibliography
Aristotle. "Politics." The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.3.three.html>.
Giacomo, Flavio Di. "New Migration Statistics in Italy Show Overwhelmingly Positive Impact." New Migration Statistics in Italy Show Overwhelmingly Positive Impact -. International Organization for Migration, 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2013/pbn-listing/new-migration-statistics-in-ital.html>.
"Interview with Courtney." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Interview with Dan." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Interview with Chris." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014.
Currently over five million immigrants are residing within Italy’s borders, making up 7.4% of the population. They contribute to 12% of the gross domestic product as well as pay €13.3 billion in taxes annually (Giacomo). These statistics show the positive impact immigrants have on the Italian economy, but do not reflect many attitudes towards immigrants. Since residing in Venice, topics of conversation have included the negative perception Italians have on immigrants. I was intrigued to discover how Casa Artom’s own housekeeper, Chrisl, felt about his status as an immigrant, and what prompted his move to Venice. Chris sets a good example for other immigrants in the Italian community by showing how hard work and a positive attitude can lead to positive experiences with the Italian community.
Chris emigrated from Sri Lanka first to Greece, and then to Italy in 1989. He has lived in several different Italian cities before residing in Venice, where he and his wife have lived for the past 18 years. Although Chris has been a resident of Venice for almost two decades, he considers his citizenship as only temporary. In this way Chris is similar me as a student at Casa Artom; we both do not consider ourselves to be permanent Venetian citizens, but we also consider ourselves to be more than tourists. In addition, I will return to my home country once the semester ends to be reunited with my family, a desire that Chris also shares. He explains that he has “no interest” in becoming a permanent Venetian citizen because he hopes to return to his family in Sri Lanka as soon as he has enough money to move.
When asked about Chris's experience with other Italian citizens, he responded with nothing but positive comments. Chris said that overall Venice has made him feel the most accepted, but that no other Italian has “ever given him trouble.” He spoke especially highly of the staff and students at Casa Artom and made a point to mention his high respect for the professors. My resident professor at Casa Artom was present during the interview and Chris refused to call her by her first name. He wanted to call her “professor”, a title that commands respect in the community. Chris spoke of his father’s teachings and how it was instilled in him to respect others, most importantly your elders. It is also customary in the Sri Lankan community to be hospital towards one another, which makes Sri Lankans desired house keepers to Venetians. From personal experience Chris is always happy to greet me whenever I re-enter the home, and has made an effort to learn all of the students’ names. It is hard to imagine anyone in the Venetian community who would dislike Chris's friendly demeanor or who would denounce him because of his immigrant status.
Beyond being a member of the Venetian community, Chris is a citizen of Casa Artom. Aristotle’s model of citizenship acknowledges that there are different communities with different types of citizenship (class notes). In this way Casa Artom is its own community composed of the students, staff, and teachers. We each play an important role in keeping our community running smoothly. Chris's role includes working assiduously throughout the day to provide the students of Casa Artom with a safe and clean living environment. He goes beyond his job requirements to connect with students on a deeper level. Chris and a student living in Casa Artom, Dan, have built an especially strong relationship in which Williams refers to Chris as “Papa.” Dan believes that Chris is both a friend and father figure in the house because “[Chris] never fails to smile and bring joy with him when he walks into a room.” Other students, like Courtney, have also noticed Chris's kind demeanor. “His welcoming attitude made the assimilation into Venetian society much easier for me and I think many of the students in Casa Artom.” Chris's welcoming attitude exemplifies the duty he feels to the residents of Casa Artom and makes him an ideal citizen in the house.
Chris's experience in Venetian society shows how it is possible to still be accepted into a culture that is not your own. He sets a good example for not only Sri Lankan immigrants, but all immigrants in the Italian community. His attitude, behavior and treatment of others are reflected back in his acceptance by the citizens of Venice.
Bibliography
Aristotle. "Politics." The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.3.three.html>.
Giacomo, Flavio Di. "New Migration Statistics in Italy Show Overwhelmingly Positive Impact." New Migration Statistics in Italy Show Overwhelmingly Positive Impact -. International Organization for Migration, 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2013/pbn-listing/new-migration-statistics-in-ital.html>.
"Interview with Courtney." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Interview with Dan." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Interview with Chris." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014.