Global Natives in my hood |
Case Study, Oct 2022 |
It happens every time when elections swing a nation to the right
and nationalists get the upper hand: Our search patterns change.
They adjust their focus from around the globe to around the corner.
That's when families want kindred spirits in their neighbourhood!
In 2022, we saw it happen in Sweden and - with a vengeance! - in Italy.
The first two real game changers came in 2016.
The UK voted to leave the European Union. And America elected Donald Trump for president.
When nationalists and xenophobic folks get the upper hand, life gets lonelier for the global minded.
So we look out for like-minded folks: Are there any Global Natives in my hood? There are.
And often enough, we find them where we hadn't expected them at all. Outside our own bubbles.
source: Wikipedia
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Avvocato Cesare's discoveryCesare is a lawyer in Pavia, Lombardy. Marcella, his wife, teaches
History and French. They have three sons, aged 13, 17 and 19. They partner with four other families on three continents. In early September, three weeks before the elections, Marcella and Cesare were - for the first time! - searching for other Global Natives in their own home town. Both were deeply frustrated by what their sons told them about their classmates. It felt as if their entire world was about to turn anti-EU, Islamophobic and homophobic at once. And sure enough, the right landed almost 55% of the votes in their constituency. Reason enough to search for open-minded allies. The very first person they found was ... Azadeh, the woman Cesare had known for fifteen years as the attentive and reliable lady who cleaned his office every evening. |
The very next day, as Cesare asked Azadeh about her membership, it dawned on him that he only knew very little about her.
Through all these years, he had simply taken her for granted. Now he felt mortified.
But Azadeh smiled as she told him how she and her husband Ashraf had fled from Iran 22 years ago. They had both been journalists and could not see a future for themselves and for the family they wanted to have. Their journey took them to Rome first, where relatives helped them to settle and find employment. Ashraf had been in prison for two years for his views, his entire back is covered in scars and even the soles of his feet still show the signs of torture.
Through all these years, he had simply taken her for granted. Now he felt mortified.
But Azadeh smiled as she told him how she and her husband Ashraf had fled from Iran 22 years ago. They had both been journalists and could not see a future for themselves and for the family they wanted to have. Their journey took them to Rome first, where relatives helped them to settle and find employment. Ashraf had been in prison for two years for his views, his entire back is covered in scars and even the soles of his feet still show the signs of torture.
Cesare learned that Azadeh holds three part-time cleaning jobs and writes articles for the Iranian diaspora; Ashraf is a freelance journalist and ghostwriter. Their sons (18 and 19) speak fluent Italian, English and Farsi; their command of German and French is improving constantly. Azadeh told Cesare that one of Ashraf's contacts at the New York Times had suggested they should join The Global Natives Club in 2012, and the community has been their second home ever since.
Now, six weeks later, the two families have become good friends. Right now, they have a lot to talk about.
What's more, Cesare has started to represent refugees for free.
Now, six weeks later, the two families have become good friends. Right now, they have a lot to talk about.
What's more, Cesare has started to represent refugees for free.
The folks we can relate toEvery day, Global Natives find kindred spirits in social circles they have never moved in before.
Abroad or in their own "hood", these partner- and friendships enrich their lives and broaden their horizons. Marcella says "Now there's at least one good thing I can thank Signora Meloni for!" |
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