Friendship. Who are these people?

Turn to our "Interviews" page for conversations on various topics concerning the life of an immigrant (first generation or otherwise), including friendship. Click here.

If you want to contribute to the conversation and send us your personal opinion, stories or experiences click here.

It has been said that each country has its own national character, just like individual people have separate, distinct characters. There are resemblances, but we can see differences and particularities. We stereotype Italians as fiery and romantic, the French as charming and flirtatious, Germans as aloof and punctual, or the Swiss as precise and contained. On the other hand, they all need friends, families, a place to live and a direction in life.

The way people relate to each other in friendship is one of the threads in the fabric of this national character. Many immigrants and refugees find that it is hard to pick a thread to pull into this fabric, and the adjustment can be tricky. Share your stories with us. Somebody might be inspired and you will have changed that life for the better. 

How do YOU make friends? How do you relate to friendship in different cultures? What is puzzling? What is challenging? How do you build a bridge?

And how about the old friends? The ones you grew up with? They used to be part of your family and now you don't see them anymore. If you are lucky, some of them still write. But more often than not, they get into the flow of life and get married, have babies and forget about you. Some even hold a grudge perhaps, because you are living in a "better" country and perhaps, are doing better financially. Do you still miss them though? How do you cope with that?

Send stories and feedback:
editor@sentimentalrefugee.com