Many are those who have had to flee their countries. My family is one of them. On my father's side, we fled the French revolution together with other nobilities such as those who became the Swedish Royal family. On my mother's side, she became the result of her mother's becoming of a refugee in Sweden after WWII. But, we shouldn't have to flee, but rather move towards our goals and better conditions, such as for me personally to sell my books, find collaborators and get married first.
At the moment, I'm in Portugal since three months, to see if this latitude holds a good climate for my health to live in. For the temperature, fresh ocean air, daylight hours and sunshine, humidity and seasonal changes to be matched with my personal preferences and needs, alongside rules, laws, language and culture. I was here on a vacation in 2015 and decided that after receiving healing and feeling a sense of true renewal, but was both delayed and followed by lots of other Swedes until now 2019. Thousands have moved here for no reason it seems, more than for the warmer weather of course. My reason for assessing Portugal, is due to learning about Portugese quality design and manufacturing when I worked with selling clothes in the 90's and wanted to see if I could make my bamboo lei here, within EU.
A couple of Swedes went for a vacation to Thailand (and my friends), then thousands followed. And thousands died. So, are you just a follower? Or are you someone willing to make your own decisions based on your own goals? These goals can be professional ambitions or based on private relationships, or simply to find the best conditions to live. And this is why coaching also is so important for immigration issues.
If you are an innovator, you're ready to discover, explore and try new things.
As a colonialist, you're someone who rather wants to bring your own products, services and set of values with you into another country. Maybe to export something good, but perhaps more often, to assume your ways would be superior and thereby give you some kind of entitlement to settle as a missionary.
But, if you're a belonger, you want to adapt to, change and integrate into the social codes, language and culture of the new country building something together in the society, letting they lead and teach you, perhaps to even get a new citizenship to fight for and protect your new home. The question is, what happens when a country prioritize immigrants over their native citizens, for example with financial aid?
The best way to find out where to live, is always as a student. From the beginning foreign exchange students set out into the world to bring home a set of new broader perspectives and understanding by also sharing one's own traditions, that ultimately build bridges to promote peace across borders. And to welcome foreign students into our own countries. One in, one out.
My mother went to the United States with a scholarship from Rotary in the late 1960's and I went with ASSE in the late 1980's. She later became an English teacher for EF language summer courses in the UK and a teacher for immigrants in Sweden. And I became active in a Swedish fraternity organization for former exchange students, to interview, approve, prepare and escort new ones going, as well as keep the best of our new confidence and happiness among ourselves afterwards, without the envy of other Swedes we meet daily in our schools and workplaces. I also have taught beginner's English to a group of Swedish retired people through evening classes in the 90's. And later as a university student in the US, I became a member of the UN-club and the UNA/USA chapter in Hawaii.
The question is, where can I live without being stalked, sabotaged and forced to move all the time? Where can I have my normal income again? Immigration should be a choice and not a chase.
My goal still is to go to San Francisco, with a new visa and a waiver, to live there, and start my eco business there including regular employment first as needed, just like in 2010, (since I couldn't in Sweden during the five years I tried in 2003-08 or in 2012-18 and was deported from the US in 2012 due to continuing sabotages). Why is this seen as a problem or suspicious? Do I have to become a refugee?