Integrating immigration
By Chiara Merico, Italy

Integration and immigration: the key to understanding the relationship between these two topics can be found by observing the relationship between immigrants and their homelands.
Kreuzberg is a real “multicultural” district in West Berlin. There you can meet Muslim women wearing Islamic veils, as a symbol of their strict sense of belonging to their homelands, but also Döner kebab restaurants owners that maintained their own identity, but are perfectly integrated in the German society.
Semir has Tunisian father and German mother. We met him and asked him which country he considers to be his homeland:
- It’s more Germany than Tunisia, but I wouldn’t care to live in some place else either.
And what’s the relationship between you and your homeland?
- I’m a typical German. The former Federal President Heinemann put it this way: when asked if he loved his country, he just answered: I love my wife. That’s how a lot of Germans feel about this.
In what way do you feel your Tunisian roots?
- Maybe in the way that I like the summer, or certain food, or that I don’t like to be on my own. And also I am a very calm person, but if it reaches a certain point my temper can go really Mediterranean!
Outside the subway station Kottbusser Tor a sign caught our attention: in Adalbertstrasse there is the Islamic Cultural Center of Bosnians in Berlin. We entered and saw a scene worthy the best Kusturica movie: a lot of people – all Bosnian from a place called Sandjzak – gathered together in a huge room, with tables and chairs, chatting, eating and spending their time cheerfully. Men were dressed casual, women and girls, all wore the Islamic veil. We met a group of teenagers and started to discuss wit them. They were all in the age of 13 to 15 and they all spoke English (the older women did not). Mirela, 14, seemed to be the bravest one. We asked her how she feels when she thinks about her homeland:
- It’s great to live here, but Bosnia is more beautiful and people are more friendly there…
Do you miss Bosnia?
- Yes, very much!
Why are you wearing the Islamic veil?
- I don’t wear it every day, but I wear it in the mosque, because everyone wears it and it’s a tradition for us.
Do you wear the veil for religious reasons or because of your people’s traditions?
- For both reasons, because of the Muslim religion and to feel closer to my homeland.
I asked to enter in the mosque to interview Miho, a Bosnian 24 year old student, that said he would be pleased to talk with us. The boy at the reception told me that I had to cover my head and, of course, to take away my shoes before entering the holy place. One of the teens I met before went with me upstairs to the mosque, so completely wrapped up in my scarf and barefoot – I was walking on very soft moquette, don’t worry! – I started talking with Miho. He was born in Bosnia, but during the civil war he came to Berlin as a refugee. He went back to Bosnia when the war was over, and returned again to Berlin for studies at the university. He is now an Economy student at the Technische Unversität, and fully integrated in Berliner life.
Do you feel more Bosnian or Berliner?
- I feel European, cosmopolitan; firstly Bosnian, but then I live in Berlin so just European. I’m a Bosnian in Europe.
What make you feel Bosnian?
- Culture, above all, and all the things that build up a culture, so for example, food, religion, etcetera. These things make me feel Bosnian. I also like cultures of other countries, but my soul, my mother tongue, are Bosnian, and this is the reason why I feel like a boy from Bosnia.
Integration seems to be possible without losing roots, I thought on the way back.