Fear me! I am a migrant!
Moving to the UK after Brexit.
First of all, what is a migrant ? According to the free online version of the Oxford Dictionary (no one owns a dictionary anymore — so let’s not pretend) a migrant is “A person who moves from one place to another in order to find work or better living conditions”. Which I did. Although I could also be called an expat’.
What’s the difference between an expatriate and a migrant ? Well people are still discussing/fighting about it. According to the dictionary, an expatriate is ”A person who lives outside their native country”. Which sounds very similar to the migrant. Except it has another feel, admit it. People fear migrants, not expatriates.
What kind of person moves to the UK after the Brexit ?
From what I could see at the job centre — all kinds!
For instance, I’m 26, I have a masters degree, an english boyfriend, a french accent, a driving license, a library card, an addiction to nicotine and a love for crackers and cheddar. I don’t have debts nor a criminal record. I buy my food from the Coop’ and my clothes from Topshop.
The other day, I had an appointment to get my National Insurance Number. On the first floor of the Job Center building, there’s a waiting area, with 90’s blue and red sofas. We were probably 8 or 9, all young, all foreigners. Some were by themselves, some were accompanied by a friend, some were bored, most were nervous. In the background we could hear conversation in broken english, and questions being repeated over and over again : When did you arrive? Have you ever been to the UK before? How many times? Have you ever changed your name? Have you been known by another name? Where do you live? At some point, the social worker leaves taking your form and your passport, and asks you to go sit in another waiting area. Until you get your papers back everyone looks spooked. And then they smile. And what a smile.
Like tax evasion, love knows no frontier.
I’ve actually moved to the UK for a very mundane reason: love. That sounds so cheesy — it’s nonetheless true.
Soon, I intend to find a job. And then, I’m going to become the worst thing that ever happened to England (according to the Daily Mail): a migrant worker !
I can’t wait! Apparently I’m going to have welfare money thrown at me and an amazingly easy and well paid job!
For now, I must admit, I’m a bit disappointed… It’s been all paperwork and bills. But I’m sure it will change. A national newspaper wouldn’t lie about migrants in the UK, would it?
Migrating is pretty cool — you should try it !
I’m especially glad I moved now, since it might be the last two years of the UK as I’ve known it.
I remember the first time I went by myself to London. I was 19 and having a rough time in Paris. I called a friend who had moved there. Out of the blue, I asked her if I could “come by”. I then jumped on a eurolines bus (#studentbudget) and woke up the next day in London. I felt free.
I love the UK and I love Europe. The brexit, like every break up, sucks. And no one is to blame… Except the liars of Ukip.
Before the divorce is final, and just in case all Europe goes bananas and closes its frontiers (you know, before WWIII), you too should migrate! Meet new people, learn a new language, learn how to drive on the right side of the road, steal the job of another EU citizen etc. Experiment ! I have some very happy english friends living in Paris. Why wouldn’t they? Cheap wine and cheap(er) rent … Think about it. But not too long — because “brexit means brexit” — or something like that.
