瑞典語言咖啡：我的移民朋友故事/ Language cafe: stories of immigrants
語言咖啡（language cafe, spårkcafé）顧名思義是一個透過喝咖啡的輕鬆方式，讓非母語者可以與當地人互動；提升語言能力的同時，也能融入當地社群。我因為有學瑞典文所以參加Växjö鎮上許多的語言咖啡，然而在眾多語言咖啡之中我最喜歡在Tallgårdens library的語言咖啡，不但一週兩次，而且參加者都不太會英文，所以很適合磨練自己的瑞典語能力。語言咖啡的參加者大多來自中東以及非洲地區，雖然他們來自不同國家，但是卻有著共通之處：每個人都為了更好的未來而來到瑞典，而每個人都有不為人知的故事。
Husam是一位50歲的敘利亞大叔，他與他的家人在2015年為了躲避內戰而來到瑞典。Husam一家並不是直接到瑞典尋求庇護，而是將兒子先送到瑞典以躲避軍隊徵招，剩下的人舉家遷移到土耳其。在瑞典的兒子成功取的瑞典政府的許可之後，Husam一家透過「家庭團聚」的方式成功抵達瑞典。他們在移民局以及有關單位的協助之下逐漸適應瑞典社會，並且學習瑞典語。在經歷五年的奮鬥之後，Husam一家取得永久居留權，有一個穩定的生活；孩子大多都完成高等教育並且開始工作，有些甚至已經找到另一半；Husam本人則將成為職業計程車司機。他告訴我他希望可以透過自己的力量維持生活，儘量不要成為社會的負擔。我問Husam如果內戰結束之後，會不會搬回去敘利亞？Husam深思了一下，對我說：「瑞典已經是我的家了，我知道敘利亞是我出生的地方，但是我對那裡已經沒有眷戀了，或許有空回去走走是個不錯的選擇。」
Mohamed是一位來自厄利垂亞的30歲青年，來瑞典已經有兩年的時間。由於瑞典政府在2015年難民危機之後修改了移民政策，使得Mohamed只能拿到為期三年的居留證。根據規定，申請者若是在居留證到期時未能經濟自主（有全職工作，且有地方可以住），居留證將無法延長，且面臨遣送回國的困境，而原生國很可能仍處於戰亂、飢荒等脆弱狀態。Mohamed告訴我他在厄利垂亞有受過醫療相關的高等教育，但因為學位為非英文學位，必須請原本的大學提供英文證明文件。然而學校因為動亂緣故而停擺，Mohamed只能轉為申請烹飪技職訓練，並且同時學習瑞典文。在疫情爆發之前，Mohamed已經有一份餐廳的兼職工作，也說得一口流利的瑞典文。我想或許在不久的將來，Mohamed將會重拾書本，在瑞典完成醫療相關的學位，成為社會的菁英吧。
Hewad同樣來自厄利垂亞，是個將近30歲的母親，她同樣為了給丈夫與兩個孩子更好的生活而隻身前往瑞典，而這一來就是5年。Hewad用盡各種方式穿越非洲大陸抵達地中海，有時搭車，有時走路；有時頂著高溫徒步橫越沙漠；有時在毫無水源與食物的情況下長途跋涉。當她千辛萬苦的抵達埃及時，卻因為非法移民的罪名而入監服刑9個月。在期滿釋放後，Hewan透過人蛇的幫助橫越地中海，抵達歐洲大陸，最終輾轉來到瑞典。Hewan平常總是笑臉迎人，但是每當談起來瑞典的過程，Hewan的臉龐總是多了一絲哀傷。我想對她來說，來瑞典不僅讓她無法陪伴孩子的成長過程，中間的過程也是她不願想起的痛苦記憶吧。抵達瑞典之後，老天的考驗仍未結束。根據規定，若是想要將家人接到瑞典同住，申請人必須要有足夠的金錢與一個良好的居住環境才能符合申請資格。然而對於一個新移民來說，要找到一份達到規定薪資門檻的工作有如登天一樣難，Hewan仍無法將心愛的家人接到瑞典同住，而Hewan已經有很多年沒有見到他們了，不知道下一次見到他們會是什麼時候？
這些故事只是我在語言咖啡聽到的一小部分。事實上，每一位移民的背後都有屬於自己的故事，只是對於有些人來說，這些故事是她們最不願再想起的痛苦回憶。他們離鄉背井，甚至拋家棄子的來到瑞典打拼，說穿了就是為了一個更好的生活；有些人很幸運的過著美好的生活，然而有些人卻仍活在痛苦的深淵中，不知道未來到底何去何從。對於移民來說，瑞典不只是一個夢想的國度，也是一個可以將過去拋在腦後，重新開始的地方；對我來說，我在與他們交談的過程中，看到這些移民願意賭上一切，踏上未知旅程的堅毅，而他們眼中閃爍著不只是希望，也充滿了對外來的嚮往。可惜的是瑞典的移民政策在難民危機後逐漸轉為嚴格，而疫情更是讓未來充滿更多不確定性。我只希望在這些在語言咖啡相遇的朋友能度過難關，朝自己的目標前進；正如同我很喜歡的一句瑞典語所言： ‘Du kan om du vill, du vill så du kan.’ 有志者，事竟成。加油！
Language cafe (spårkcafé) is a place where language learners can talk and interact with local people to improve their language skills. There are many language cafes in Växjö, while my favorite one is the language cafe at Tallgårdens library. The language cafe at Tallgårdens library is held twice a week, and most of the participants are people from non-English speaking countries. Therefore it is a perfect place to practice Swedish because I have to force myself not to rely on my English when communicating.
The participants from the language cafe are all full of stories. Even though they came from different regions (or countries), such as the Middle East and Africa, while they all came to Sweden for the same reason. That is to pursue a life and stay away from the chaos. During the talk, I had a chance to glance at what they had been through, and what is their dream.
Husam is a 50-year-old father from Syria. He migrated to Sweden in 2015 to escape from the civil war. He and his family did not come to Sweden at the same time. Instead, Husam sent his son from Syria to Sweden for preventing the recruiting in the army. Then Husam brought the rest of his family members to Turkey, where they waited for his son to apply for ‘family reunion’ in Sweden. After successfully moving to Sweden, Husam and his family started to integrate into society with the help of the Integration Board and language school. Husam has a nice life now after five years of hard work. Now he and his family have a safe place to live. Most of his children have already finished their higher education and a decent job and family. And he is soon to become a professional taxi driver because he is reluctant to become a burden to society. When I asked Husam will he wants to move back to Syria if the war is ended, he just shook his head and said ‘Sweden is my home now, I know Syria is the place I born, but I can not move back to Syria, maybe traveling there is okay.’
Mohamed is an Eritrean man in his 30s. He came to Sweden after the migration crisis in 2015. Therefore he only got a three-year-permit for the reason that the government has changed into a stricter migration policy. The policy states that those who are unable to support themselves (have a job and a place to live) after the permit expires, will be forced to send back to their home country, where wars and chaos might still going on. Mohamed used to receive a higher education in medicine when he was in Eritrea, while the diploma is not lectured in English so he must ask his university to send related documents. Unfortunately, the university is shut down because of the instability, preventing him from getting the certificate. Instead, he decided to attend vocational training in cooking, while taking the language course at the same time. I guess once he gets the permanent permit, he will start his higher education and become an elite in society. Before the outbreak of the virus, he had already had a part-time job at a restaurant. I really hope that the virus will not affect him too much.
Hewan is an Eritrean mother in her late 20s and she has been in Sweden for 5 years. She came to Sweden also in pursuit of a better life for her husband and her children. It took her more than one year to travel to Sweden. She tried to cross the continent to the Mediterranean sea by foot, car, and other transportations. Not only did she had to endure extreme temperatures but also lack food and water when crossing the Sahara Desert. After successfully crossed the desert, she was prisoned in jail for 9 months for illegal immigration in Egypt. She then crossed the Mediterranean sea to Europe with the help of a smuggling group after she was freed from prison. For her, not only did she paid a painful price during the trip but also a nightmare that she would never look back. Unfortunately, the struggle has yet to be finished after coming to Sweden. According to the law, she needs a job that can afford a housing and also support her family if she wants to take her family to Sweden. However, it is to hard to get a full-time job with such a high payment for an immigrant. Therefore she is still unable to bring her children to Sweden after 5 years of fighting in Växjö. She is unsure when she can achieve her goal, but it is for sure that she will try her best and keep going.
Those stories are only a small part that I heard in the language cafe. In fact, everyone has their story to tell but it was a devastating history which they were reluctant to look back for some of them. All of them come to Sweden in pursuit of a better life. Some of them successfully changed their life with their effort, while others are still struggling, having no idea where the future is. For immigrants, Sweden is not only a dreamland to live, but also a place where they can abandon the past and start a new life. For me, I see how hard working they are for their dreams, and I can feel their strong intention when talking to them. It is sad to see the government is closing the door towards immigrants, without noticing their effort and contribution to society. It is unsure how the world is going to be after the pandemic, I still hope that the ones I met at the language cafe can get through the difficulties and keeping going towards their dream. Just like what people say in Swedish ‘Du kan om du vill, du vill så du kan.’ Keep fighting!
