Becoming a Legal / Temporary Immigrant

Its 1:16, and I am sitting out on our balcony in just a sweater. The sky is a really beautiful light blue, and there are only a few wispy clouds in the sky. I am warm and comfortable, enjoying the sounds of the cars and life six floors below me. This morning when I woke up, I came out here to the balcony to eat my breakfast, (cereal, tea, banana), and the line on the horizon was really sharp and clear, and I could see little white specks of boats out in the distance. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day.

I am officially a legal temporary immigrant in Italy. This morning we went to Agrigento to the police headquarters loaded with paperwork, passports, pictures, signatures. We waited around for a while, watching the uniformed men move slowly around the office, and finally they were ready for me. I gave my fingerprints which was fun, each finger pressed on a little green scanner. We waited for everything to be processed, and sat out in the sun; I played solitaire on my phone and won. We were told to go over to another building where I would be “inspected” to make sure I was healthy, and to record my height, weight, etc. Outside the office there was a long line of African immigrants, all men, waiting to be processed. In Sicily there is a large population of North African immigrants, since we are really close to the northern coast of Africa. It appears as if there is little to no contact between the Italians and the Africans, and I have heard a lot of racism in school, which is odd because I am attending “Liceo Martin Luther King,” and the president is always bragging about the value of diversity and acceptance. There is not one black kid in my school, and only two Chinese- brothers. Most of the Africans I see here are selling cheap sunglasses or fake designer clothes on the street. I can’t imagine how difficult life must be here for them, without the language, any resources, a reliable job.

While we waited we went to a café down the street. When Maria asked what I wanted, I said something very typical of Sicily. They gave me a delicious pastry with sweet ricotta on the inside, and an espresso. Totally perfect snack.

Returned to the office and was “inspected.” Gave my hair color, eye color, height, weight, and information. I was fascinated with a poster up on the wall with really old mugshots from what looked like the 40’s and 50’s. Some of the creepiest faces I have ever seen- right out of a horror movie. Most of the hair on the people was out of control, there eyes were bugged out and some crosseyed. One guy was completely bald and really skinny, with deep set eyes. Looked like an Edward Gorey character. I was so curious about the stories behind each picture. I wish I had my camera!

Its been a really fast, really busy, really good week. Tomorrow I am hoping to talk to Simon in the afternoon, then I am going with some friends to the beach. I will go to the pool starting this weekend.

Ok- I am going on a walk with Gerlando. Ciao!