One of the biggest phenomenon which interest the today’s society is migration.
The motivations of people who migrate to other places can be different from each other.
Some people escape from the wars and conflicts that distress their Country, some people migrate in search of more satisfying job opportunities in order to improve their quality of life, some people leave everything behind just to realize their deepest dream.
Some Countries like Australia have made available a particular type of Visa called “Working Holiday” for the young people between 18 and 30 years old.
This Visa gives them the chance to travel and work within the Australian territory for the duration of one year, with the purpose of promoting open-mindedness about multiculturalism.
For the many people who attempt to settle down in Australia, the Government gives the opportunity to earn the renewal of the Working Holiday Visa for an extra year through 88 days of work in several farms of the Country. Once completed the 88 days, it’s possible to use the second Visa immediately once the first expires, or use it in the future, always before the 31th birthday.
Before to undertake this experience a lot of backpackers are skeptical due to the little information regarding this topic. Most of them consider the farm a kind of forced labor to gain the freedom of travelling in Australia for another year.
In few words, a lot of people consider this opportunity to be more trouble than it’s worth, without knowing that the farm is not only work, but an unique life experience and unrepeatable.
During this experience the young people learn what it means to work hard in order to reach an aim. They learn how to live everyday with people from different culture and backgrounds. They learn what it is respect, cohesion and solidarity.
It all begins when entering the first time in the “Shared House”. Frequently the welcoming is not the best for a simple reason: most of these houses are incredibly overcrowded and even one person more makes the difference when there is no privacy. The common spaces are often noisy and occupied by other people. In the long run this creates irritability and frustration.
However this is only a temporary situation because after having spent several weeks together the backpackers are no longer strangers, but they already begun to be friends.
The bond that have been formed among them is every day more solid thanks to a totally shared life style.
After months the backpackers have shared the same suffering during the working days, the same frustrations due to an overcrowded house, but even wonderful moments such as strolls in the nature and crazy party nights.
All the barriers erected by the cultural difference have been demolished by the sense of togetherness.
All the suffering and the exertions caused by the hard work have been wiped out by solidarity.
All the moments of loneliness and sadness due to the distance from the loved ones have been supplanted by the smiles of the farm companions.
These people that only few months ago were unknown from every corner of the world, have now become what is possible to call a big multicultural family.
At the beginning of the experience it’s possible to have the sensation of ending up in a nightmare from which you’re looking forward to escape. Surprisingly when the end comes, a part of you would never want to leave because unconsciously you know that you’re leaving behind a second family that will be impossible to recreate, but that will stay forever in your heart.