Since the time when this project was last updated (2014), many things have changed in the world and we are assisting to a dramatic increase in the number of the refugees trying to get through Europe doors, that meanwhile are becoming smaller and smaller.
I'm very well aware that our european society is faced with new, difficult challenges but with this project I would still like to dream about Europe as an open land that can be home for those who are looking for a better life as well as for those who are running away from the war.
Maxi
deutsch
"Being in a foreign country and far from "home", learning new staff every day, meeting interesting people, makes all the difficulties much more lighter and life a lot funnier."
"I have no idea what will come but the current situation in Europe gives me no choice but to try to relax and enjoy."
Why did you move abroad? Why in Berlin?
It was what I always wanted to do: to travel and to “be from” everywhere.
But also Argentina is an economic and intellectual mess, especially Buenos Aires. People there is too judgmental and it´s very hard to change their mind about anything: boring. On the political and social side, even tough is much more advanced than most of the countries in Latin America, it´s still centuries away from the kind of society I would like to live in.
Europe isn´t either, but it´s by far much better for me, from almost every point of view.
Berlin, at first, was a pure job seeking choice, but with the recommendation of a friend easily became the choice. I didn´t know much about the city when I decided to actually come, but It was a good decision. I´m very happy about it.
Is there any characteristic, you can identify as peculiar of your country, you miss?
I do miss a lot the “understanding” of the humor. I have to rethink most of my jokes to make it understandable to everyone abroad.
This could sound like a superficial answer, but I really mean it.
If you look back at your life in your country, do you see improvement that justify your moving abroad? Or, do you see improvement chances?
From every point of view, yes.
Do you feel integrated in the German society? In the Berliner one?
Berlin is the only city I´ve been in Germany so I couldn´t really answer properly this question. But in Berlin, after a while, I´ve come to feel myself as a part of it. Germans are like they are, but as in every other culture, the individuals make the difference. The German society as a whole, I couldn´t say yet. The only feeling that I get I that the last years of “Tolerance guilt” here in Germany are fading and I`m really worried about it, but I don´t know that many about the country to say: this is what I think.
What does the work represent and mean to you?
Slavery deluxe.
What does this specific job mean to you?
I don´t think about “the job” really at this moment. It has been very important for me, to be able to actually live here so I´m really happy to have found it. Of course the hours at the desk and on the phone are hard, but it´s what it is now and I give it my best.
Has anything changed of your approach to work since you work in a Call Center?
To be honest, I do not see our job as a call center. Even tough, I know it technically is. The ones I´ve worked in Buenos Aires were a bombing of calls and negative energy from 200 persons per day in your ear. I feel this job as kind of “office job”.
Maxi was born on 22nd November 1978 in Buenos Aires.
He has a variegated background between music and writing: in fact, he is a journalist but also music composer. Maxi arrives in Berlin in the early 2012 and, when interview and pictures were taken he was still working as customer service agent, until the day she just did not show up at work.
The journey goes on.
More about Maxi: