SomaliNet Forums

It is clear that the difference between refugees (Somalis), on the one hand, and immigrants (Chinese, Indians, Filipinos) on the other, is wider than the Grand Canyon. Refugees tend to yearn for the past of the country from which they fled but immigrants look towards the future - if not for themselves then for their children.

The immigrant wants to come, assimilate and succeed whereas the refugee is just fleeing a horrible situation... which is why Somalis in the West are not as successful as other groups.

True but I mean why wouldn't many refugees yearn for a country that they enjoyed and loved so dearly until the war. They have great memories.

But it's having an affect on the children of refugees who most likely will never go back and live in the country their parents fled from. Western born Somali kids refer to their fellow compatriots as "gaalada xuun"

pls stop this generalization

Its true, I've never felt the west is my home even though I've been here all my life. One day in Hargeisa and its like I've been there all my life. Go east, go west, home is always the best.

U cant compare the two.A refugee left their place without much of a choice while an immigrant had most likely made the move to do so.

U yearn for ur past coz u have been uprooted and suddenly too.

It is not just the yearning to return for the mother country that contributes. These economic immigrants have come prepared as they are mostly two parent households where both parents are educated, speak the language and have a fairly good understanding of what life is like in the countries they are have relocated to. I would not be off by much if I said over 60 of Somali households in the west are single parent households lead by a barely educated single mother. Wah kaloo Somalida dadka ka reebay wahaa weeye la'agta ay u diraan afrika. Iyagoo already low inkome ah ayay toban family oo afrika jooga biilaan.