Lifestyle Migration

Human migration happens for all kinds of reasons: political unrest, poverty, unemployment, family, money … - none of which are terribly unusual or difficult to relate to. In fact, people have moved around the world for centuries, seeking prosperity or escaping destitution. In the 17^th century, Irish people sought to benefit from England’s rapid industrialization, and in the 19^th century, Europeans departed for America to realize their dreams of wealth and independence. While historians do not always agree on the underlying causes of particular migration trends, these tended to be easily discernible concepts. Nobody would contest that, to convince a person to change locations, the prospect of a family reunion or wealth could easily be sufficient. We do it all the time. Within borders, across borders, over continents. We understand that people want to escape from poverty, or become rich. We also understand a person’s desire to be with loved ones. These are truly human needs and aspirations, ingrained in us as fundamental values of our existence. What is more, they are largely cross-cultural. We can thus grasp the concept of migration as an inevitable, necessary and natural part of life.

And so we stopped to probe the migrant’s psyche. Or to question his grounds for leaving. Going away is socially acceptable, and justifications unnecessary. We go away because we can. But of course – we do have our reasons, valid reasons. We know how to respond when asked, and they might even make sense to us. They are the reasons of white and affluent members of society, who want more from life, but don’t know what. They are effeminate, nebulous, obscure. They are: I want to live amongst friendly people. And: I want to get away from bureaucracy. So they leave. From England to New Zealand, from Germany to Australia. Where, on a good day, passengers thank the driver when exiting the bus, and where red tape might be blue. They leave with good reason, they tell us. The reason is “life-style”. And we understand.