The residents here are either single men or families, and they come from all different walks of life.\u00a0 I helped with organizing the line for their weekly allowance, and shadowed staff as they replaced residents\u2019 light bulbs, furniture and bedding etc..<\/p>\n Immigration is one of Austria\u2019s most pressing and controversial issues.\u00a0 In 2015, there was a surge of migrants from the Middle East, flowing into many European countries, including Austria. Germany\u2019s Chancellor Angela Merkel\u2019s main slogan regarding migration at the time was \u201cwir schaffen das\u201d, or \u201cwe can do it\u201d, and as a result, between 2015 and 2016, one million migrants entered Europe through the gateway of Austria, an eighth of the nation\u2019s population.\u00a0 Only around 100,000 immigrants stayed in Austria; the remainder migrated to other European countries or went overseas. \u00a0The influx of immigration has since decreased since 2015, but migration statistics show that it could be on the rise again.<\/p>\n For the average refugee coming to Vienna, the journey to safety and freedom is a long and grueling one.\u00a0 People coming to Vienna must apply for asylum upon entry. \u00a0Those seeking asylum must live in a refugee center, where they cannot work or travel, until they are notified about that status of their application.\u00a0 This waiting period can be as short as six months, although it is on average around 16 months, according to the Austrian Ministry of Domestic Affairs.\u00a0 Those seeking asylum at Haus Erdberg wait three years on average.<\/p>\n Through volunteering at Caritas, I saw Vienna through a different lens.\u00a0 The building is not an old beautiful Catholic cathedral, nor is it a world-class performance venue. There are around 250 residents in the center, all of whom are waiting to see if they will be invited in, or if they will be sent back to their home country from whence they fled.\u00a0 While they are at the center, these asylum seekers must learn German, so that if they are granted asylum and are allowed to work, they are able to find a job.\u00a0 Most jobs in Austria require at least a B2 German level, which is attainable through an exam, which tests reading, writing, speaking, and listening in German.\u00a0 Even after asylum is granted, there are still a lot of obstacles.\u00a0 For example, a refugee\u2019s education is not always recognized by the authorities, thus making their resume unattractive to employers.<\/p>\n Despite these challenges, there are ways for refugees to integrate into Austrian society.\u00a0 As a group, we got the opportunity to visit and tour the Magdas Hotel, a social organization specifically employing refugees to work as receptionists, chefs, and other positions.\u00a0 As a whole, the Magdas (meaning \u201clike that\u201d in German) employees represent 14 different nations and 23 languages.\u00a0 As a refugee, this job is an excellent way to get a foot in the working world and gain experiences that can lead to a steady job in Austria.<\/p>\n My father was a refugee.\u00a0 He fled Vietnam in 1981 and came to the US speaking little to no English with virtually no money on him.\u00a0 He was fortunate to have missionaries sponsor him in Florida.\u00a0 Without them he could not have found a home in this country, and he would not have met my mom (an EMU alum), and my brothers and I would not exist.\u00a0 I acknowledge that immigration is a complex issue, however, Austria is endearing to me not in spite of its refugees, but because of them, and the gifts they bring to the nation. I want refugees to be seen as human, just as my dad was, and I want others to experience the Vienna I have loved during my time here.<\/p>\n My time in this country has been extremely positive.\u00a0 Vienna city life is exciting and addicting. It has a beautiful caf\u00e9 culture, an incredibly efficient public transportation system, one of the world\u2019s best theater scenes, and is visually stunning at every corner.\u00a0 Learning about the politics and issues here does not make me like this place less, it makes me care about it more.<\/p>\n After reading EMU\u2019s Common Read Exit West [Mohsin Hamid]<\/em><\/a> this summer, I have resonated with it immensely while learning about European history during my time abroad.\u00a0 One line continues to stick out for me: \u201cWe are all migrants of time.\u201d<\/p>\n -Avery Trinh<\/p>\n *This article originally published by The WeatherVane\u00a0 Nov. 7, 2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 24 October 2019* On September 27th, I had the privilege of playing soccer alongside refugees in a tournament that was part of \u201cLanger Tag der Flucht\u201d (long day of the escape), a full day event devoted to the stories of refugees in Vienna, Austria.\u00a0 As I was enjoying the sport I love and practicing my … Continue reading Europe: Immigration in Austria<\/span> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/crosscultural\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/11\/Team-closeup-ATrinh.png\")
<\/a>For the past seven weeks I have been living in Vienna as part of the Europe and Morocco Cross-Cultural.\u00a0 While I am here I am volunteering with Caritas, a Non-Government Organization (NGO) with roots in the Catholic Church.\u00a0 Part of Caritas\u2019 mission is refugee aid, and I was fortunate to spend every Monday working alongside staff at Haus Erdberg, a refugee complex housing around 250 refugees.<\/p>\n