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I recently read 'Je suis Tzigane et je le reste' (~ 'Gypsy* and proud of it') by Anina Ciuciu and Frédéric Veille. The book is a memoire of the Ciuciu's youth up to the present. Ciuciu was born near Craiova, Romania in a Roma/Romani community. Her parents moved out of the Roma community into the city, hiding their ethnic identity in the hopes of a better life. Eventually, after being found out, they attempt to emigrate to Italy and eventually France.

The book is an extremely moving account of a refugee's life, including all the racism, discrimination and hardships that go with it. While its not uncommon to read accounts of specific episodes of refugee migration (the hardships crossing the Mediterranean, etc), reading a full story from home country to being settled in a new country is a powerful experience. Anina encountered the best and worst of humanity and honestly the moments where people who lend a helping hand provide as much hope as the moments where Anina and her family are faced with cruelty and indifference provide despair.

The book made me think of the 'Good refugee' discussion that one reads about often, the idea that countries should accept refugees because they provide so many benefits and innovations. The common counter to this is that refugees, fleeing from horrific lives elsewhere, do not owe anyone innovation and benefits in order to be worthy of acceptance and human dignity. But the book reminds me of another point I rarely hear: No amount of achievement, innovation or being a good citizen will ever be as big an accomplishment as just surviving the refugee experience.

The heartbreak of leaving home and family, the desolate lives society forces refugees into, the heartbreak of dashed hopes, the grueling work just to survive each day are all far harder to overcome that building a company or becoming a doctor.

The book spends a good number of pages on life after 'arriving', not physically but after finding some stability in the new country. And this section shows that, at least for Anina's parents who came to France as adults, life as a refugee does not end. One does not reach a plateau of relative comfort and peace of mind. The shear amount of backbreaking work Anina's parents put into just surviving, in a new country with refugee benefits, is heartbreaking and a reminder refugees don't get the 'better life' of their new country. They often get a second class life of mistreatment, overwork and severe discrimination. Their children, perhaps, may have it better but one does not stop being a refugee, one is not allowed to be simply a citizen or a resident. One is never allowed to stop being a refugee.

The actual writing of the book could use some work but the story is so interesting and moving that the writing style is hardly noticeable.

Unfortunately, I have not seen any English versions. But if you can read French (I believe there is also a Romanian translation), this is a really a wonderful read. Highly recommended to anyone and everyone.

* Tzigane is an offensive term for Roma people in French so 'Gypsy' is a fitting translation.