In searching for Belonging-Almost at home abroad : A qualitative study on the way refugees developfeelings of home and belonging in the Romanian citiesof Bucharest and Timisoara

Abstract: Due to an increased flow of refugees, migration has become an important issue that hasraised a lot of concern during the past years. During 2015 alone European member statesreported almost two million migrants crossing their external borders. This study aims tobring into light how the refugees that arrived in Romania starting with late 2014 till present,after being granted asylum or subsidiary protection manage to accommodate themselveswithin the communities they choose to settle. It does so by exploring the way these refugeesconstruct and develop feelings of home and belonging abroad. This study research questionsare first: how do refugees experience local communities and establish feelings of home andbelonging? and second: how does the life course perspective help the refugees getaccommodated to their new urban environment? The empirical research to answer thesequestions is qualitative, relying on in depth, semi structured life history interviews held withrefugees that have been granted asylum or subsidiary protection by the Romanian statestarting with the late 2014 until present. The findings pointed out: 1) the effect of the lifecourse: (e.g. the events of being uprooted and relocated into a foreign land brought lifealtering changes in an individuals’ life course). 2) The individuals interviewed showedintimate emotions about their new home and feelings of belonging. 3) The informantsperceived their experience as a perceptual process of negotiation with themselves and thelocal community from which they belong.