Ali Razai has lived in Flekkefjord for four years. He likes himself in the small town. He will also live here in the future.
Name: Ali Razai (22)
Comes from: Afghanistan
Moved to: Flekkefjord
He is well integrated into the local community, including through his job at Kiwi - and gratitude shines from him when he talks about the way he has been integrated in Flekkefjord.
- How do you experience living in Flekkefjord?
- I really enjoy living here. It's a cozy place, he says to Agder.
He believes there are great advantages to living in a small town.
- Everyone here knows each other. They greet and chat when they meet each other in the street.
In addition, it is cheaper to live in a small town compared to larger cities.
Student and employee
Razai is in his last year of high school and he works at Kiwi on the side.
- It's busy. But I think it is important that I go to school. I also have to work to earn money.
He says it is busy, but he enjoys both school and work.
- What motivates you to study?
- It is the opportunities the school gives me that motivate me. The education will give me a good future.
He also says that the school is a nice place where he has kind and good teachers and great friends.
- What is it like to work at KIWI?
- It is very nice to work at Kiwi. It's social and we have a good team. Every day is different, I meet many people and learn something new every day.
Razi says that he has gotten to know a lot of people through his work at Kiwi. There are lots of customers in the store every day, and there are also several young people working at Kiwi with whom he gets along well.
Inclusive
Razai came to Norway six years ago, but he did not end up in Flekkefjord until two years later. He then stayed in a housing association for underage asylum seekers. This was his encounter with the small town:
- It was an inclusive environment. The staff at the housing association cared about me and I soon felt like they were my family. They still ask how I'm doing when they meet me in the street or in the shop. I also made many friends among the other people who lived there. Together we got to go out into the city and get to know the local life.
Razai was well received and he was soon integrated into the local community. He also chose to speak the Flekkefjord dialect to mark his affiliation with Southern Norway. He feels at home here.
- Of course, I miss my family in Afghanistan, and the culture from my home country. But it helps that I enjoy Norwegian culture so well too, and I think it is both exciting and instructive to live on the edge of two cultures.
To others who come to Norway in a similar situation to him, he would say that the most important thing is to learn the language. Then the possibilities open up. It is also important to go out, open up, talk to people, and come up with joint activities, which can help to become integrated.
Maybe study economics
Razai is about to finish high school. He wants to go on to university education.
- Before I was sure that I wanted to study health, but now I have started to consider some other options as well. I don't know where I will end up in the end, but I know that I really want to work in sales and crockery - and am considering studying economics.
He enjoys the shop, and thinks he would like to continue in the industry. He finds contact with employees and customers rewarding.
- Do you want to live in Flekkefjord in the future as well?
- I have to move away to study, but there is no other reason to move from Flekkefjord. I can imagine living here after I finish my education, he says.
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