Biographical consequences of working abroad in the context of European mental space
Biographical consequences of working abroad in the context of European mental space

Summary/Abstract: Bringing to the fore the “bottom-up” perspective, i.e., the view of experiencing individuals, this article differentiates between types of work-related migration and mobility and discusses their biographical consequences in the context of the creation of European mental space. The findings based on a detailed analysis of autobiographical narrative interviews with transnational workers prove that a considerable number of people leave their country of origin for other than economic reasons. Among issues covered particular attention is given to two motives behind migration: “escape from” overwhelmingly unbearable life circumstances and “escape to” Europe in search for space of individual expression and development. Moreover, the paper considers the phenomenon of reconciliation with one’s country of origin as an aftermath of experiencing cultural otherness. It is, however, pointed out that migration or mobility reduced to work practices only is not a sufficient condition for the development of “European” identifications.

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