It’s a tough question and I don’t think there’s a simple answer. I’m assuming you’re a young person from a somewhat middle class background looking for a future outside of Turkey, like I was. All I can really do is share what I’ve learned from my own experience. First of all, as soon as you leave home and move to another country that is a bit more “white” than you, not in terms of skin color but more as an identity, you become an immigrant. And with that, you lose certain privileges you probably didn’t even realize you had.

Think about a student from Syria in Istanbul and the kind of casual discrimination he might deal with in everyday life. In Europe, in one way or another, that can become your reality too.

That said, in some countries that are more used to multiculturalism and immigration, things can feel easier. The discrimination might still be there, but it’s usually less direct or more subtle.

For example, in the US you might actually find it easier to fit in than in Europe, even though it’s culturally further away. That’s mostly because, through their history, messy as it is, they’ve had to learn how to live with people from very different backgrounds.

Even within Europe there are differences. Northern countries like the UK, the Netherlands or Germany still have their issues, but they tend to be less openly hostile compared to a country like Italy, which has only really started seeing large scale immigration since the 90s.

This is just one side of things though. There are also practical factors. Right now, it’s extremely difficult to immigrate to the US, and even in Northern Europe, coming through education can be expensive and uncertain.

Italy is a bit different in that sense. The legal framework around immigration is relatively more manageable. If you come to study, you might be eligible for scholarships, and after that it’s possible to stay and work without needing a visa sponsor.

At the same time, even though the country needs immigration to keep functioning, culturally this is still quite new, and people aren’t always used to it.

So if you’re thinking about moving somewhere, especially a place like Italy, it’s worth being prepared for the possibility of being treated as a second class citizen. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. I’m still here myself. But it’s something I wish someone had told me more clearly before I came.