Romanians from Serbia in Denmark

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public their successful integration in the consumer economy. Although individual, such adventures are consumed collectively as a way of increasing the status of the entire group. Integration Through Consumption: The House ‘At Home’ and the New ‘Home’ In general, the successful integration of the Serbian Vlachs has been closely linked to the consumer society. Butwhat does this imply, and what are the migrants so eager to gain? Interestingly, both young and old declare that they find the building of large houses in the village of origin unreasonable and irrational. Nevertheless, the home ‘at home’ persists as both a moral commitment and a financialburden. Great efforts are invested in the constant refurbishing of the large and only partly inhabited houses, to keep up with the latest fashions in homes and gardens. These beautification projects reflect obligations toprovide a decent shelter for retirement while demonstrating the status and success acquired in the course ofmigration. But there is also a more collective dimension—the beautification projects also serve to pay respect tothe village by raising its status vis-à-vis the surrounding villages. This visibility, however, is mostlydirected towards the Serbian public. In order not to stir up jealousy, the size and attractiveness of the Serbianhouse is usually not made visible to Danes. As settlement in Denmark has become more permanent, the home in Denmark has also acquired value as a symbolicpoint of reference, not only for the individual family, but also for the groups’ collective identity. For many Serbs in Denmark, the detached house stands out as the most important marker of integration and participation, the most obvious expression of their commitment to Danish society, and a way of involving oneself. In Denmark,the house (as well as the car and the large TV set) has become a visible marker of membership in the consumersociety. What is interesting, however, is that, while the houses in the home town are built to impress, theSerbs’ houses in Denmark usually look like any other house on the road: indeed, the owners take pride in nothaving any sign of difference displayed on the façade. Here the project is one of invisibility and
sameness, away of demonstrating the Vlach community’s integration and of signalling that they have now acquired a longertime horizon. Although this suggests a change in saving strategies among the ‘integratedVlachs’, securing a decent façade and a modern interior in both the village and the Danish houses remains crucialfor maintaining respect within the Vlach community. The Danish houses are also the object of meticulous attention. Most Serbian men are constantly engaged in renovating the roof or enlarging the family residence. In this way, they present themselves as the ideal image of the good neighbour and hardworking migrant. For the women, who are traditionally in charge of the garden and the interior, it is more difficult to gain such a reputation. Because of their prolonged visits to the village during the summer, gardens in Denmark have to bekept to a minimum. Most homes are kept spotlessly clean inside, but are also almost devoid of any personalartefacts. Indeed the similarities between different homes are striking. All are equipped with more or less thesame type of corner sofa, a glass cabinet with artefacts and figurines, and a large television set. Several Vlach women told how they had stopped producing the traditional handicrafts and embroidery which used to decorateSerbian homes. Since their daughters feel that these do not fit the modern home, they are now hidden away incupboards and drawers, as are the embroidered pictures of Tito which used to adorn many Serbian homes. AsGrünenberg reports of Bosnian homes in Denmark (2006: 139), the living rooms are almost devoid of artefacts which could convey a connection with the homeland. This is probably due to a desire to downplay the current politicalconflicts in the homeland and avoid an open display of any political sympathies. Keeping the home as impersonal as possible nonetheless limits the women in their efforts to act as the transmitters of the homeland culture. The sterile interior decoration makes it difficult to maintain the home as a moral place in which social andreligious ties to the homeland are preserved. Furthermore, the busy lifestyles of working couples act to make lives and identities more individualised, thus leaving less time for daily interactions across the group. For the women, who seldom participate in the day-to-day activities in the club, this tends to limit their public involvement to the larger celebrations and gatherings. These celebrations are increasingly organised by the malemembers and the food
Page 1 and 2: From DanishYugoslavs to Danish Serb
Page 3 and 4: contrast to the older members, who
Page 5 and 6: training indicates that, in spite o
Page 7 and 8: oof. A low birth rate (one or two c
Page 9 and 10: Visibility and Invisibility: The Jo
Page 11: At present, when the industry-based
Page 15 and 16: encouraging their children to adopt
Page 17 and 18: is of vital importance that marriag
Page 19 and 20: diaspora,as few are keen to discuss
Page 21 and 22: Serbian sports events, or facilitat
Page 23 and 24: origin ensures that generational co
Page 25 and 26: 35-53. Federspiel, S. (1998) Arbejd
Page 27 and 28: everyday life in Nordic societies,
Page 29 and 30: visible in everyday encounters, in
Page 31 and 32: Grifin, G & Braidotti, R 2002, ‘W

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