Seema's "Two Years Only"
I came to the UK in 1961 with my husband who was a medical doctor and came here on a two year study leave. His first job was as a junior doctor in Wales, Cardiff. Before I came to the UK, I didn't have a clue about the country except that it was a cold country. The UK was a different world than now. The standard of living and the salary were not as high as now. The first house we lived in had no central heating, only a coal fire in the living room. I found everything different from back home such as the climate, food, clothes, currency including the culture. I tried my best to adapt to everything thinking well, "I am here only for two years". After living there only for a year, we moved to England moving around from North to South with two small children until 1970.
Then my husband got a good and permanent job in Limavady in N. Ireland. It was a big jump coming from Surrey. Until then I didn't know the differences between Catholics and Protestants thinking they are all Christians. I was just amazed to see the fighting between the two communities.
As my husband was an Accident and Emergency doctor, he kept himself very busy day and night on call all the time without any time for the family. The children were sent home from school due to bomb scares. I felt very unsafe and homesick. I was very unsettled and pining to go back home. In those days telephone calls were too expensive and I was communicating with my parents by writing letters. At the same time, my husband loved his exciting job here and had no intentions of returning home.
Eventually, I settled down and we bought our own house in 1973. Slowly I made some good friends and found the people are very friendly. They took me around and showed me around different beautiful scenic places in Northern Ireland. They welcomed me to their houses and made me feel at home. I am very proud to say today that the people of Limavady made me settle down and feel comfortable, a place where we lived for 30 years very happily.
My children grew up and I got my driving licence and my own car. I was feeling a bit lost and wanted to do something to keep myself busy. Although I was a history graduate, I still had difficulty in getting a proper job. So I decided to go back to the College of Further Education and finished a two-year course in administration and passed with distinctions. Then I worked in the civil service for two years in Londonderry. Afterwards, I got an opportunity to work in the Health Service near home where I worked for many years.
After I lost my husband, I took early retirement and moved to Belfast to look after my grandchildren. When my grandchildren grew up, I involved myself in the community. I joined many groups, clubs and organisations holding positions. I enjoyed working with the people in the community and have achieved quite a few awards of recognition.
Now I have become a Senior Citizen and a great Grandma and enjoying life with the extended family of four generations making my life in N. Ireland which is my home now and living here for 63 years after going through lots of ups and downs.
