We have not experienced xenophobia or discrimination yet. We even have been offered a mortgage despite me being non-UK-citizen. I don’t think our case is very dramatic or worth being published in a book, nevertheless Brexit has turned our lives ‘upside down’ and this gives me the opportunity to summarise everything that has gone through my head, particularly since the 13th of March 2017.
In Limbo Stories
These were testimonies from people whose testimonies were not published in the first edition of In Limbo, but whose names are listed in the book. Their stories are told here.
Aga B.’s Story
I would like to share my story. I’m Aga from Poland, here in U.K. since 2007, living with my unmarried partner. We have an eight year old daughter. Since she was born I was able to work only part time as most of the time I was looking after her. I applied for Permanent Residency but I was refused.
Gabriella’s Story
In 2008, having broken up a four-year-old relationship and resigned from my job as a professional folk dancer, I arrived in London full of excitement and hope.
H. S.’s Story
I came to the UK nearly two years ago and have lived in Bristol ever since. I fell in love with the place and the people almost immediately, and it didn’t take very long before I began to put down roots and started thinking that maybe I could picture a future in this country.
Helga’s Story
Hello everybody! I live with my little family here in the UK. Me and my boyfriend of five years have a son who’ll be 3 in May. We rent a house but all the furniture in it is ours, the fridge, the sofa, everything. We have built a life here…
Ingrid’s Story
I have always wanted to come to Britain. At the age of 18, in 1986, I found a voluntary job in a care home in North Wales and off I went with little more than a suitcase full of clothes and a head full of dreams. I fell in love with the Welsh mountains and the people.
Judit’s Story
My husband came to the UK because he was offered a bartender job at the TGI Fridays after he came third place in the European bartending final.
Juliet’s Story
My experience of xenophobia took me completely by surprise.
Growing up in 1970’s as a British born subject with an English mother and Indian father in the South of England, there was a background of racism, with National Front marches in Brighton contributing to a sense of otherness. When I settled in Norwich in the late 1980’s, I was amazed at the lack of racism. I felt at ease in Norwich and made my home in the area, contributing to the community, attending UEA as a mature student and raising my son and daughter.
KK’s Story
We (German hubby, the rest of us – 4 at the time – dual German/British citizens) came over to Scotland in 2000. We wanted a change of scenery and to escape the rat race and also I felt nostalgia for Britain, where I had spent some time as a kid. We knew well that there would be a financial price to pay – and indeed we took a hard hit! – but a more peaceful less stressful life was going to be worth it. And it was! No regrets! We all agreed on a trial, ‘cos I was the pushing force here. If any one of us had not been happy after a year, we would have returned to Germany.
Magdalena’s Story
I arrived in the UK in 2007 along with my fiancé who became my husband in 2009. We decided to settle in Northern Ireland for unknown reasons. We did not consider the terrible weather here, that’s for sure!