In this episode, Irene, an Egyptian-British professional who has lived in many countries around the world explores the “mosaic of cultures” she is. Irene is of Egyptian origin but was born in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), where she lived the first fifteen years of her life. After that, she spent the rest of her life between Egypt, the UAE, the UK, and Albania for work, family, and study. She lived in Preston between 2016 and 2023 where she worked as an Executive Coach and Talent Consultant for individuals and organisations as well as an MBA Student Coach at UCLAN University. This episode is a fascinating journey through the various cultures that have become part of Irene’s life and character and her professional endeavour as an Executive, Life and Team Coach aiming to help individuals, teams, and organisations to raise their courageous authentic leadership through greater conscious awareness and to “choose with intent”.

If you want to know more about her coaching services, principles and values, follow this link:  https://www.sightcet.com/  

Interview content:

[00:03]: Irene’s profession: a life and business coach

[00:05]: The principles informing Irene’s coaching work

[00:08]: The role of culture in a person’s life and profession

[00:10]: We are a mosaic of cultures, and we should “choose with intent”

[00:12]: Resisting the consciousness journey

[00:15]: Irene’s mosaic of cultures: Saudi Arabia, the UK, Egypt, the UAE

[00:23]: Starting a life in Preston

[00:26]: Leaving Preston and relocating in Albania

[00:27]: Learning about British youth through a coaching job at the university

[00:31]: Co-creating the next generation of future leaders

[00:33]: The meaning of Egypt for Irene

[00:35]: Egypt at the eyes of British people

[00:38]: Feeling of belonging

[00:41]: Home for Irene

In this episode, Marjan, a Dutch sculptor who has been in the UK for more than four decades, explores Lancashire landscape and society through the eyes of an artist and active citizen. Arrived in Liverpool for the first time in 1978, for a summer voluntary work opportunity, she returned in 1979 for what she thought was going to be a gap year. However, she remained in the UK and eventually set her roots in Darwen. An established artist in the local, national and international scene, her attachment to Lancashire can be appreciated through her art, often inspired by the local landscape and culture. She is also an active citizen aspiring to make a difference through her involvement in the local community of Darwen.

If you want to know more about Marjan’s art, follow these links:

·        Website: https://www.marjanwouda.com/public-sculpture/dandy

·        Instagram (marjan wouda sculpture): www.instagram.com/marjanwoudasculpture)

·        Facebook: @marjan.wouda.sculpture

Interview content:

[00:03]: Arriving in England the first time

[00:06]: About losing control in life and art

[00:08]: England a place where all things seemed to be possible

[00:11]: Life and landscapes in Darwen

[00:14]: The social history of post-industrial cities in Lancashire

[00:16]: Life in the little village of Aduard, in the Netherlands

[00:19]: Childhood memories in a farm

[00:20]: Marjan’s art in Lancashire and beyond

[00:22]: Sources of inspiration and meanings of Marjan’s art

[00:27]: The role of art in Marjan’s life

[00:29]: The responsibilities of an artist and a citizen

[00:30]: Learning about British society through a gardening club and a refugee group

[00:34]: The pros and cons of of a globalised world

[00:35]: Has British society changed in the last forty years?

[00:36]: The Netherlands for Marjan

[00:39]: Feeling of belonging

In this episode, Gosha, a Polish artist who arrived in Lancashire twenty years ago, recollects her story of adaptation to and integration with the local society. In her early twenties, Gosha left Poland hitchhiking, with the goal to go to Portugal for a holiday. She never arrived in Portugal: in Spain she met a British man who then became her partner and father of her son. After a few years in Spain, they moved to Clitheroe, a place that soon became Gosha’s new home. A gifted artist, Gosha feels she has a responsibility towards the world, namely to fill it with colours and positive energy and spread the love she feels when she creates. If you want to know more about Gosha’s art, follow this link: https://www.goshagibek.com/

Interview content:

[00:03]: How she left Poland for a dream destination in Portugal and ended up in Clitheroe

[00:05]: Clitheroe: first impressions and 20 years of life there

[00:08]: Getting to know Clitheroe as a mother: the park and playgroups

[00:11]: Growing up in Świebodzice, Poland

[00:14]: Assimilating to British culture and society: process and feelings

[00:17]: Family and in-betweenness

[00:18]: Dealing with the feelings of the family who has remained behind

[00:21]: Chasing the dream of being an artist

[00:23]: Synaesthesia: life in colours

[00:28]: Gosha’s artwork

[00:32]: The meaning of art in Gosha’s life and her responsibility as an artist for the world

[00:34]: The opportunities brought by the COVID pandemic

[00:38]: Learning about British society: law abiding and trusting in their government

[00:41]: Feeling of belonging

[00:43]: Returning to Poland

In this episode, Ihor, a young migrant from Kozyatyn (Ukraine) who arrived in the UK in 2022, explores the challenges and the opportunities his decision to leave his country at war entailed. Entered in the UK with a sponsor visa, now Ihor lives in Chorley where he quickly got used to life in the little market town, also thanks to the precious support of his British sponsors. Busy between study, sport, and work, Ihor has been working hard to set the basis for a better future. He dreams, one day, to be able to go back to Ukraine and be reunited with his family, but he also would like to continue what he started in the UK.

Interview content:

[00:03]: Why and how Ihor left Ukraine

[00:05]: Leaving behind family and friends in a country at war

[00:07]: Emigrating as a 17 year old

[00:09]: Coming to the UK with a sponsor visa

[00:11]: What Ihor has left behind

[00:13]: The impact of war on a teen-ager life

[00:16]: Responsibilities towards Ukraine and dreams about his future

[00:17]: Chorley from the perspective of a young migrant

[00:19]: The importance of the sponsors’ support

[00:21]: The importance of family’s and friends’ support

[00:24]: Learning about British society: generosity, friendliness, and the weather

[00:28]: British people's support of Ukraine

[00:30]: Every day is a school day

[00:31]: On being or not being able to imagine what the future will be

[00:33]: The many meanings of Kozyatyn

[00:34]: The meaning of family 

[00:36]: The meaning of Chorley 

[00:36]: Returning to Ukraine

[00:37]: Suggestions for other migrants

In this episode, Bahar, a Turkish young woman who arrived in the UK in 2017, explores the meaning and challenges of a travelling lifestyle. Having spent most of her life in Adana, Southern Turkey, Bahar decided to quit her job and discover the world. Her curiosity and entrepreneurship brought her in various places around Europe and, eventually, in Chorley, where she works as a chef in an Italian restaurant.

Interview content:

[00:02]: Adana, a city with a 3000-year-old 0name

[4:00]: Living and dreaming in Adana

[00:08]: Realising that the world is too big

[00:09]: Quitting a good job and going abroad to discover the world out there

[00:12]: Friends’ reactions to an unusual life choice

[00:15]: From a natural park in France to Germany, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Luxemburg…

[00:21]: … and finally England!

[00:22]: Developing a letting business in Portsmouth

[00:23]: COVID and the end of the first business

[00:24]: From coffee shop manager to breakfast chef to kitchen manager

[00:27]: Arriving in Chorley

[00:28]: The importance of curiosity and entrepreneurship in (a migrant) life

[00:30]: Learning about the British: pop-culture, family businesses, stick to your plans, and nurture your hobbies

[00:34]: The British and Turkey

[00:36]: Family expectations and personal ambitions

[00:37]: Comparing with those who have stayed home

[00:39]: The meaning of family

[00:40]: Feelings of belonging

[00:41]: Being a traveller as a lifestyle

[00:43]: Returning to Turkey?

In this episode, Lhen, a Filipino woman who arrived in Buckshaw Village in 2021, shares her story as the main breadwinner of a big family with 12 siblings. Lhen moved from a small town in Mindoro to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, where she worked in the fashion industry and, eventually, met the man she fell in love with and married. After many years in Dubai, the couple decided to relocate to the UK where they developed their own kitchen design business, Eden Kitchen Design. New to this part of the world and without any friends, Lhen used social media to get in touch with other Filipino mums who live in the local area and created a growing network, the Filipino Community in Lancashire.

Interview content:

[00:02]: Buckshaw Village VS Manila

[00:05]: Life in the province of Mindoro: simplicity and family life

[00:06]: Moving to the city to study and work

[00:08]: The power of the family

[10:00]: Being the breadwinner of a big family

[12:00]: Professional ambitions and pathways

[14:00]: The plus of being the boss of yourself

[15:00]: Life in Dubai from the eyes of a Filipino woman

[19:00]: The most unbelievable things of Dubai

[21:00]: Feeling homesick and dealing with it

[24:00]: Integration and adaptation process as a single woman and as a member of a family

[25:00]: The importance of a network and how to create it when you don’t know anyone

[27:00]: The decision to come to the UK

[29:00]: Learning about British society: navigating NHS and different accents

[31:00]: Understanding or not understanding, is this a problem?

[32:00]: Feelings of belonging

[33:00]: Returning to the Philippines?

In this episode, Terry, a young woman from Hong Kong who arrived in Preston five years ago, explores how she got used to the slow-paced life in Lancashire after a life lived in big cities such as Hong Kong and Toronto. Curious and open towards other cultures and languages, Terry learns patterns of good behaviour and useful expressions by observing the locals. With a dream to become a tree management consultant, she is now studying Arboriculture at the Myerscough College.

[00:03]: The decision to come to the UK to study arboriculture

[00:04]: A life on the move: Hong Kong, Toronto, Preston

[00:09]: Introverted people and arboriculture

[00:13]: Learning about British culture as an international student: politeness, straightforwardness, meticulousness, small talks

[00:16]: How British people say “no” without saying “no”

[00:18]: The importance of knowing local people

[00:19]: The meaning of citizenship

[00:20]: The uses of citizenship

[00:22]: One person, multiple belongings

[00:23]: Being a Hongkonger in Britain

[00:25]: Preconceptions, expectations, and reality

[00:26]: Are British Europeans?

[00:28]: Northern VS Southern England

[00:30]: Feelings of belonging

[00:31]: Returning home?

In this episode, Enisa, a woman from Tirana (Albania) who arrived in Skelmersdale through a family reunion in 2020, talks about the importance of personal interests and hobbies in helping with the integration process when we move to a new place. A portrait photographer in Tirana, Enisa learnt about and connected with the local society through her camera. If you want to see her work, check her Instagram page.

In this chat we discuss about:

[00:02]: Skelmersdale in the eyes of an immigrant

[00:04]: First time emigrant: volunteering to learn about the local society and create a social network

[00:08]: A photographer’s life: Tirana VS Skem

[00:10]: The importance of hobbies in a migrant life

[00:11]: Spontaneity: Albania VS Britain

[00:12]: The power of shared hobbies in bridging the gap between cultures

[00:14]: Live news: a new job opportunity for Enisa!

[00:16]: Learning about British culture through photographic projects

[00:18]: Dealing with old and new identities

[00:20]: Browsing antique shops: the different values of objects

[00:23]: The decision to come to Lancashire: job and life opportunity

[00:25]: Preconceptions, expectations, and reality

[00:28]: Being an Albanian in Britain

[00:31]: We are all immigrants, but we are perceived in different ways

[00:32]: Feelings of belonging

[00:34]: Returning home?

In this episode, Graciela, a woman from Buenos Aires (Argentina) who arrived in Britain in 1993, talks about her experience in the UK as a sales assistant at the airport, a seed grower in her Adlington garden, a mother of three children, and, more generally, a passionate woman who follows her heart. After 30 years in the UK, in 2023 Graciela decided to move to Cehegin, in Spain, where she has created her own B&B called Finca Grace.

In this chat we discuss about:

[00:04]: The decision to come to the UK: from Radcliff to Heaton Part and then Adlington

[00:06]: Job search and the law of attraction

[00:09]: Cultural reflections: Latino-ness VS British-ness

[00:11]: Life back in Buenos Aires

[00:13]: The decision to leave the UK

[00:15]: Life is a matter of serendipity

[00:16]: Dealing with changes in life

[00:17]: Life during General Jorge Rafael Videla’s dictatorship

[00:18]: When giving is taking in life

[00:19]: Dealing with fears

[00:22]: Language: a key to any doors

[00:23]: The Falkland Wars in the memory of an Argentinian

[00:25]: Being an Argentinian woman at the eyes of British men

[00:26]: Dealing with bad events in life

[00:27]: The best memory from the life in the UK (#NHS)

[00:31]: Life in Cehegin (Spain)

[00:33]: Feelings of belonging

[00:36]: Returning home?

[00:37]: Putting down her roots

In this episode, Sojin, an immigrant from South Korea who arrived in the UK as a student many years ago and eventually established herself as a thriving academic, talks about her life in the UK as she tried to reach a degree of life/work balance, managed a few racist episodes, and learned to be a good citizen in this country. Arrived in Preston 7 years ago, she then move to Lytham where she currently lives. 

In this chat we discuss about:

[00:04] The incident that led Sojin to move out of Preston

[00:07] Life in Seoul

[00:11] The decision to come to the UK

[00:14] Managing weather and health in the UK

[00:18] The life of an academic

[00:23] Life in Lytham

[00:25] Stereotypes about Korea

[00:28] Learning about the UK in South Korea

[00:30] Dealing with racism in the UK

[00:36] Learning to be a good citizen

[00:37] Feelings of belonging

[00:39] Returning home?