BEEP
Immigration is talked about a lot in the media with immigrants portrayed as a
mass of people coming over here to somehow above steal our jobs and claim benefits.
The reality however is very different. Each person has their own individual story
with many varied reasons why people move to the UK.
Today we'll meet people who move to the UK and hear their stories. This is coming over here.
My name is Amaya and I was born in Barcelona, Spain. The first time I came I was 19. I was
looking for opportunities and also to study. I ended up doing a BA, Modern Middle Eastern History
in Manchester University. I'm Sara Schoen. I was born in Morocco. I moved here in 2004 I think.
My father used to work for Laura Ashley. He had his factory over in Morocco
so we lived there for many lovely years and when he decided to retire Britain seemed like a good
idea. We already had a home here, we had a few relatives not many but it was a good good choice
to make. I came in the United Kingdom to seek asylum. At that time my country had a war where
people were detained and were put into prison. My family they were engaged in the politics
so my dad and my mom you know they were put in prison. I thought my life was in danger
as our house our properties were taken by the government so I decided to come over to United
Kingdom. What did you leave behind at home and what do you miss? I think that would be the sun
obviously and food certain foods friends and family obviously. Morocco is very sunny very hot
very warm everything that I love Britain is not but it's a very nice place nonetheless.
To be honest when I moved to England being a little girl I was expecting everyone to be in
chariots my Victorian dresses and big bonnets. I don't miss my friends I miss the weather as well
but that's life you know life is always moving forward. Obviously I only spoke French and Arabic
I was fluent in both languages I couldn't speak English going to a new school was very
overwhelming to say the least. I didn't want to speak French because the children would make fun
of me I didn't want to speak English because I had a strong French accent and the children would
make fun of me so I studied hard I taught myself English you know red books copied them the social
conventions in Morocco and here are very different so it was a big change from to just move every
pick up everything and move here was very different. Something else that I've left behind in Spain is
the noise and the disorganisation which quite gets to me I'm not a very good Spanish person I think
in England I like the fact that people are more private and you get more quiet time.
There is a big difference socially economically politically by then when I came to Manchester
there were very very few Africans generally it's people from Caribbean from Jamaica from Barbados
so the accent was another obstacle now I think I'm getting along very well. I've never really
faced any hardships as a migrant I think because I've always really migrated out of choice rather
than necessity but it makes me angry and it's the same all over Europe all over the world probably
when living standards decline they look to blame that which is different or they don't recognise
as much and it leads to difficult situations for people who don't deserve it. I feel really bad
because sometimes the media portrays the term migrants in a different way people saying oh
so many so many immigrants coming to United Kingdom they're coming to take our jobs they are coming
to take our benefits I don't think it is true. It really enrages me when I see all these desperate
people of course they're going to flee the country what else they have that's there
they don't have a choice and people are pushing them away until they can't come to a safe country
that's just I don't understand why.
you
