On our visit to London we had the opportunity to talk to a black lady who had immigrated to London seven or eight years ago. Here is her story:
Sally immigrated to London in 2001. She came to London because she got married. She didn’t marry her husband, because she loved him, she married him because she had to. It was a so- called arranged marriage. It’s a tradition in Africa that your family decides who you marry. First Sally didn’t want to marry him, because she didn’t love him at all. But then she realized that it was her only chance to live a well-to-do life. Therefore she married him and went with him to London.
First it didn’t seem to be very difficult for her in London because she spoke the language.
In the past Great Britain had many colonies in Africa, countries where people are able to speak English quite well. But later finding a job turned out to be very difficult. She tried very hard but it took her quite a while to get one. In Africa she had worked as a secretary but in London the standards are much higher and there are greater demands on the people in business life. Finally she got a part- time job, teaching at a college.
In the meantime she feels very comfortable and at home in London. Sally has three children, who are five, three and one and a half years old. As time passed she learned to love her husband and now she can’t even imagine being married to any other man.
Even though she is happy, she misses her African family. Then she misses many African customs like unexpectedly visiting a friend or neighbour because you are always welcome. It goes without saying that one is offered something to drink or eat. In London the only person with whom she feels comfortable just to drop in, is her friend Joyce. Normally, if she wants to visit somebody she has to make a date and can not just drop in. That makes her a little sad.
What she likes about London are some institutions like NHS and hospitals, the police and so on. The hospitals in Nigeria are less well equipped and the private clinics are very expensive. The police in Nigeria doesn’t really work either. And, of course, she loves the nightlife and musicals, like "Africa, Africa” in London. On the whole she is of the opinion that it was the right decision to marry her husband and come to London.