Moving to England: my new experiences

Story by Osama Maghder Montfort | Photography by Steve Barnard

Hello, my name is Osama, I am 14 years old and I am from Spain. Since I was born I have moved every year to a new city in my country, and Morocco. This year I came to England for the first time to live here.

I touched English earth at 4:30am on the last day of September. I got off the plane at Heathrow with my mother and my sisters. I never before felt this cold!

I came to Sheffield the same day on a bus, and I went straight to meet my new house in Burngreave.

Since the first moment, I liked England, the kind of houses and streets, the friendliness of most people, and the porridge! But I missed my family, friends and climate of Spain.

The first time I ate fish and chips I was a little surprised, because in Spain we don’t eat fish in the street – no way! – but I liked fish and chips.

I started to go to the Central Library every morning, on my skateboard, to read books before I started school.

Then I started school at Firth Park Academy. I’m in Year 10 and I like this school a lot because the teachers are very nice people. #

The way you learn in England is really different to Spain. It was a big surprise when I was told I could choose a work experience placement, because we don’t do work experience in Spain, so I asked for a newspaper because I want to be a journalist.

Thanks to Ms Harling I’m writing this at the Burngreave Messenger.

A lot of thanks, also, to Mr Mahmoud and Mr. Ahmed, who helped me to adapt to the school, to Steve and Diana who accepted me at the Burngreave Messenger, and to my mother, who brought me here.