Pepe Ros
In 2013, in the midst of the economic crisis, I was living in Valencia, where I had trained as a hematologist. But work was scarce, and the desire for adventure was more important. So I bought a one-way ticket to London, with the idea of improving my English and seeing what the world had to offer.
Twelve years have passed since then, and here I am, in a city that, although so different from Murcia, has welcomed me with open arms. The best thing about living in a city as multicultural as London is that diversity is not only respected, but celebrated. In my daily life, I share an office with colleagues from Nigeria, India, and Cyprus, and although British cuisine isn't particularly well-known, the truth is that here you can find food from almost every corner of the planet.
I also greatly value the open-mindedness and culture of inclusion that permeates the world. Here, your nationality, religion, or sexual orientation doesn't matter: what matters is who you are and how you contribute.
But as is often the case when you live abroad, there are things you miss deeply. In my case, in this order: my family, my friends... and Russian salad. It sounds cliché, but it's true. When I return home, the first thing I do is hug my parents, then go out for drinks with friends and, of course, order a good tapa of Russian salad.
I don't rule out returning one day. But for that, both my boyfriend and I would need job opportunities that would allow us to maintain a healthy balance between personal and professional life. Because returning isn't just a matter of desire, it's also a matter of possibilities.
Before I say goodbye, I want to thank you for this initiative. As a Murcian living abroad, I'm thrilled to see that there is also interest in learning about our stories. I feel truly Murcian, proud of our land and our cuisine, and wherever I go, I always carry a little piece of Murcia with me.
A big hug,
Pepe Ros