Patricia Oliart
Thank you ¡VAMOS!
As a Peruvian living in Newcastle I feel thankful, proud, and happy with these ten amazing days of celebration of Iberian and Latin-American cultures. What a treat! (Including this space to tell our stories about how we got here...)
My relationship with Newcastle started about nine years ago in Lima, when I met two young and enthusiastic lecturers from Newcastle University, Nina Laurie and Alistair Bonnet. They came to the university where I was teaching as part of a Higher Education Links Program sponsored by the British Council. As a result of that first exchange they invited me to come here as a guest for two weeks. I was very impressed by the lively streets, and friendly people, and I went back home with a good feeling, photographs from the castles by the coast, and bags of Thornton's for my kids!
At that point I couldn't imagine that I would end up working here and making this great city home for me and my children. In 2003, I was at one of those moments in life in which everything seems to be leading you towards a big change. We were temporarily in Austin, Texas and while considering what to do next, I applied for a position at the School of Modern Languages in Newcastle. I got the job and moved here. In spite of the big differences between living so close to the tropics and here, it has not been difficult to settle in because we have found such good friends in the people of the North East!
I have even found a fantastic place to sing! I will always keep a warm place in my heart for the words of Peter, the barman and one of the great musicians at the buskers’ nights hosted by Kelly Brownell at the Green Mandolin: "Please, feel welcome here". Well, I certainly do!
Patricia Oliart