I lived in a White World until I was 25!
Then Multiculturalism changed everything …
I was born in the predominantly white population of Northern Ireland in 1972. This will sound crazy to some people, but for the first 25 years of my life, the only connection I had to another culture was through an Indian boy in my high school.
The first time I saw him I was intrigued. His skin colour fascinated me and he wore a turban. He had two older brothers at the school also. They were often picked on due to their unusual appearance, but they supported each other and were extremely tough. The bullies quickly learned to leave them alone!
At 25, I decided to leave Northern Ireland due to it’s lack of job opportunities. A few of my friends were living in a town called Bedford in England and getting continuous work through a job agency. So it was a no brainer for me. But I wasn’t expecting what came next …
When I arrived in the town of Bedford for the first time, I was completely taken aback. I would have called it culture-shock at the time. Because rather than the usual white faces I was used to growing up, I was surrounded by a world of multi-culturalism.
It was incredibly exciting!
I can remember walking past an Indian family, then thinking back to the Indian boy from my high school. I wondered why his family had chosen to live in such a predominantly white society in Ireland, when life would have been so much easier for them in a town like Bedford; Unfortunately it’s questions like this that expose the harsh realities of racism.
Within days, I felt like I was part of a very different and fascinating new World …
I loved hearing the many different accents, languages and physical appearances of all the different cultures around me.
I started trying out all the different types of authentic foods that were never available to me in Ireland: Indian, Italian, Turkish, Mexican, Chinese, Thai …
I was in cuisine heaven!
I soon realised the life I had known growing up in Northern Ireland was incredibly narrow. I was now living in a global society and loving every moment.
Note: The ethnic groups in Northern Ireland are many. Whites represent 98.3 percent of the population, Asians are 1.06 percent of the population, and blacks are just 0.2 of the population. Northern Ireland Population 2025 ❤️ | Population UK
Being the young hot-blooded male that I was at the time, I often found myself physically attracted to women from different cultures. I mean, how could I not be!
Then one day, my job agency called and sent me to work in an industrial warehouse. My task was to put advertising pages into magazines, then box them up for delivery.
There was a girl working opposite me. She was extremely beautiful and very exotic looking. Her name was Angelina and she was from a Sri-Lankan background. When I first spoke to her, she could barely understand me due to my thick Irish accent. But luckily she fancied me and asked me out on a date …
We have now been married for 24 years!
Angelina originally lived in a place called Hull in the North of England. It was also predominantly white when she was growing up too. Sadly, she was subject to racist bullying just like the Indian boy I knew at school.
I will never forget when I took her to Ireland for the very first time. In my home town, some teenage girls shouted racial abuse at her. I confronted them and told them they should be ashamed. It was a horrible moment for both of us. The fact is, it still happens occasionally. Even now, in 2025!
We must continue to develop cultural tolerance between one another.
Migrating to Bedford and being part of a multi-cultural society was the best decision I ever made. It opened my life up in a way that would never have happened had I stayed in Northern Ireland. There are no limitations to what can be achieved or learned from the many different cultures on this wonderful planet.
We must continue to nurture this incredible gift!
Thanks for reading.
*
Originally published at https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/i-lived-in-a-white-world-until-i-was-25-2e734e7b1193
About the Creator
Simon Aylward
Undiscovered Irish Playwright and Poet - Seeker of eternal youth - Wannabe time traveller and believer in spiritual energies - Too many books to read, not enough time!
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Outstanding
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Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (17)
Beautiful story ❤️
Your experience of going from a predominantly white area to a multicultural one is eye-opening. It makes me think about how sheltered some of us can be. I've had similar moments where a new environment exposed me to things I'd never known. Did you ever try to stay in touch with that Indian boy from high school after you left Northern Ireland? And how did your friends in Bedford react to your initial culture shock?
This feels so real and heartfelt, you tell it very humbly in spite of the challenges you're describing. A lovely piece of work 🙏
Very interesting.
Love it 🥰
A beautiful story of how moving to a new place opened your eyes to different cultures and led you to love.
Heyyyy Simon! My commenting ability was revoked on 15 May and only now I'm able to comment. That's why I've only been reading and hearting your stuff without commenting. Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Good
Wow, i like it very much. Life is full of new thing. I want to read more of your story.
Thank you for sharing! Racism is a plague that infects every human heart. We all need to fight our own internal battles against prejudice in all its forms. My first ever crush was a Sri Lankan girl in my primary school named Melanie. Luckily I was raised in a comparatively multiethnic environment, and my dad was quick to pounce on developing intolerances (thanks bullying) when I was growing up. I’ve never quite been comfortable with calling it tolerance though. Because in my head tolerance is when you hate something, but don’t kick up a fuss about it. Like me with couscous. Loathe the stuff, but I tolerate its existence
Thank you for sharing this — it’s heartfelt and inspiring. Congratulations on your top story!
Racism and social discrimination have taken root in people's hearts like poison everywhere. For us, simply being human and possessing human virtues should be enough; any other label only gives rise to discrimination. Your story says and teaches a great deal. Your personal story is a solid example of how an open mind and a life full of experiences teach us everything, the beauty of coexistence, love, and embracing diversity! Congratulations on your top story! 🥳🎉🎉🥳🎉
Nice your blog. thanks to share your blogs
Congratulations on your Top Story! As an International Social Worker currently working in India, I find it wonderful to see honest conversations about multiculturalism reaching such a wide audience. Your personal journey from Northern Ireland to embracing diversity is important, and I admire your commitment to calling out racism. As engaging with topics like these are a large part of my profession, I'd like to share some reflections that might help deepen the impact of your already meaningful story. While your enthusiasm for cultural exchange is clear, some phrasing like describing Angelina as "exotic" or describing people as having "unusual appearances" - though unintentional - carries historical baggage that can reduce people to stereotypes rather than recognizing their full humanity. Similarly, the emphasis on physical attraction to women from "different cultures," while part of your genuine love story, risks inadvertently reinforcing the objectification many women of color experience. The narrative framework also sometimes positions whiteness as an unconscious baseline - like calling Northern Ireland "narrow" or Bedford a "fascinating new world." A slight reframing to focus on your personal growth (e.g., "I hadn't realized how limited my own exposure had been") could make the perspective more inclusive. The racist incidents you describe are crucial to address, though they're sometimes presented more through the lens of your shock than Angelina's lived reality. For instance, noting how she experienced these moments as part of her daily life rather than as singular "horrible moments for both of us" would add important depth. There's also rich opportunity to explore how Angelina's Sri Lankan heritage actively shaped your shared life beyond the initial experiences of racism or attraction. I’d love to hear more about how her culture shaped your family, for example! These suggestions aren't about diminishing your clearly anti-racist intentions, but about building on the strong foundation you've created. As a Top Story reaching many readers, your piece has remarkable potential to foster understanding. With these nuanced adjustments, it could resonate even more powerfully across different levels of cultural awareness. Thank you for sharing your story and opening this important dialogue!
And congratulations on the Top Story! 🎉
Are you writing your memoir yet?
I love these types of stories! And it deserves the TS! 🏆