I moved from Romania to the UK in 2009, settling in Hounslow first, with no inkling then of where I would eventually put down roots. In 2017, in search of a new home for my family, I somehow landed in Slough, a town I hadn’t heard of before, and was drawn to its diversity, its green spaces and its links into London.

I can remember so clearly the first time I heard Romanian being spoken as I walked down the High Street. It felt like a good sign, a warm welcome to the town that has been my home now for seven years. My family all live back in Romania, so to hear my mother tongue being spoken, to find Polish & Romanian supermarkets where I can buy products and spices I grew up with, and to know that there is a Romanian Church not far from me, has all helped me feel truly at home in Slough.

As much as I appreciate Slough for providing me with a sense of the familiar and known, I also love it for introducing me to new cultures and people from all over the world. I have made friends with people from many different walks of life and cultures. I enjoy walking down the streets of Slough and hearing the medley of languages being spoken, and I love incorporating new flavours from global cuisines into the meals I cook at home.   

I know that there is much to improve in Slough, but I try to focus on the positives, on what it has brought to my life; yes, we all know that the High Street could do with a revamp, but nowadays, what high street couldn’t?!

I came to Slough looking for a new career, and I found one, a career which I enjoy and which has opened up many opportunities for me. While people may choose to criticise the town, I choose to celebrate it for its many strengths. I worked all through the COVID pandemic and saw first-hand how well Slough came together to meet the needs of its residents. I saw neighbours help each other, communities work hand in hand to ensure that all of Slough’s residents were looked after. What could be more important in a town than a true sense of community? Of belonging?

Slough, for me, has been about opportunities, friendships and creating my own community, which, in the absence of family nearby, have become my chosen family.