I was born in the US and moved to the UK to marry an Englishman. Even after 20 years here people still comment on my accent, it’s usually the first thing they ask about when we meet. Even so I feel far more English than American - and after twelve years living in Belgium and Croatia, I feel more European than British. As I am a first generation immigrant my story is still being written, but no matter what challenges I face, I know they would be harder if my skin were less white and my mother tongue something other than English.

-Melanie, Burgess Hill