I've just signed up to the forum so of course I got an email about how I can 'share my expat experience'. Looking at it, I thought why not? My Mum has been a member for a little while before we moved and I remember hearing about some awfully negative posts, I thought I could maybe introduce a little positivity into the works whilst still being totally truthful (I promise!).
So, background info...
I am a 21 year old female of a mixed ethnic background, back 'home' I would be classed as a minority and constantly told so but here I don't feel it as much. My mother is British, born and bred whereas my father is as Libyan as you can get. My entire family moved from the UK to Tripoli in May 2014 after a few years of preparation.
That said, I've been coming to Libya to visit my father's side of the family for all my life, almost every summer without fail since I was born. I've always been in love with this country, it was my second home filled with some of the best family I could ask for. Admittedly as a young child you tend to see the world wearing a set of blinders - through my rose tinted glasses, everyone had the best life ever going to the beach and going through life in a great, laid back kind of fashion. Obviously, I was wrong but of course, I still love my family.
So we moved in May, just in time for my cousin's wedding which was good fun. Soon enough Ramadan was right around the corner and we were busy getting ready for that. Then the fighting started. To put it simply, it was tough. Even up until the past few weeks it's been tough. I never thought I would move to a place with so much violence and still call it home. The constant noise of gunfire, rockets and all sorts was enough to give someone a mental breakdown but we got through it. And....this is the truth. I am better for it.
I've never felt so grateful to be here and to be alive. I feel maybe the fighting robbed me of the chance to do some things I was hoping to do - start university and whatnot, but it's seriously starting to look up and I'm going to try and grab whatever opportunity comes my way.
I realise I am at an advantage to some, having already gained an understanding of the country and its people to an extent, but knowing what I do, and going through what I have, I really do enjoy living here.
Maryam