Archive (237 life histories found)
'I did not know how I could continue working in such a college where this was not only permitted, but approved of.'
I got on very well in the college and was quite happy there making many friends. However, one morning I was called to a meeting for new lecturers. It was fine until the person who was in charge of student welfare told us about the wonderful service…
Tags: Abortion, contraception, employment, work
'It was a nasty situation to be in after that allegation had been made, and so after a few months, I decided to leave Belfast once more and this time head for England.'
My next job was a teaching post in BunScoil Bheann Mhadagain in Wyndham Street. This was another tough assignment and I left it after having been accused of hitting a child in my second year there. I had had enough of this Irish medium and to be…
'It became too much at one stage, and I had to negotiate terms and conditions as I could not keep going at such a pace.'
I started work at the end of August. It entailed training women to work in Irish medium play groups and help them to attain the NVQ levels two and three. I did not realise how much hard work would be entailed in this job. I had groups in Belfast in…
'One day I saw an advertisement for a tutor for a group called Altram, which had just been set up.'
Now I needed to find employment. Cecilia had been applying for jobs for me before I got home and I had a couple of interviews but was unsuccessful. One day I saw an advertisement for a tutor for a group called Altram, which had just been set up, in…
Tags: Car, Gaelic, Irish Language, work
'...when I opened the door and came in I knew it was right for me. I always seem to have a sixth sense about houses.'
I returned home to Belfast towards the end of May 1997. The first morning after my arrival I bought my present home XXX Oldpark Road Belfast. My sisters, Cecilia and Jacqueline, had found this place for me after a lot of searching. I was limited to…
'We spent a wonderful few days with the Sisters who took us out and around the poorer areas of Johannesburg, where they were well known for their work amongst the poor.'
I was not very happy in Botswana although the wages were much better than anywhere else I had worked, especially with the conversion rate of three Zim dollars to a Pula. There were a lot more of this world's goods available in Botswana as well, and I…
Tags: Mercy Order, poverty, township, travel
'I had a red coat and I stuffed the pockets and sleeves with the cash and proceeded to the office to pay for the vehicle.'
I bought a Nissan Hi-rider truck in Francistown. I got money transferred from home for this. When I went to get a cheque or bank draft to pay for the truck, Barclay's bank wanted to charge me quite an amount for this, and so I requested that they…
'It was difficult to find decent accommodation in Francistown even though we had been promised housing as part of the deal.'
It turned out that I knew his wife already, but had never met Andrew Banda since he was always in Botswana. Andrew kept me up to date with everything because the others did not like to speak English, and staff meetings which might have begun in…
Tags: accommodation, bedroom, Home
'I do not remember a lot about the journey to Gabarone except that I had to fly to Johannesburg and transfer on to an Air Botswana plane from there.'
The Botswana Government was paying my fares to Gabarone at the beginning of January and so I was home for Christmas. I do not remember a lot about the journey to Gabarone except that I had to fly to Johannesburg and transfer on to an Air Botswana…
'His place was magnificent and his wife a very gracious lady, who was most hospitable to us.'
Between August and January I had no work and again applied to the Sacred Heart. I had His picture above the mantelpiece and each time I passed by I asked Him to get me something in the meantime. I met a Scot a few days later. He wanted to buy some…