Ivan Veselov

— I really appreciate life in multicultural London. As an immigrant, I don't feel very much different from all London residents. I was invited by a large UK bank that provided work and an apartment, so it was really easy to move here. A few of my close friends had already lived in London by that time. I think that having my old or new friends around me is what makes London my home now.

There are two sides to my feelings of immigration. On one hand, there will always remain a cultural and language barrier. For example, in noisy environments like pubs, I can't simply relax and enjoy conversations. There is always a fear that I won't understand someone, or make an inappropriate joke. The difference became apparent when I travelled back to Ukraine and felt myself much more at ease there.

On the other hand, I feel much safer here. I can be rest assured that the government supports me and is not against me. Back in Ukraine, I felt like everything I do can be used against me. Once I arrived in the UK, I felt that as long as I do everything correctly, the government will always have my back.