Rain and red tomatoes

The Cerrillos grew to love the UK

Wet weather, small supermarkets and a kindly neighbour shape the first impressions of a Mexican woman settling into life in the UK, recounted in letters home to her mother.

Alejandra Cerrillo, 44, left a busy work and social life in Mexico City in 2000, when her husband Leonardo was offered a job in the UK.

The couple, and their only child Sebastian, seven, settled in Maidenhead, Berkshire, for what they thought would be a short time.

Below are extracts from letters Alejandra wrote home to her mother, as she got to grips with her new country and went on to set up her own jewellery business.

JAN 2000

Dear Mama, I cannot believe that I am writing to you from England!

Let me tell you how hard it was for Sebastian and me to say goodbye to all of you, we couldn't stop crying, even on the plane! It has helped being honest to Sebastian though, explaining our own emotions to him. Now he sees that we're all together, that this is an adventure for the whole family.

Many things are different, but the one that stands out the most is the supermarkets - they're smaller than in Mexico

I want to keep a positive attitude, but it's not been easy. I can't avoid comparing everything here with our lives back in Mexico - starting with the weather. As I'm writing to you now I can see the rain pouring down on the garden. It's running in streams down the window. I wouldn't mind so much but do you know at what time it gets dark at this time of the year? At four o'clock! It's awful because our bodies get confused and we feel like we want to go to bed.

Many things are different, but the one that stands out the most is the supermarkets - they're smaller than in Mexico. The fruit and vegetables all look lovely and are extremely well organised, but I can't see the freshness and variety that we have, especially in our street markets. I remember the life and colour of our old street market - the vendors shouting out their wares. Well, here it's all quiet and clean. I'm sure the food's good quality but its not as fun to shop.

Aside from the shops, the schools, the houses, and the way they drive are all different! I was frightened to take the car but as I had to take Sebastian to school I was forced to drive, and I did it very well! You would've been proud.

The most difficult part of the day for me is now, when Leonardo has just left for work and Seb to school because I'm on my own. Someone told me wives have the most difficult task because we need to deal with the everyday life and go out to look for new friends. It's starting from scratch because you need to rebuild a new circle.

Alejandra missed some of the luxuries of her old life

Here, I've got to do a lot of things that I didn't do in Mexico. I've got to tidy up the house, and wash toilets, I hate that! It seems that the whole day is not enough to clean! I miss Patty, not only because she was our maid, she was also a friend, we chatted a lot, especially when we were cooking.

And I also miss Jose, her husband, because the same as with Patty, he was more than our driver. He played with Sebastian, and he misses him! He cries quite often for them, for the family and his friends. His biggest complaint is that he has to tidy up his room!

It's so different to be here, we are not tourists but it helps very much to know that this is just for a short time. I love you and miss you very much. Your daughter, Alejandra

MARCH 2000

Hola Mama, What a week. I am still in shock from grandpa's funeral. I couldn't believe it that he was already buried when you broke the news to me. I don't think I realized how far away we'd moved until this week. It's times like this that make you feel isolated.

It's raining again. I heard a report on the radio today; apparently this is the worst weather Britain's had for a long time. Trust our luck.

Even though I couldn't be at his funeral I'm going to say goodbye to Papa in a proper Mexican way. Like the birds in the song we've flown away from you mama but I'm there with you all in spirit. Don't forget that.

JUNE 2000

Hola Mama! This a letter of celebration!!! Firstly, the weather's improving A BIT! Also, Leonardo is happier with his work and Sebastian has settled nicely into his school. Oh but you should see his school uniform. He looks like a proper little English schoolboy with his blazer and tie. I'm going to send you a photo with this letter.

I should mention how helpful our neighbour Barbara's been. She lives just across the street from us in a lovely old house with a stable door. She and her husband Cyril are retired now but they lived in southern Africa for 25 years and you can see artwork on their walls.

I honestly believe that she was sent from God, because she invited all the ladies of my road for a traditional cup of tea (very English!). She also took me to all the places I needed to know about, like the doctor, which is good because Leonardo's company gave us very little information about this country.

I asked the woman in the supermarket for green tomatoes last week and she looked at me like I was mad!

They really changed the idea that I had about the British that they were all cold. Every time I need them, there they are!

One thing that does get to me about British culture though is the food. I still can't find many Mexican ingredients. You can't get cactus leaves, or proper CORN tortillas or many varieties of chilli. In Mexico I could choose from 100 types, here I'm lucky if I see four.

In fact most people think that our food is burritos and nachos! Any Mexican restaurants are really Tex-Mex. Oh, you'll laugh at this, I asked the woman in the supermarket for green tomatoes last week and she looked at me like I was mad!

Anyway, if I want authentic Mexican food, I have to cook it. I've even started adapting some British dishes. It's easy, I just add a little chilli, or coriander and it gives it that Mexican kick. I think my most successful invention is "Mexican shepherd's pie". Love you, Alejandra

APRIL 2003

Hola Mama, I'm so excited! I'm going to start a business here in the UK! Can you believe it? The silver jewellery samples that I brought from Mexico were very well received, so we've spoken with a solicitor to help us to set up the company that'll import Mexican jewellery into the UK.

All the paperwork was finished in a day! I couldn't believe it, in Mexico it would've taken weeks.

It's like a dream come true. I always wanted to work directly with the artisans in Mexico and to help them, (you know because they need it so badly). Also, over here, I have found that women, particularly mums, would like a job that allows them to work around their family and home. So I'll also be able to offer them the opportunity to sell the jewellery.

Imagine, I'm connecting two countries that I love. And, as a bonus I'll need to go home to Mexico more often!

The basic idea is to hold silverware parties, a bit like old fashioned Tupperware parties. I invite friends over and show them things like necklaces, bracelets, brooches, that kind of thing.

The fact that it is a lot safer here in England also makes it possible for a woman to sell the jewellery in other people's houses. Can you imagine a woman driving safely around Mexico City with whole boxes of silver in her car?

If all goes well, I'll see you soon as I'll need to come on another jewellery shopping trip! Love Alejandra

JULY 2003

Hola Mama, Well what can I say? The telecommunications industry crisis finally caught up to us and last week Leonardo was made redundant. The company offered to relocate us back to Mexico. We always thought that this would be happy news, but to our surprise it was the opposite!

We all feel now so much part of this land: half British and half Mexican!

Then Leonardo was offered a position in a local company, so we were very confused and didn't know what to do. It's been one of the hardest decision that we've ever taken as a family because accepting this job meant staying in Britain and not being able to be close to you and the family. Yet it's a very good opportunity because at the moment, there aren't many jobs in his field, and to be honest, we feel now more attached to the UK.

So after lots of thinking and praying, we have decided to stay here. All of us are happy and have peace of mind that it is the right decision.

On the other hand, thanks to God, our business has been growing. I'm no longer the only "staff member" of the company! We have more women selling for us and I've many exciting plans for the future. I think I'm even going to start designing some of the pieces!

I'm sure that it won't be easy for you to hear that you won't have us close to you again soon, but I'm also sure that you'll understand that we are doing the best for Sebastian. He's made so many good friends here. In fact he's upstairs playing on the computer with his friend Ryan right now. I can here the soundtrack. It sounds like a fighter game. Boys.

Anyway, I hope you're happy for me Mama as I really think I'm making the right decision. Your loving daughter, Alejandra

JAN 2007

Hola Mama, Today it's been seven years in the UK! Today Sebastian has lived half of his life in Mexico and the other half in the UK. We all feel now so much part of this land: half British and half Mexican!

No-one talks to you on the bus. People listen to their i-Pods or read the paper Innocent Sithole Zimbabwean writes home

It's funny because on the plane over I cried for the things I would be leaving behind: my job, my house, my helpers but despite the ups and downs here, without flying away from you I never would have started a business. Not in a million years.

I never would have started designing jewellery. Never. Perhaps it's good to have some of your luxury taken away because that's when you really find out what you're truly capable of. Love and kisses, Alejandra

---

Letters Home is a five-part series on Radio 4 at 0930BST on Thursdays. Hear the latest episode at Radio 4's Listen again page.