My Journey to the UK

By Sousan Sidahmed

It was early Saturday morning, on the 15th of April 2023, when we were awakened by extreme cannon bombardments and the continuous sounds of heavy and light machine gun fire coming from nearby, which we believed originated from Khartoum Airport and the Headquarters of the Sudan Army, located adjacent to the airport. We were showered with bullets and missiles in our garden. War had broken out.

Unfortunately, our house was located next to the airport. Later, we learned it was the Rabid Support Forces against the National Army that occupied many strategic and critical government locations, including the Public Palace, various ministries, and the radio and television stations. Meanwhile, a war was waged against all citizens, encompassing looting, armed robberies, killings, the displacement of homeowners, and the rape of women and young girls. Life was paralysed as electrical power and drinking water were struck by missiles and became unavailable. Food was scarce; even our stocked supplies were looted by those hostile forces. The situation was so dire that we experienced ongoing terror. We lost our three vehicles and the savings we had at home. All banks were robbed, and the sounds of continuous gunfire, missiles, aircraft bombardments, cannons, bombs, and machine guns never ceased. We had no choice but to leave Sudan immediately to save our lives.

One week later, Ramadan was over, and we decided to leave for the United Kingdom via Egypt by road since the airport had been bombed and was closed. The journey to the UK exceeded our expectations. We left the house after Ramadan had ended. Luckily, we had obtained a visitor visa for the UK to attend my son’s wedding. We made many stops before securing our route to Egypt. Our first leg was to travel to Dongola, my father’s hometown in the Northern province. Eventually, we reached Dongola, where we stayed with relatives for a couple of days. We then planned to travel step by step to Egypt to ensure our safety. From Dongola, we headed to Halfa, a city at the northern border of Sudan with Egypt, where the driver took advantage of us and demanded an exorbitant amount of money that no one could afford. Hence, we were obliged to negotiate a deal with the driver and incurred debt to pay him. We spent three nights in Halfa before reaching Aswan, the Egyptian border city. From there, we took the train to Cairo to meet my brother and sister, who were waiting for our arrival. It took us a while to partially overcome the shock of what had happened and regain some sense of peace, while remembering our home and the things we had left behind. Later, we learned that individuals from the repelled forces had robbed us of all our belongings. From Egypt, we headed towards the UK, as we had a valid visa.  

Life in the UK is significantly different from that in our native country. I often visit the UK because I appreciate how people behave. Individuals in this country are more disciplined and helpful. They meet your needs with a warm smile on their faces. I will never forget the time my sister had to catch an urgent appointment; a passerby offered her a ride in his private car. People welcomed us warmly and were ready to help, offering their available resources to please us. My son's wedding was amazing and impressive; all the family members gathered together with their brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren. It was an unforgettable day. My daughter, who is a trainee GP at Bolton Hospital, came to the UK a year before we did. We moved from London to Manchester to stay with her, hoping the war would end soon so we could return home. My daughter met a British gentleman. She admired his thoughts and his way of thinking, and their ideas aligned.

Consequently, they became engaged. He believes in good family relations, similar to our beliefs. We were proud of the wedding, which featured Sudanese style and traditions. Both families were invited to the ceremony; it was a breathtaking celebration. The groom and his wife were dressed in traditional Sudanese attire, which reflected the cultural heritage of a Sudanese wedding. 

Family bonding is something I had misconceptions about in the UK. My son-in-law's family reminds me of the beautiful social connections in Sudan. They visit each other frequently, support one another, and whenever invited, they ensure their presence makes the invitation a joyous occasion. Due to the long working hours in the Western world, I used to think that social life was abandoned. However, my in-laws corrected this notion for me.

There are significant cultural differences in how marriage is celebrated in Sudan and the UK. In the UK, the marriage ceremony typically lasts one day and is both simple and beautiful. In contrast, in Sudan, the duration varies by family; some celebrate the occasion for one week, while others extend it to two or three weeks. In the past, marriages were celebrated for forty days. A common, simple marriage consists of three main days, and none should be skipped. Hina Day is when the bride’s family and the bridegroom celebrate the occasion separately. Hina Day typically takes place just before the wedding, usually celebrated at night in a large hall, club, or hotel. The bride wears a white dress, while the bridegroom wears a black suit. Guests range from 300 to 1,000, with cold drinks and a luxurious dinner served. Music and popular singers provide entertainment, aiming to make the night unforgettable. In Sudan, marriage is a costly endeavour, with the bridegroom required to pay a dowry, which is a substantial sum of money for the bride. He also purchases her clothing, considerable amounts of gold, expensive perfumes, shoes, and the traditional Sudanese Thoub. In other parts of Sudan, the bridegroom's family is required to pay a dowry, typically using their livestock wealth. Problems can often arise due to either family's objections to accepting the other party, even for trivial reasons. In conclusion, completing a marriage in Sudan is not as smooth as it is in the UK.

One of the things I appreciate about the British government is the facilities it provides to enhance individuals. I am grateful for the opportunities the government offers to foreigners to improve their circumstances and integrate into the British community. I like that I am currently enhancing my English skills and have the chance to enrol in computer and translation colleges.

I look forward to completing these courses and applying for a job to secure my livelihood. I truly appreciate the privileges extended to me by the UK government.

I have encountered many differences, including the British's greater valuation of time compared to the Sudanese's neglect of time, the hardworking nature and high efficiency of the English versus the lower efficiency of the Sudanese, and the significant disparity in development between the two countries. However, I would say that Sudan is a country with a promising future due to its diverse natural resources in agriculture, mining, and other areas of wealth.