Thread by @Alexa_Kantor

All medias, when they talk about @The3Million EU citizens living in the UK and #Brexit, they talk about families and how they can become very vulnerable.
But my story is not covered by this situation and is not unique.
We're vulnerable without a family to support us. Thread 1/20

I came in the UK in Oct 2013 to follow a boyfriend that I had by that time and because I wanted to leave France.
I thought that would be a great opportunity as lots of french young professionals want to go to the UK. That was my chance. 2/20

I was an Electrical Engineer in France with an equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in Electrical engineering. I did not know the English language very well and most important, the British Standards. But I did my 50% of my Bachelor in Germany so I thought I'll be alright. 3/20

The main issue was that I was specialized in the Nuclear sector and I had no idea where I could work. I had no one to ask and a very unsupportive boyfriend.
When I came in Oct 2013, his company promised an admin support for the family (it was a french company). 4/20

That was a lie, I was on my own at all, having to find all the information about everything alone with no UK acquaintance to help.
And the boyfriend was awful and mean, but I could not leave as I had no income, just my savings. I would be homeless if I left home. 5/20

My profile got noticed via @LinkedIn because for some reasons, Electrical engineers are rare in the UK. I found my current position at the @fusionenergy UKAEA via a recruiter. 6/20

The interview was awkward because I had to answer technical questions in a language that I did not know much except what you learn at school.
Later, they told me that they gave me a chance because they thought I was bright and I'll learn the English language while working. 7/20

I started to work in April 2014. But it was tough as I was not sure to get the job until I had my security clearance (we're all stressed about it even if there is nothing to worry). I was so stressed. 8/20

I did not know I could work there until 3 weeks before the starting date. So I had to keep living with the mean boyfriend that was starting to show mental abuse. When the green light came from Scotland yard, I moved quickly to Didcot and got rid of the boyfriend. 9/20

6 months after my arrival to the UK, I was finally living the dream and enjoying my life in the UK.
I had a great job at the @fusionenergy where we're helping the world to fight #climatechange by providing the cleanest + most efficient energy, the nuclear fusion technology. 10/20

I was fully integrated. I had lots of friends from every countries.
We're a research center where 28 countries are working together to the same goal.
I was going to the pub, I had British boyfriends and I got the Incorporated Engineer professional recognition from @TheIET. 11/20

I did not follow much the debates about the #EUref. I was all the time in Oxford and at work it was obvious that it would be a bad idea to leave, we're funded by #Euratom.
Plus, I met no one who wanted #Brexit, Oxford voted 74% to remain.
How wrong I was... 12/20

The Friday, following the #EURef (polling day are always on Thurdays), the mood was awful at work. We were crying. I had hugs from Brits apologizing.
I started to experience the first bad looks when I was talking with my strong french accent and my first "go back home". 13/20

I noticed myself lowering my voice and let my British friends talk for me, because I felt unsafe. And I had no one to support or help me.
In Aug 2017, I got involved with @the3million and I found there a true family and friends (big up to the twitter team). 14/20

My family in France, my father and nan, did not understand my worries.
They said to me that I was not home there anyway, I was a foreigner, a guest, they voted to leave and it is their right to kick me...
I was so hurt. I felt so alone. I stopped looking for support there. 15/20

By Aug 2017, sadly my nan passed away. Bless her.
Me being 30 years old + the insane renting price in Oxfordshire + deposit giving by my nan push me to buy my first home in #Oxford.
I got a 35 years mortgage, my monthly payment decreased by £250. Yay. 16/20

From Apr 2014 to Mar 2019 #BrexitDay, it will be 4 years and 11 months eligible for the right to stay.
I do not have the 5 years.
And when I will have them, I'll be in the queue of @The3Million other persons in the same situation, maybe families will have priority? 17/20

If I have to endure the Hostile environment from the Home Office, I have no family to support me mentally.
If the Home Office decides to close my Bank account due of me becoming an illegal migrant, I have no family to support financially, and lose my home due to no payment. 18/20

At 30 years old, maybe I would like a family. But I cannot take the risk of being pregnant. I am always afraid to become sick, have an accident and risk of becoming disabled because I will lose my eligibility to stay and I have no one to support me. 19/20

I cannot go to France any more because it is not home there, I am too "foreign" to fit there, and too "foreign" to fit here.
I feel like a citizen of nowhere.
Every story from @The3Million #InLimbo is different.
According to everyone "I should be fine". I am not. 20/20

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