My father couldn't get work in N. Ireland in the 50's. He went to England and Wales to work and we saw him every six months. In the meantime, my mother's brothers had come to New York and one of them claimed my Dad so that we could be together. My mother and I joined him in New York in 1960 and I've been here ever since! Sadly, both my parents are now deceased. But, I did gain a sister after I arrived here!
I didn't know you had a sister!! How nice for you both. Does she live in New York State also.?
When I left Belfast in 1977 the Troubles were really bad.My sister and brother in law had emigrated to Calgary, Canada in May 1976. They were Catholic married to Protestant and it was a dodgy situation. A year later I was demented, I had 2 little boys and I didn't want them growing up in that atmosphere so my brother in law sponsored us and we arrived in Calgary May 1977. The first year was a nightmare, I now had a baby daughter as well, I missed my parents so much and every time I spoke someone would say "I beg your pardon, I didn't understand what you just said" then I would be told "oh, your accent is so cute" ..it drove me mad. However, in Feb 1979 my parents and my youngest sister immigrated also. My sister Moira stayed in Ireland so we all missed her but, bless her, she visited very often which helped somewhat. I had nightmares about Belfast for many years but in 1992 my marriage broke up and I went for counselling. The counsellor just happened to be a man from Ireland and over the months that I saw him, out spilled all kinds of stuff about the Troubles. It was amazing how helpful it was. .look at me now, I am able to really enjoy the craic on the BF (I don't bother with the controversial threads though) I have been happily married to a lovely French Canadian man for 18 years and, my former husband and I are friends again, we have 3 great kids together and 2 beautiful grandsons. Canadians still think my accent is cute but I don't mind that anymore. They also think I am very funny with some of my sayings!!
There, I have probably told Arder more than he wanted to know but, that's me, I don't know when to stop