“Where are you from?” is a question Aberdeen lawyer Vanessa Castillo constantly faces.
Sometimes it comes from an innocent place of curiosity, but sometimes it comes from a place of judgement.
“Overall people in Aberdeen are very nice, kind and welcoming, but not everyone is like that,” says the 32-year-old who is originally from Venezuela.
“Every time I go into a shop or a taxi, you’re constantly exposed to people asking where are you from.
“Sometimes the question comes from kind curiosity but sometimes it comes from a place of judgement.
“Generally my experience has been positive and I feel happy to be here as I have my family here, I have built great friendships and my career has been growing, but there have been moments when it has definitely been more difficult because you do face people that don’t understand or who aren’t that open to you.”
International Migrants Day
Ahead of International Migrants Day on December 18, Vanessa, who works as a specialist oil and gas lawyer for Aberdeen-based law firm Brodies LLP, is opening her heart about her experiences as a migrant.
By speaking out, Vanessa wants to flip the negative narrative on migrants – often perpetuated by sections of the media – into a positive focus on the value they bring to communities across the north and north-east.
“International Migrants Day is a great opportunity to show the value that migrants bring to their host countries,” says Vanessa.
“I hear a lot of people say ‘oh immigrants are taking our jobs’ or ‘the people that come are really bad’ or ‘they don’t bring anything to society’ so I think when you have a day that celebrates international migrants then you have the chance to show positive stories of how much value we can bring to society.
“We’re not here taking benefits, especially because we can’t, but more than that we’re here to work, to improve our lives and to bring new ideas and perspectives and sometimes better ways of doing things.
“We just want to live in a better society that gives us a better lifestyle but at the same time we want to give back.”
Focus and determination
Vanessa’s story is one of sheer determination, formidable fortitude and tenacity.
Born in Venezuela – one of the most highly-urbanised countries in Latin America – life was initially good for Vanessa when she was growing up.
“Venezuela is a beautiful country, rich in resources, with amazing weather and great people,” says Vanessa.
“But since 1999 there was a new government that implemented more left, communist views and that really ruined the Venezuelan economy, it increased insecurity and just made it a very unsafe and unstable place to live.
“We have had social turmoil for a while.
“It got to a point where it was really difficult to get medicines or get some food and healthcare.
“It was just very unsafe and you were exposed to getting robbed and kidnapped as the political instability continued.”
International law firms
Despite the difficult circumstances, Vanessa fulfilled her lifelong ambition of becoming a lawyer and worked in the corporate teams of two international law firms, where she advised clients in the oil and gas industry.
As the situation in Venezuela grew more precarious, Vanessa moved to Aberdeen in 2017 where she gained a Masters degree in oil and gas law from the University of Aberdeen.
It was while over studying in the Granite City when Vanessa met her now husband, Patrick Murray.
“While I was studying here I met my husband Patrick and after my graduation he proposed to me.
“I had to go back to Venezuela so we were long distance for a little while before we got married in New York.”
New chapter
In September 2019, the soulmates were finally reunited in Aberdeen.
“I got my spouse visa so I came back to Aberdeen and I have been here ever since,” says Vanessa.
Qualified to practice law in the UK and Venezuela, and with vast experience in advising international companies on infrastructure agreements, corporate and finance affairs and international arbitration, Vanessa secured a job at Aberdeen law firm Brodies LLP.
Excelling in her career, Vanessa is keen to show people the value and skills that migrants bring to communities like Aberdeen.
“Not all of us come illegally, the majority of us do the things as we should,” says Vanessa.
“I also want to clarify the narrative about access to benefits and resources.
“I can tell you for a fact that on a spouse visa I don’t have access to benefits and I don’t need it as I have a good job, but there’s this public perception that immigrants are here taking that money and I think the narrative around that needs to change.”
Global network
Determined to make a difference, not just in Aberdeen but far and wide, Vanessa is also the director of Global Venezuelan Women, a network supporting Venezuelan women in more than 17 cities across the world.
“We have been able to do projects with the United Nations including one to help Latin American women to get jobs and another one to help coordinate the humanitarian aid sent by Venezuelan immigrants to Venezuela.”
Vanessa hopes to see cultural diversity celebrated more often.
“I would like to see less bias towards immigrants and more places and opportunities for them to grow,” says Vanessa.
Conversation