A Trip To The Museum

By Catrin Hughes (Community Connector)

B is a courageous individual who has escaped a life of domestic abuse. Originally from Morocco, she moved to the UK to marry a man from Syria, under the impression that here, women were not permitted to leave the house without their husbands. For five long years, B endured this stifling existence until, last October, she finally found the strength to break free. Arriving in Exeter with little more than the clothes on her back, she began a new chapter of her life.

Navigating her new surroundings has been challenging for B, especially since she initially struggled with the language barrier. However, she has been diligently attending English classes at St Sidwell Community Centre and is gradually finding her voice, speaking English with increasing confidence.

Despite her efforts, B’s knowledge of Exeter remains surprisingly limited; she had mainly confined herself to the same route each day, rarely venturing beyond her familiar paths. During our last appointment, I suggested a visit to the local library. She noticed the Rougemont Garden through the window and exclaimed, "That's a beautiful garden!" We headed there. On our way, I took her to Gandy Street and pointed out the Phoenix Arts Centre, then the museum.

As we wandered through the exhibits at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), I watched as B absorbed the sights and sounds. Each display seemed to ignite her imagination, and she frequently erupted in laughter and delight, momentarily forgetting her past. When she exclaimed, "There’s a chicken!" upon encountering a taxidermied specimen, I chuckled and explained that a taxidermist had preserved it after its natural life had ended. The joy in her voice was palpable as she burst into laughter upon seeing a giraffe.

Leaving the museum, she turned to me with a radiant smile and said, "Cat, you have opened my world. I feel very happy today." In that moment, it was clear that we had not just explored a museum but also taken a significant step toward enriching B’s new life in Exeter.