Page 65 - IFAFA ebook v4
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23.
Sonali Bourne
I have been the foreign-born (Sri Lankan and French) spouse of an
Irish Diplomat for 27 years now. My father was in the UN, with
both the Truce Supervision Organisation and the High Commission
for Refugees so I am used to a nomadic life. I lived mostly in the
Middle East, schooled in England and went to university in
America. I worked in America and Sri Lanka and was visiting my
parents in Iran, when I met Pat. Our older daughter Sally was born
while we were posted there and our younger daughter Asha, while
we were in Dublin on posting. For a spouse who is not Irish, Dublin
is a foreign post, at least initially, until we build our own support
network. One of the initiatives of IFAFA in the 90s was a foreign-
born spouses/partners’ coffee morning, where we could get together
and support each other. It was also not easy to get work because you
were in Dublin for short periods and companies were not very keen
to hire people who would be leaving soon. This has changed now, as
has the fact that there are now several countries with which we
have MOUs allowing spouses/partners to work, while posted there.
Our children have moved around with us and see it as having been
a very positive experience, both for their education and life in
general. In fact, one of them has also gone on to join the
Department! I see my role as being part of a team, with my husband
in representing Ireland abroad, in whatever circumstances come our
way. The amazing history of educators and religious, which have
paved the way for us in many countries, has meant that we have
always been greeted with warmth, wherever we have been posted.
While distant postings have called for sacrifices like limited contact
with extended family and friends, the relationships formed with
other colleagues and local friends, while on posting, have been
wonderful. The support from friends in IFAFA has been invaluable
both when heading off on posting and when returning, because we
share this unique lifestyle.
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