The start of the new century twenty years ago was the start of a new life for Marta Osorio. On 11th October 2002, Marta arrived in Britain from El Salvador ready to learn a new language, immerse herself in a new culture and to pursue her career in hospitality.
Marta grew up in a large family, the fourth of seven children. She went to study in Montemira Hospitality College in El Salvador. It was there that she first heard about Opus Dei. This was a turning point in Marta’s life and also turned out to be the first step which eventually brought her to Britain.
At 16 Marta felt drawn to spend her life as an Assistant Numerary in Opus Dei. Assistant Numeraries are like the mothers in the family houses of Opus Dei, known as the centres. They look after the day to day running of the houses, in the same way that a wife and mother cares for her home and her family.
Aged 18, Marta arrived in London. She came on a student visa, sponsored by Lakefield Hospitality College. “And DHEF helped me all the way”, says Marta. It was a daring move to travel over 5,000 miles to a new country. How did Marta feel at the time? “I was ecstatic,” she says. “I loved the idea of going to a new country, learning to speak English properly and discovering new things.”
Language was obviously a big hurdle to clear and during her first year in Britain, Marta had to concentrate on learning English. She says: “I found English pronunciation really difficult. In fact, my teacher told me I only sounded English when I was speaking in a silly voice!”
The British can be a funny lot, and it’s not just the accent! Marta found the British obsession with drinking tea absolutely hilarious.
But despite the challenges Marta was delighted to be in Britain. “I fell in love with London forever,” she says. “And also, I couldn’t get enough of the history of Britain, the castles, the National Trust, the parks… It was a fairy tale!”
A new millennium, a new country; Marta was eager to embrace her new life. She is also emphatic that the aim of her work as an Assistant Numerary is, in the first place, about caring and serving. “I have to say that I wouldn’t have chosen hospitality and catering as a career,” she says. “I really wanted a role where I could stay at home and look after my family. And that’s what I do; I look after my family of Opus Dei in our family homes. It’s all about loving.”
DHEF stepped in again to help Marta when she applied to the University of West London to do a BSc in Culinary Arts. By 2014 Marta had a degree and British citizenship. “Becoming British was very important to me,” says Marta. “I want to be part of everything British. I want to have a voice, share people’s concerns and take part in finding solutions to the challenges we face.”
Twenty years on, does Marta have a message for DHEF? “Yes! It’s thank you! I want to thank DHEF, Lakefield Catering College and each one of the people who had faith in me, who trusted I could become someone better and facilitated my growth. If, today, I have the tools and skills to serve my family of the Work and society better it is thanks to you.”
