5 Questions for Fadime Uzun, Office Manager

In April 2021, we are reflecting on the past years the EAC has spent collecting and preserving life stories of expatriates worldwide and celebrating people who have played an important role in making the EAC what it is now. Photo by Carmen Morlon.

How did you get your start at the Expatriate Archive Centre and how long have you been working there?

In 2013/2014, I wanted to do something meaningful and fun while looking for a job and applied for a volunteering position. I started as an archival volunteer in 2014, and when the Office Manager position became available in 2017, I was lucky to get the job.

When you started your current job, what most surprised you?

Most surprising is how long it takes to process archival material. It’s a careful exercise of examining and describing a collection’s items. A large collection of five archival boxes can easily take up to two or three years before it’s accessible for research.

What are you most proud of during your career at the EAC?

I’m proud of being part of a team that has created a professional and welcoming environment for volunteers and researchers.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve seen outside of your office window?

My desk is next to the French doors looking out the garden. I enjoy watching the seasons change and seeing the robins, tits, and jays visit.

I do have to give an honorary mention to the black-cat-in-the-window on the street side. One of the neighbours across the street had a cardboard image of a black cat in their window that would always lead to questions from new volunteers and staff members if the cat was real.

When it is safe to do so again, where would you like to travel that you’ve never been before?

Early last year, I was thinking about visiting Guernsey but hadn’t worked out the details of travelling by train yet. So, once it’s safe, that would be my next holiday destination.