Manish Chauhan, 24, travelled to Ireland with a friend for a week of writing and leisure. They rented a beach hut on Valentia Island, overlooking the Atlantic. While there, Chauhan realized he was the only person of colour in the small, homogenous surroundings. The shock made him feel alarm and a sense of insignificance. The experience prompted him to reflect on his upbringing in Leicester, a city he had considered diverse but where his interactions had been mostly with people of similar background. He realised that his sense of belonging had been expanding, but the trip contracted that view, forcing him to confront his own marginalisation. The incident has since shaped his outlook: he now sees diversity as fluid, and he feels pride and empathy for others. The experience also gives him a new perspective on recent social unrest in England and the fears that drive immigrants.

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