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Case Study: Natalie Ho

Natalie Ho is a restaurateur in Lerwick. She first came to the islands as a child in 1979. Her parents and uncle had opened the islands’ first Chinese restaurant two years earlier. These are her impressions.

Natalie Ho Enlarge photo

I first came to Shetland in 1979. My first impressions were of a very isolated but peaceful place. There was no sign of tall skyscrapers, only sheep, grass and hills…lots of them; and the weather was very cold. It was not what I’d imagined it to be but I soon settled in.

At that time, my parents were already living and working in Shetland. They and my uncle had founded the first Chinese restaurant and takeaway, which had opened around 1977.

At first, the fact that I didn’t speak a word of English made it quite hard to fit into the community. It was maybe a little hard for people to accept me as there were not many Chinese children around in Shetland! There was a little racial criticism at school but that soon eased when my English improved and I made friends.

I’ve found that people are very friendly and kind in Shetland. They’ve made me feel very much part of the community now and my work and family are here. My children were born in Aberdeen and have lived in Shetland since then. They’ve been brought up as Shetlanders.

The main challenge in living in Shetland is transport. Sometimes, if the weather is bad, it can delay flights or ferries.

For me, living in Shetland feels like being part of a big family. It’s a very close-knit community and, once people get to know you, they accept you. If you want to get away from noisy cities and the buzz of traffic and people, this is the place. We have peace, beautiful scenery and the friendliness of local people.

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