A pensioner has told how moving in with a non-national has opened her heart to the immigrant community.
OAP B&B, which pairs up elderly homeowners with younger renters airs tonight on Virgin Media One.
In the first episode, Mildred, from Co Roscommon, moves in with Haseeb, a Muslim accountant who fled the conflict in his native Jammu Kashmir near Pakistan three years ago to start a new life.
The pensioner in her 70s, who volunteers as a handmaid in Knock Basilica, told how living with the Haseeb has banished her fear of non-nationals.
She told the Irish Mirror: “It might have changed me in the sense that I got to know a non-national, it made me realise we should learn about them first and then make our judgments.
“We always look at foreigners from the distance. We worry that we might not treat them right or we might be hurting them or a fear of getting to know them.
“I learnt a lot about Haseeb’s culture, since he left when I meet his friends outside the mosque in Ballyhaunis we say hello, chat and hug. I have them all hugging now.” Mildred teaches Irish dancing five nights a week in Ballaghaderreen and volunteers by day.
She added: “We tried to get Haseeb Irish dancing but what we didn’t realise it was against Haseeb’s culture, but fair play to him he gave it a go but when we saw him getting emotional we stopped.”
However, impressing his landlady in the kitchen does not go to plan. She reveals: “I wouldn’t be big into spicy foods, he put stuff into that pot I never even heard of, I thought he’d never stop putting stuff into that pot.
“I ate the bit he gave me but I wouldn’t ask for it again tomorrow.” Haseeb told how he’s made a lifelong friend in Mildred.
He said: “She now asks me every day how are my brother and sister who are still over there, I worry for them every day too.”
“Escaping to Ireland has been the best outcome for me and I am very shy but Mildred has given me confidence.
“She’s like my Irish grandmother, we are great friends.”
- OAP B&B is on Virgin Media One tonight at 9.30pm
