With language at the core of everything he does and in true poetic style, TogetherintheUK’s (TGIUK) meeting with Lester Gómez Medina was not an interview but rather a conversation where information was exchanged fluidly, gaining insights into his life and approach to language and creative writing. Learn through our conversation how Lester showed that he is an artist and sharing his story should not focus solely on him being a migrant but on other aspects of his life – who he is as a person, and who he keeps working on to become.
Arriving in a new country not only involves crossing geographical borders but linguistic ones too. Lester explained that, as a writer living in exile, language and words are vital tools. The desire to learn and study the English language, in the first place, is what drove Lester to come to the UK. He initially arrived as an international volunteer working at a residential home supporting adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. This experience helped him realise that not being able to speak sufficient English left him feeling completely unequipped and unable to navigate the culture and dynamics of life in England. Lester recalls missing an important flight at a UK airport, because he did not understand the check-in staff’s instructions. As he explained,
…and then you found yourself confused, not even knowing why it happened, and having to book another flight and paying more money.
Experiences like this remind us of the power of language as a tool for communication, Lester realised that as a foreigner not understanding the language of a country puts you at a disadvantage. He also explained however, the importance of knowing and understanding
the culture of the new country and how it enables a more successful integration into a new society. He pointed out that these are the parts of a migrant’s journey which need addressing, otherwise the journey can involve struggles and barriers.
Like many other migrants and refugees who shared their experiences with TGIUK, Lester talked about how important learning English has been for him. From both an artistic and practical point of view, he sees language as a key tool—and right now, for him that tool is clear communication in English. He says the more his English improves the more confident and capable he feels writing in it. Lester also pointed out that when you’re living in a country where English is the main language, being able to speak it opens more doors,
…it’s not just about fitting in—it’s about having access to more opportunities and being able to express yourself fully.
As an artist, Lester is all about communication—sharing thoughts and ideas, he described how exchanging feedback with fellow writers or close friends helps him grow as a person and make less mistakes in the English language and culture. For him, creating and producing work flows better when he writes in both languages. He explains that it just feels more enriching that way,
…language is like a car: the better you can drive it, the better you move through the world. It helps you navigate, connect, and access new places.
That’s how he sees language—not just as words, but a means to move and interact. He sees poetry as an art form triggered by memory and experiences that in the past did not make much sense or mean a lot, but at some point in life those experiences reemerge, and poetry becomes the perfect vehicle. This is why Lester refers to poetry as being “epiphany motivated.”
Lester also shared that one of the ways he approaches the creative process of writing and determining which language he will develop a piece of writing is influenced by the first stimulus when conceiving the creative idea. If that comes through a conversation or reading in English, he’ll take the challenge of writing in English. If he gets stuck because of a word or phrase he does not know, he uses Spanish, his first language, to enrich the process of writing. He explains,
…in the end, creating is not just about language, but culture as well, not about what to say, but how to phrase it. What one language doesn’t have, maybe the other one has. I move the idea from language to language to enrich the quality of the poem I might be working on. This back and forth, I call the “ping-pong game”.
Speaking the language of the country you live in strengthens your ability to use your voice freely and be truly heard—it’s not just about communication but about stating the value of what one could bring to the table. And as Lester explained, “
I believe that everyone has a voice.
He considers it misleading if literary workshops promote that they will help writers find their “voice”.
As if people didn’t have one. What do you think leaders of oppressive regimes fear the most if not people’s voices? That’s why dictators repress people’s voices. So, we have a voice. We just need to learn how to use it.
The premise of TogetherintheUK is to help migrants and refugees adapt to their new life in the UK through sharing stories and so we asked Lester for some advice. He told us that from his perspective the challenge isn’t just about migrants adapting—it’s also about those who don’t want them there. As he explained,
I try to put myself in their shoes sometimes. I try to understand where the resistance might come from. Migrants often are misunderstood and perceived as people who bring uncertainty and change to the social dynamic of the system already there; any foreign presence—especially in large numbers—can trigger this reaction or perhaps that fear.
He continued,
…it’s taken me 30 years to come to terms with my own journey as a migrant. I’ve learned, as certain views on psychology may point out, that to truly move forward and transform yourself, we sometimes must let go of certain parts of ourselves—like amputating a part of you that no longer serves you. You cannot stay in the past, in our minds, and expect to move forward at the same time. When you arrive in a new country, you can’t expect the system to change for you. You must adapt to it. That doesn’t mean abandoning who you are—you still carry your culture, your roots, the type of food you prefer, your memories. But from my experience, adaptation is crucial. In nature, animals and plants survive by adapting. For humans, that process is called integration. And part of that integration is speaking the language of the new place. If you hold onto every piece of your past without making room for new ways of living and communicating, it can hold you back. I’ve met people who’ve lived here for years and still can’t speak English. Yes, they might survive among their community—but without growing, their opportunities are limited
Lester Gómez Medina was born in Nicaragua and raised in Costa Rica. He came to the UK in 2014, developing a keen interest in short story writing and poetry. He completed an MA in Audiovisual Translation in 2018 and took part in Invisible Presence, a project to nurture and develop writers of Latin-American background. His first poetry collection The Riddle of the Cashew (2021) was published by Exiled Writers Ink.
Lester also took part in the Refugee Poetry Hour, an online poetry event hosted by TogetherintheUK in partnership with Palewell Press and Freedom from Torture (March 2025).
If you want to share your story of how, in Lester’s words, “Integration doesn’t mean erasing your identity. It means expanding it to include something new”, then enter the second TogetherintheUK writing competition Then & Now. Full details are available by clicking here: Then & Now.
To read more about the lives and impacts of migrants on UK society, go to TogetherintheUK.
