I am an immigrant. Ask me anything.

[Cittadina]

Fire away.

[Cittadina]

As there much talk about the "likes of me" stealing jobs and claiming undeserved benefits I was happy to clarify some points for you short what living in a different county from one's natal nation actually entails. So please ask away if you have any questions.

[theyvegotme]

Are you going to leave now the UK has completely lost the plot?

Wouldn't blame you.

Sorry it's a bit shit here at the moment.

[SimonJT]

A fellow immigrant.

Do you also regularly have to listen to some british people moaning about immigrants who then say “oh, but you’re okay”.

[SnuggyBuggy]

What's the weirdest thing from your POV about Britain?

[Ironfloor269]

@SimonJT - I'm also a Asian immigrant. My English (white) neighbour is a Brexiter. He says he doesn't want unskilled European immigrants to come and steal their jobs but would like more skilled immigrants from the commonwealth countries to come. I call bullshit. He says that to our face but I'm sure the racist bastard says the opposite to his own kind.

[ThanosSavedMe]

I don’t have any questions but I’d like you to know that we are not a country of immigrant hating bigots, despite evidence to the contrary

[Cittadina]

theyvegotme - I think about it but the answer is no for two reason: 1.my DH is British and my kids 100% English. I would not do this to them. Also, if I leave the people who hate me win. And I have lived and worked here for 20 years now. This is my country now, even if, for some people, I will be always 'other.

[Cittadina]

SimonJT - yes, all the time. And also the warped thought of wanting to move to Spain because 'this country does not belong to the British anymore'. Often in the same breath.

[Cittadina]

SnuggyBuggy I had to think quite a lot about this one! At first I thought 'nothing' - but actually I have one thing I can't get my head around: segregated sex education still a thing!

Actually two, if I may. Also the fact that being well educated is somehow a pretence and that using long letter words an affectation rather than something to be proud of. And (in contrast) the importance given to accent and being well spoken. Basically, you can talk utter shite with a good high-class accent and you will listened to in respectful silence but if you speak with cogency and expertise with a lower class accent (or a foreign accent) you will be listened with much less respect.

[Cittadina]

ThanosSavedMe - I have proof of Britain's marvellous, tolerant, intelligent and great people like you every day.

I have even married one of you guys :) (stealing jobs, benefits, and even men now!)

[Cittadina]

And hi SimonJT (secret immigrant handshake)

[Cittadina]

Sorry these answers are a little rushed - getting ready to work now

[Cittadina]

*long letter words = long words. Apologies, I am typing this too fast.

[AlrightOkNow]

Have you experienced more people being openly hateful towards/about you since this whole Brexit debacle started?

[JensenAckles]

Where are you from and what made you find yo Britain?

I find other cultures fascinating. My work colleague is from Romania and I love hearing about his country and customs. I'm poor so I'll never leave these shores

[Cittadina]

Have you experienced more people being openly hateful towards/about you since this whole Brexit debacle started?

I have noticed that in places where I am known professionally people behave the same - if anything, they are kinder because they do not want to be associated with xenophobes. However, where I am not know personally/professionally and I am just a random person with an accent, yes, people's attitudes have changed for the worse.

[Cittadina]

Where are you from and what made you find yo Britain?

I am from Tuscany, in Italy. I came to Britain with a postgraduate grant from the Italian government in 1996. I was going to stay for one year and then go back to Italy. I was glad to change air because that's when Berlusconi had just gone into power and I really hated his politics. I thought i would move out a bit, see the world and then go back. I then met an attractive young Scotsman... and the rest is history as they say.

[silentpool]

I'm an immigrant too but of British descent. As a counterweight to all the people who are saying Britain is more hostile these days, I really haven't experienced any additional negativity. Admittedly I can blend into the crowd but sound foreign. Anyone who tried complaining would probably get a boring speech about the long history of us dodgy Colonials and how we've made our mark in the Glorious Motherland. I dare them to try ...

[EUnamechange]

Oh thank you for doing this, I hope you can advise...

I work in international relations, so am always very interested in people's backgrounds, their points of view etc... When I meet someone with a foreign accent etc, my instinct is to ask where they are originally from. Professionally-speaking, this is often the first question in diplomacy, as we are representing our countries (sometimes we have badges even), however I know that this question can really upset people if asked outside of a formal diplomatic context. Is there any way I can ask about people's backgrounds, in a social/casual context, without causing upset, which is the last thing I want?

I don't really know how to explain, but I'm naturally and professionally curious about the world. I've travelled a lot, worked with people all over the world, and know a bit about local politics and culture in some very unusual places. If someone turns out to, e.g. have family in some small East Asian state, that most westerners don't visit, I will often know enough to ask (hopefully) intelligent questions about local issues/history/culture and having an interesting conversation. People usually seem surprised and happy to talk, and we make a connection.

If someone has a British accent but is from an ethnic minority, I assume they are British and at least 2nd generation, so I don't say anything unless they mention something. But an accent usually indicates that someone probably grew up elsewhere and it's harder to resist asking. I do resist, but is there any way I can approach this that won't cause people to feel uncomfortable, or should I just keep my mouth shut?

[Cittadina]

I also wanted to add that I work in the arts and have worked all my life in programmes to research/curate/interpret and preserve the national heritage of Britain. I was trained in this profession in Italy, where there is a large amount of national patrimony and I was highly skilled in collection management, care and research - however, I do not believe in the equivalence skilled immigrant = good unskilled immigrant = bad (also how do you define skilled/unskilled) - unskilled immigrants change the fabric of society in many invisible but important ways - see for instance the unskilled food workers who literally changed the way British people ate in the 20th century. And often they start unskilled but they develop and bring other changes. My former cleaner was from Croatia, they started with their own cleaning company, and now are freelance musicians who do music/singing/DJing at weddings.

[Cittadina]

silentpool I am glad you haven't experienced it! I have been told horrible things like "at least you are not Polish" and yelled for speaking on the phone to my mum (she called me when i was on the train and I was telling her - I am on the train, I'll call you back in a minute) and had the full "we are in England speak English" to which a wonderful woman in the carriage said "hey I am Welsh, do you want to force me to speak English too". I was so mortified I could not say anything. I dislike people yelling o their mobiles o the train so I understand where this chap was coming from but I was o the phone for literally 30 seconds so perhaps some form of xenophobic chip was positioned on his shoulder.

[Cittadina]

EUnamechange I know exactly what you mean, my DH is really curious , like you, and he has travelled the world, so he wants to make the connection. I have to say that in recent times I have become a lot more defensive towards the 'where are you from?' question. I think there are no hard and fast rules there and you just have to play it by ear. Maybe saying something like 'oh that's a nice accent - where is your accent from?' and, as always, context is everything. if you are at a party then by all means ask but in different contexts where the person may feel In a weaker position perhaps wait for the god opportunity? That's an awfully long answer and really it should not be that way but we live in weird times.

[EUnamechange]

Thanks! Yes, I feel it's an even more charged question recently, and I have been (sort of) on the other end of it - in a remote country pub about a year ago someone noticed DH's European accent and asked where he was from, and for the first time he and I both had to consider whether the question was going to lead to trouble.

You make very good points about context.

[Sootyandsweep2019]

Have you naturualised / obtained a British passport ?

[Justwanttotravel]

ironfloor269 ‘to his own kind’? Not the only racist bastard by the sounds of it!