I'm just an average gypsy AMA

[GypsyAMA]

I've noticed a lot of hatred towards gypsies on here so I thought I'd answer any questions anyone may have that could help you to understand my culture more. You might still disagree with many aspects, but at least you'll be coming from facts and not stereotypes.

I suppose gcses and A levels are only important insofar as they allow children to progress to the next levels of education. So if your child is going to be a housewife or do manual labour, they don't need gcses or a levels. They may need basic levels of literacy and numeracy to be able to function every day, and that's not really much more than basic literacy/numeracy. As others have said, the homeschooling thing is very poorly regulated, so parents are meant to be providing adequate education but sometimes( and not just in the gypsy and traveller communities) they aren't. Either because they are HE because they had a bad experience of school themselves or because they are educating in a strict religious manner. There are orthodox Jewish children for example who are also functionally illiterate because they are taught to read Hebrew but not English.

Definitely not to most of the people on this thread! It goes against a lot of their beliefs which makes it something they would hate.

A positive -
Having friends and family all over the country. Strong social aspect.

A negative -
People are very nosy and tend to be terrible gossips!

OP. You have been so reasonable, dignified and generous in the face of the most awful prejudice, insults and brazen racism. I'm absolutely shocked at some of these people!

Thank you for sharing with us.

Do you "worship" (for want of a better word; maybe "honour" or "understand the concept of") Kali, or is that old-fashioned now?

What animal would I be referring to as a "grass porpoise"?

I'm just curious about how times may have changed over the last 20-odd years.

Being educated isn’t about making loads of money. It’s so much more than that. To say education is outdated and old fashioned is completely wrong.

• There are plenty of reasons why education is important. Generally speaking, they all tie closely to a person’s goals in life and to their future well-being. Education helps a person hone their communication skills by learning how to read, write, speak and listen.
• Education develops critical thinking. This is vital in teaching a person how to use logic when making decisions and interacting with people (e.g., boosting creativity, enhancing time management).
• Education helps an individual meet basic job qualifications and makes them more likely to secure better jobs.
• Education promotes gender equality and helps empower girls and women. A World Bank report found that an extra year of schooling for girls reduces teen pregnancy rates in Peru by almost seven per cent and gave women more control over how many children they have.
• Education reduces child mortality. According to UNESCO, a child born to a mother who has a high school diploma is 31 per cent more likely to survive past the age of five.

@MaMisled here here, i am tempted to nominate the worst but too many to choose from. Given her narrative quite ironic.

For those asking about home education, there are no requirements, curriculum, minimum standards or any content guidelines at all for those who choose not to use the state school system. Home education can be whatever the family wants it to be, and doesn't have to cover anything academic at all. That's the same for everyone.

Hi, not the OP but from a similar background. We used ‘travelling teachers’ who were ‘regular’ teachers who were familiar with travelling communities and who travelled around to teach us in our homes, rather than in schools. Sometimes in groups, sometimes alone. It could be once a week or so. Even then, it’s not always ideal, and I believe we’re the lowest performing group in the U.K. educationally.

That said: the point is to be able to read and write and do basic maths. Anything beyond that isn’t considered necessary. That’s why so many traveller kids drop out around 12-15 years old. Many are brought up to be suspicious of outsiders and to stay in their own clique if they go to school, and with my community, you’d only be at school a few months a year anyway, when you weren’t travelling (wintering).

My sister left school at 14 with no qualifications and married at 18, with a baby by 19. Before that, her absenteeism rates were SO high anyway, that there was no point in her going. I would’ve done the same if it weren’t for a really amazing teacher. Even so, I had to fight hard with my mother to remain in education - which she considered a waste of time and being self-indulgent.

Again, not the OP, but thought it might be helpful!

A lot of people have cosmetic procedures done, Botox/fillers etc.

But having a boob job is rare and I'm shocked they had it before they were married!

I don't understand why any community would shun education.

The statistics relating to Gypsies/roma/travellers (GRT) are awful in a number of crucial areas such as health, infant mortality, over representations of children in youth detention, over representation of adults in jail, rates of domestic abuse, alcoholism, drug use and unemployment. GRT die, on average, 10-12 years earlier than the national average. That's shocking.

GRT are the most disadvantaged group in the UK. Why don't more GRT encourage their children to get educated so that they have more choices and chances in life?

A lot of people getting frustrated about questions going unanswered! A lot of them I have already covered or I have missed because there are so many. And a couple of things (Jobs etc) I'd prefer not to share.

very interesting thread, I hardly know where to begin.

• are any foods forbidden or taboo?
• are there any Roma writers you’d recommend
• are there any Muslim or Jewish Roma
• what Roma music would you recommend?
• can you understand Roma from other countries through Romanous?
• apart from education, how would a settled Roma’s life differ from that of a strict Catholic family
• do you attend normal Mass, or are there Roma services?
• is there an increased risk of heritable diseases through the reduced community gene pool?
• do Roma people swim?

Just answer those that interest you most!

@godmum56 the legislation in most local authorities is designed in such a way that Gypsy/ traveller children can be removed from school easily and without too many consequences. If you look closely at your LEA guidance on absence/ home Ed you will see exceptional rules especially for these children. There are also specific attendance codes designed to facilitate these families moving bases for work /attending cultural events like Appleby horse fair , and so on.

SW don’t have anything to do with home education.

Hi @GypsyAMA just wanted to say thank you for this thread it's been so interesting and you've replied with incredible dignity to some of the nasty comments.

My question is about food! What are common foods that your community make? I would love to know. Thanks!

Yes definitely. Looking good is important but I'm certainly guilty of looking scruffy at home!

I once read that the word gawger translates as "those who live in the world of illusions/asleep" Was that correct?

I've often wondered what it must be like to live outside of mainstream culture, and tend to avoid where I can

yes I know.

@LittleGlowingOblong answering the ones I can!

are any foods forbidden or taboo?
None that I know of. Although some people believe in not eating meat from when a close relative dies until after the funeral.
• apart from education, how would a settled Roma’s life differ from that of a strict Catholic family
Not all gypsies are catholic, some aren't even religious at all
•do you attend normal Mass, or are there Roma services?
Normal mass in my local church
• is there an increased risk of heritable diseases through the reduced community gene pool?
None that I know of
• do Roma people swim?
Yes but my parents can't!

People are not allowed to use the word gypsy anymore apparently it's offensive.

As this is anonymous please be as blunt, direct and honest as you can, I would like to know what gypsies / travellers really think about non gypsies / non travellers?
is living in a home, sending our children to school etc.. frowned upon?
do you have a name for us? And what is your opinion on our way of life?

Thank you

Traditional gypsy food is very plain. Meat and potatoes, stews etc. but these days we eat everything

I find that a lot of people believe that, I think it's because it was used as a slur for a long time and always said with a negative connotation

I would be very proud of my child if they became a doctor or something. I just wouldn't let them go to a secondary school setting.

So how would you do it? You couldn't teach them the A levels they'd need to get into university (which I presume you would be fine with them attending, in theory).