to feel nervous of travelling abroad as a multi-racial family?

[SufferingSaffy]

Just wanted to say I've never been abroad so I think it's fear of the unknown as much as anything.

I'm (white) thinking of going on our first holiday abroad (somewhere in Europe, most likely Spain or Cyprus) next Summer with my black husband and mixed race DCs.

Am I worrying over nothing?

Is it any more likely we would be confronted with racism any more than at home?

Would we be best to stick with touristy areas?

Sorry to be a bit wet. If it was just me and DH I probably wouldn't be as worried but with our young children it's becoming a big worry in my head.

Yes you are worrying unneccessarily, especially in the countries that you mention.

We travel world wide, in a mixed group and the only 'ism' that i have ever encountered is towards the blonde women in our group, tbh.

There are plenty of mixed race people all over Europe you know.

you are worrying unnecesarily, even if i cant spell that word.
go, have fun. :)

Yes, Joan I suppose there are.

Ok, thanks ladies. Will stop dithering, be brave and get on with it.

Some of the mixed race families I know even come from another country.

Yes, YABU. Just go and book your holiday.

You will not be a novelty. Honest!

I am white, ExP is black, DS is mixed race. We went on quite a few hols and as far as I am aware no one batted an eyelid.

It's much more interesting nowadays when we travel as a family - Me, new DH, DS, DSSs - white, except for DS. DS also has a different surname to the rest of us - which makes him and makes immigration officials question our family group

go easy on her! OP I am guessing the Ukraine/Polish stories have upset you. yanbu to be upset! But stick with western europe and you'll be fine x

Of course, Wilson but that doesn't stop certain groups of people being treated as second class citizens, even in the country they're from.

Nobody looked twice at us in Spain, Italy, Greece, Belgium etc. That said, I might avoid remote parts of Eastern Europe but it's probably unlikely to be where you'd go for your first holiday anyway!

Thanks for the reassurance, everybody. Even though I'm probably coming across as a bit of a knob.

You know, all this troll business is making me edgy. Let's assume your query is genuine, then you will absolutely fine...

Nah, I don't blame you for asking. Nobody wants to put their dcs into an uncomfortable situation.

Look, my post was meant jokingly, but can you not see that assuming Spaniards (for example) are racist could be interpreted as ... well... racist?

Yes, Macaroni I'm a genuine poster. An idiot, but a genuine poster.

Wilson, please...

@Wilson well, the Spanish FA have got in a lot of trouble for racist taunting at SpainvEngland games in the recent past. There were issues when my club (Spurs) played Real last year too. And there was that hoohah with the Alonso fans directing racist abuse towards Lewis Hamilton a couple of years back. So the OP isn't being completely ridiculous in expressing worries if all she has to go on are fairly recent news stories which are not very happy reading.

Wilson, WTF?????

have you read the news recently? have you seen the issues in Ukraine and Poland? The nazi chants and monkey noises?

the rise of the far right in France (again!), and Greece for starters
the casual link between recession and facism

the OP has every right to ask this, how dare you accuse her of being racist!

I didn't accuse her of being racist. I suggested her post could be taken as racist, because she is ascribing a set of negative characteristics to someone because of their race. However I am happy to state that I don't think the OP is racist.

Sorry, Sally - I'm genuinely losing the plot with all these troll posts - and then the 'shall we permit trolls and if so what should the rules be? posts'

I hope you have a good break, and that your worries are unfounded

Equating football fans with whole populations is like me expecting you all to act like Millwall supporters.

You will be fine in Europe, but if you are really worried then go to one of the very touristy places that is full of Brits.

gotcha wilson, but can you see that recent news reports have maybe made her scared? they have worried me!

rather than her thinking- spanish are hitler lovers

I think the only places you are likely to encounter any serious problems are Russia, Ukraine and some Eastern European countries in that region, and as you are faily unlikely to want to go there for your holiday I think you will be fine. Have a lovely time.

Och I know Porca, the reports are horrible. I just was thinking, you know, she's off to the Costas - I think it will probably be OK...

@Joan well, football fans, F1 fans, and then THE GOVERNMENT which said it couldn't see anything wrong with it all.