to want ^Typical English^ tourist spots to have English people serving you?

[IwantJoansbag]

I expect to get flamed for this and called all-sorts, but I don't care.
I'm genuinely curious.

We went out for the day yesterday and stopped off at 3 well-known English tourist spots.
Glastonbury, Cheddar and Wells. (with a little stop off at a pretty little 'supposedly' English market-garden type place - selling Strawberries, Plums, etc) plus we stopped off at an outlet village.

It just seemed wrong that at EVERY place we stopped we were served by Eastern Europeans. I didn't hear ONE English accent (except in the shops), but all the eateries and stalls.... foreign accents.

If I go to a Beer Festival in Germany, its nice to be served by somebody with a German Accent - it adds to the atmosphere.
If I were to go to New York and eat in China Town - its great if the majority of people are Chinese.
Stopping off in a typical Italian Pizza place and the people are mainly Italian! You expect a bit of authenticity.

So, is it too much to ask the same happens in England?
It must be disappointing for the tourists when they come here.

For the record:- I am ONLY talking about typical tourist spots and I've got nothing against people coming to our country to work, but I think that some places (tourist spots where you expect things to be traditional) they should have mainly English people dealing with the public.

Some staff in tourist locations do wear suppurating boils. It all depends on where you are an the nature of the site.

I think the difference between Somerset and Somerset World sums it up, though.

I'm beginnings to be reminded of 'Bartram's Hotel' where the very English experience proves all to have been staged (in that case icw murder, not just maximising teashop revenue).

Oh, the irony of travellers wanting the places they visit to be completely cut off from the rest of the world and immune to the forces of globalization

But Notac I thought the real demographic resource problem we face is not enough young people to support the old? We need children but we need them to stay, work and pay taxes.

It's seasonal work. E. Europeans are usually better equipped to take it on as they tend to come on their own, without a family in tow to support, and can share a carvan or crowded flat and send the money back home, where it is worth far more

So, why can't or don't UK youth without children do this work then? And then go and live in a cheaper country for a few years to save up?

There seems to be some type of myth that EE people only need to live in very crowded accommodation and don't need to live anywhere nice! Are they are different type of people then?

As for sending money back, anyone is free to eat cheap, live cheap and save money, like holiday reps, seasonal work in NZ/Australia and live in hostels. It's not just a perogative saved for EE people.

Oh yes, the strain on the NHS.

My optician is Indian. My GP is Polish. My dentist is Cuban.

Dear oh dear, all these nasty foreigners putting a strain on the dear old health service. What's to be done?!!!

And those big foreign families.

My half-sister (with whom I am proud to say I share nothing but an accidental smattering of paternal DNA) has 5 children. None of whom are actually allowed to live with her. And she's only in her early 30s. She'll have at least another 4 removed by social services before she hits the menopause. She is British through and through. Never even been abroad to be infected by all that foreign stuff.

I see far more homegrown families with absolute football teams of kids hanging off their pushchairs.

'English Rose then gave me the wrong change which she dropped on the floor and forgot to give me the iced finger.

But at least she was English hey! Had she been Lithuanian I expect I'd have come home with a pork pie that she'd have overcharged me for.'

Brilliant!

As if human beings are some kind of novelty and part of the whole 'act'. The person who said 'England isn't a theme park' is quite right. It's not a theatrical performance, it's just a town where people live and work. It wouldn't even cross my mind when visiting any tourist destination that the people working there weren't from that place. What bizarre thinking...

Out of interest op, what would be your view on someone who had the authentic accent, english born and bred, but who was black?

'I love that you wanted a 'typical English experience' and then ordered a donut and an Americano.'

"I understand that people like you have always had a penchant for pinning gold stars on people"

"Don't agree with someone?
Call them a troll (yawn)"

It's not that I don't agree with you.

It's just I didn't think anyone would be quite so stupid as to back up their desire for traditional English culture by detailing the difficulties they had had buying an Americano and a donut! But maybe they would!

You actually sound a bit foreign yourself, with your demands for a certain type of "experience", and also where you are seeking it.

You may be on holiday, but the UK (or England

Which is a shame, because it was actually quite funny when I thought it was a joke.

Poor op ... You do know that octoberfest is staffed by lots of Irish and Polish servers don't you ? Heck I even worked one and I am English !

Why is it, we will go to GREAT LENGTHS to protect the tradtions and cultural differences of other Nationalities, but, to want to protect and 'celebrate' English Traditions is somehow WRONG and a matter for joking?

Just off to find some vikings to man Sutton Hoo!

Sangria's star comment : comedy gold

Besom you're right I daresay but I am concerned about the level of immigration into the country just now. It does mean we're overcrowded and that has implications for everybody.

That obviously doesn't mean I'm again immigration full stop! It's the level at the moment that is just as I said above meaning we're overcrowded.

Like I say I'd be similarly worried if everybody suddenly started having huge families!

(or more like "England", depending on the result of the referendum) is a place where people live and work, and, yes, where "foreigners" live and work, too.

(Brilliant observation about Bartram's Hotel, AuntieStella!)

It's also worth pointing out that two of your examples about "authenticity" (Italian restaurant and Chinese restaurant) involve Foreigners Living Abroad. Unless such foreigners are going to remain in ghettos (therefore not actually living in the country where they are), one will occasionally find Foreigners Working and Living Abroad. And that's not taking into account the analysis of migrant labour/ seasonal employment provided upthread.

YOu clearly do not travel much if you think that the unskilled labour is generally performed by locals. It is not. They are providing a service they haven't got to act out some weird little Britain fantasy you have in your head.

Erm, you know that old lady, waves at people and wears hats with matching gloves? On a lot of souvenirs? Teatowels and things? Likes little yippy dogs?

You do know she's German, right?

Don't want to worry you OP, but thought you should know.

Well spotted LEM. This makes more sense now!
Most countries are culturally diverse. And it's a good thing that everybody wants to work. Give the job to the best person, whoever they may be or wherever they might be from.

Wow. I'm black op but I do have an English accent, would I have passed? I probably would have fucked up and served you fried chicken and given you change a foreign currency though!

I thought much of the strain on the NHS comes from an ageing overall population, plus lifestyle-related illnesses such as obesity? And how do you balance what immigrants take from the NHS against what immigrants contribute as tax payers and NHS workers? Has anyone actually done the maths?

'I love that you wanted a 'typical English experience' and then ordered a donut and an Americano'.

Wouldn't an authentic English experience involve tea, sticky buns and a trip to Woolies (RIP)?