To ask what you think of Eastern Europeans living in the UK?

[Bananasinpjs7]

I have lived in the UK for almost 10 years which is pretty much a 1/3 of my life. I never thought I’d stay this long but met my partner here and decided to build a career in an industry that we don’t really have in my home country... yet.
I’m trying my best... language wise I think I’m pretty fluent. English is the language I speak 95% of the time.
I try to fit in as much as possible, learn as much as I can about the UK to understand it’s history and culture...
But I feel extremely left out ... I feel people look at me and think ‘she is from eastern eu’ as if it has some sort of stigma. It feels like if you are from somewhere glamorous like France or Scandinavian countries you are much more accepted... I’m so tired of constantly feeling like this

Welcome to UK. It doesn't bother me where you come from. I have worked with people from all over the world and its great to learn about other people's lives and experiences.

It’s a horrible attitude, I’m so sorry you’re made to feel like that - I have a friend who has been here a long time, fallen in love with someone from here and has a child and now a life here. When the brexit vote happened she became very depressed and said she feels unwelcome now.
It breaks my heart the nation we have become

I'm sorry you have experienced this. Maybe some areas might be less prejudiced. The town I live in can be quite bigoted I think. Small towns often seem to be small minded too.

Anyone who judges you for not being from the UK is not worth your time - invariably, they’re twats. I’m so sorry you’ve been made to feel unwelcome.
Lots of us are lovely and friendly, I promise, and are glad that we’re lucky enough to live alongside you.

What Netty said. I have a lot of Eastern European colleagues and students, now I come to think about it. I hadn't really thought about it as they are just my colleagues and students.

I also have a lot from other places. It matters not. Although it was nice post the Brexit vote where we did a departmental photo with eveyone holding a paper flag - I made mine Welsh, Irish and English, - and I was surprised by how diverse we were, as I genuinely hadn't thought about it at all. it was a nice piece of solidarity.

Sorry you are feeling like this,

Swedish german french arent seen as economic migrants. Eastern europeans are. My guess anyway

I live in a town with a lot of Eastern Europeans and they tend to send their children to my DC's RC primary school, so much so that they have displays in Polish and English. It's not an issue, if anything it's a benefit for both children as they are exposed to different cultures and languages.

I think highly of the Eastern European’s I know. Hard working, smart, ensure their kids take advantage of educational opportunities.

I have LOVED all of the Eastern European people I have worked with or been friends with. Funny, blunt, hard working. Unbelievably direct which is startling sometimes and refreshing. Can't generalise about all people from EE obviously but the ones I have known I am big fans of.

Our local Sri Lankan run corner shop has a lot of Polish goods. This makes me happy as I like the food. The Bulgarian shop round the corner has great fruit and veg. It benefits us all.

So sorry you feel left out OP. Some areas are undoubtedly easier than others to assimilate in. Some places are less welcoming to ‘others’ even if those others come from the next town.
I have lived in various parts of the world and have felt welcome, it’s sad to think people coming here don’t feel valued.
Are there any groups of expats that meet locally, you might find it lightens your mood to meet with others in the same boat?

I really don’t give a fuck who comes and lives here. I don’t understand why anyone cares. As long as you’re a decent person who lives within the law then you’re a-ok in my eyes.

I’m sorry you feel left out . I’d happily trade the small minded British bigots with people immigrating to the UK anytime.

You are seen as an economic migrant, as in truth many eastern Europeans are.

Just ignore, some people are just not worth your time.

My husband is Polish. Some people are shitty to him. Some people are lovely. He has struggled with the rise in expressed xenophobia since the referendum in 2016 (and I have struggled with the legions of people who insist there has been no such rise) and he does not feel particularly welcomed by the government. We used to live in a shitty Fenland town where it was much, much worse but even in a big, famously multicultural city there are still idiots.

Fuck them, I say. I would much rather have you and my DH than all the small minded natives who are so threatened by and hostile to 'outsiders'. I feel far more kinship with you than them. They can say this is 'their' country and think that, but they are wrong and stupid and not worth our time.

And if anyone reading this is offended by it, good. If you share the opinions of those who have made life so hard for people like the op and my dh and pur friends, I am very glad to offend you and I always will be.

I'm very sorry that you are finding it tough living here. As in lots of places, people here are a mixture and not everyone has the education and experience to see that anyone who has moved countries has a lot to offer.

We need to find you the lovely people rather than the unlovely ones to mix with.

Is there anything specifically that makes you feel people judge you. Not everyone is like that, honest please don't give up on us.

I cannot understand why anyone would be horrible/not welcoming. Yes I can actually. Brexit.

My experience of Eastern Europeans is that they are extremely family oriented and have the most amazing work ethic. I’ve also found them to be very respectful.

Yes I’d happily throw the UKIP types out and bring Eastern European’s (or just about anyone) in to replace them. If only... !

Where do you live OP?

Also amen to what notexactly said.

Eastern European kids are some of the best I teach. Willing to learn and place enormous value in education.

My sister married a Polish man and he is the hardest worker I’ve ever met. He also shares the same family oriented values that she has.

It angers me how people are so bigoted. As a previous poster said, small towns seem to be far worse for this attitude especially post Brexit. I’ve recently moved to a city in the UK and there is far less of this.

We had a great polish door fitter do some work on our house recently. He did the job in half the time that a previous bloke had done the upstairs ones, was efficient and charged half the price whilst doing an excellent job. I think the work ethic is great.

It makes me laugh that some British are so arrogant about people from other countries. Look at how much of the world has been forced to speak English due to all the economic emigrants from Great Britain! Canada, USA, Australia, NZ etc etc etc.

I'm glad of the people that have moved into the UK over the last 25+ years since I came here. I can now get food that I ate when I was growing up! And I like the variety of names and accents!

I'm sorry you've been made to feel like this probably by people who criticise with one breath but in the next tell us how they like because it's like being at home. The fear of what they perceive unknown. It's ridiculous. I hope your day brightens up knowing lots of people do want you here

One of my 2 very good friends is originally from Eastern Europe.

Dd has friends from Eastern Europe, and so does Ds. They have friends from all over the world

I haven’t ever even thought about it. Let alone get worked up about it.

I like making friends with people from other countries. It’s interesting hearing about their lives elsewhere, and discussing the cultural differences. I also love to hear an accent - to me, it inspires awe really that you’ve managed to master another language. I loved languages at school but was never good enough to speak it even conversationally.

I find it upsetting that people would have other feelings about that, although I’m not naive enough to not realise it’s not prevalent.

Even from my dad who is a second generation immigrant