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

I have many Eastern European friends and colleagues and I'd to personally thank them all for making my life richer for having them in it!

Some of my closest friends are Polish and Bulgarian.

Anyone who has a problem with Eastern Europeans...or immigrants at all can fuck off to the far side of fuck off. I don’t want to know bigots and they have no place in my life.

All the Eastern Europeans I've met have had a fantastic work ethic. Anyone with that is more welcome, no matter where they come from or how long they want to stay.

Im going to say something else that isn't too great, but I want to be honest and don't wish to sugar coat.

I live in Lake District.
since coming here I have noticed a very weird lack of diversity. In the entire south lakes I've only met one local black person.

there is a large EU (mostly very young) population, which are the hospitality workforce. Many live in cramped or shared accommodation.
All of them are friendly.

we get a lot of outside visitors of course, millions per year, but when the summer season ends its severely whitewashed population that remains.

there's a somewhat odd and unpleasant (mostly unspoken) attitude to outsiders here which is off-putting. It has definitely made me consider moving elsewhere.

I also think the south lakes only voted remain to keep their underpaid workforce.

im a cynic.
racism of any kind boils my fucking piss.

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

This.
Every Eastern European person I have been fortunate to meet has, without exception, been lovely.

Maybe it's where you live, OP. Where I live in London, there are lots of Eastern Europeans - and lots of other cultures too - and I certainly don't think they would feel ostracised here.

it's quite patronising to say that someone's accent is cute, or to make any kind of comment on the accents of non-native speakers.

It depends who's doing it. My (non Northern Irish) husband of ten years still interrupts my account of the shopping to ask "How much did it cost? A POWWND!" in the broadest Norn Iron he can muster. Little amuses the innocent and it keeps him happy. OTOH, the hopefuls in England and elsewhere who want me to say "thirty three and a third" are gonna be disappointed- wrong bit of the island sorry. I'll say my username for anyone who wants to hear it.
I admit that the number of people who roared"Deedlee-dee, POTATO!!!!" the moment I opened my mouth to say anything when I lived in NZ got a touch wearing. It must have been in an ad or something.

Those of you that keep mentioning the work ethics of immigrants, yes that is of course important but you do realise we are also human beings and need company too.

Please make an effort to socialise. A lot of us live in utter isolation. I live in Bradford and even though it is diverse, the various racial groups do not miggle. There is an air of distinct racism and hatrance for anyone that is not like you and I am convinced that this is what has contributed to home grown terrorism being on the rise.

Diversity without inclusivity is pointless. And a lot pay lip service to how much they allow foreigners or those different to them in. I have never seen the like and have lived and travelled extensively.

I've worked with and become friends with lots of europeans and would agree that Eastern Europeans have a harder time of it than, say, Italian or Spanish. I think it's because it is noticeable that there is a more prevalent drinking culture amongst some groups from eastern europe and are less well off to start with.

Makes no odds to me, I like that eastern EU people are settling here and Many have brilliant work ethic, I would be more likely to give a job to a Polish worker for example than any other if their qualifications were the same, the British could learn a thing or two!! I hope you stay and have a happy life.

OP, I think you have a good point about not coming from one of the more 'acceptable' countries in Europe. With some people in the UK, I think there's an un-built snobbery and sort of hierarchy about people from other European countries - mostly built on countries' relative wealths and status. So, for some types of British people, a resident from Eastern Europe will always score lower in their perceived social scale than one from Scandinavia, or Germany.

But I don't think that's representative of most of us! I think you'll always get xenophobia, mostly born out of ignorance and parochial world views, but most of us are nicer. I'm the child of someone from another European country but brought up entirely in the UK and seen as culturally 'British' but I've always felt a little divorced from UK-ness because of my background. I think things were much more tolerant back in the 70's and 80's though - I often wonder what it would have been like in the age of Brexit if my dad was freshly arrived and starting a family here.

I have no preconceptions about Eastern Europeans. I love the fact that people from all over the world come to live here. I work with a Polish woman who's a professor at a university. It would never occur to me to look down on someone because they were from the east of Europe.

I find it quite patronising when people say 'oh all (insert nationality) are wonderful'. I know some who are nice and some who aren't...

there's also class snobbery - the poorer the immigrant the less respect they are given. they must have weak morals!

yes there are issues at the low income end, with booze, ignorance - same as with local British really.

@formerbabe

I find it quite patronising when people say 'oh all (insert nationality) are wonderful'. I know some who are nice and some who aren't...

absolutely agree, I've met some bloody dreadful Polish people and some utterly lovely. its possibly because they're.....human beings. Like me.

I’m so sorry you’ve experienced this. Most of the guys at one of my work places are polish and they are truly wonderful, work incredibly hard always with a smile and their sense of humour is amazing! I’d welcome a million of you guys ahead of the violent, bigoted, mindless citizens there are of this country!

I’m so sorry you have been made to feel like that. In Scotland there are a lot of Eastern European’s and I might notice the accent of name but in the way of thinking ‘that’s an unusual name’. Quite a few of my colleagues are from Eastern Europe and are lovely and I like finding out more about them and their roots (always worry I sound nosy but it’s interesting). When I see people posting racist things online I usually say ‘have you sat down with a person from another country,had a drink and a chat and found out about them? If not how do you know what you are saying resembles the truth?’ In my eyes you are welcome here.

I am sorry but not surprised you have this experience.

My DM has been in the UK for 50+ years, comes from one of the areas you describe as being seen as having an easier time, and still got shouted at in a shop to 'go back to her own country' last year

When she arrived there was a definite bias against her country so which is the worst country changes all the time.

I'd encourage you to socialise as much as possible. Most Brits will like you, even if they still maintain a prejudice against all the other migrants from your country. And some will lose that prejudice altogether or not have it in the first place.

My DM filters out the stuff she doesn't want to hear Brexit as she recognises people are complicated and she still likes her friends.

@speakout

Come to Scotland- we love people from Eastern Europe. We already had a large number of people from Poland and other European countries come to settle just after the second world war, and assimilation was good - native Scots see these people as hardworking and reliable- so the ground was set if you like, Polish names have been very common in Scotland for 70 years. The latest round of incomers from Eastern Europe have been welcomed with open arms here.

Exactly!!

I grew up close to my uncle who was from Poland. We knew many of his local Polish friends.
I think E EU residents are very hardworking and diligent - their customer relations skills are brilliant.
I also find they are honest and warm hearted and intelligent.
Obviously these are generalisations, well based upon my good experiences as a child, but I've only met one or two people who have disappointed my expectations.
I'm sorry that your DH has had bad experiences.

I live in Ireland and the influx of East Europeans has been a HUGE boost to the country and its economy.
Ireland is a much more diverse country because of it. One thing I do notice is that a lot of East Europeans socialise among themselves mostly and actually talk in their native language in groups and with their families and I do wonder if that affects their opportunity to integrate and improve their English language skills. Though if i was in Ireland and had friends from my home country I could well do the same.

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

I agree with this. Anyone from a nation perceived as wealthier than the UK, the xenophobes among us are OK with. From a nation perceived as poorer –you must be after our jobs or benefits (or both, in the weird scenario of Schrodinger's Immigrant).

I'm British-born and couldn't give two hoots about where people are from; in my London neighbourhood there are people like me, then people from (off the top of my head) E Europe, W and S Europe, Scandinavia, Turkey (mainly Kurds), Bangladesh, Gujarat, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Aus and NZ, the Americas… We all seem to pretty much rub along.

GimmeAy, I'm sorry you've encountered and lived with some people
who've behaved badly. However, you are only talking about a few people in the scheme of things. Personally I could say I've lived with people from Aus who were demanding and arrogant in the way your Romanian housemates were; and I've met plenty of Brits who were into drugs. I'm sure you've come across aggressive Lithuanians; I've come across aggressive Brits, Americans, Australians, off the top of my head. I've met nice Russian people.

I could not possibly from that ragbag make any informed statements about what 'Russians' or 'Australians' are like as a nation. That would be nonsensical.

I know people from eastern europe who are fine and some who aren't.

There are problems where I live, and the problem families are east european. They are not problems because of their nationality but because of their behaviour.

Examples of problems are:
A neighbour complained about loud music from a garden several doors away and was assaulted.

Very loud music from another house in the same street. This was so loud that you could hear it indoors with the doors and windows shut.

Damage to cars.

Verbal abuse and threats.

Daily bonfires.

A group of youths walking up both sides of the street talking loudly to each other.

Spitting sunflower seed husks while walking down the street.

I don't judge people until I know them. I object to people boasting about how good and cheap eastern european tradespeople are.