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 feel very sorry for them because of all the thick as pigshit bigoted twats they have to suffer

Welcome.

We have a large new polish and European community here, living on the south coast. But we also have an old established polish community as many people resettled here after being as persecuted too by the Nazis (many were ex POWs) in WWII. I wonder if it's your area, please don't think UK is racist as a whole because it's more likely to be about pockets in areas or vocal aggressive small groups that aren't a reflection of most people's views. I'm sorry to hear you've experienced racism.

It's very exciting that you have found a career here that you love.

Most of my neighbours are Eastern European and based on them as a group as much as any group can be representative, they are lovely. Good neighbours, friendly, nice kids. I could do without the guy who shouts down the phone in his garden for half an hour at a time, but pretty sure that's a standard, loud twit issue that happens in all nationalities, not an Eastern European specific one.

there’s a bias/ preference towards Western European’s. I guess the vague assumption is they are an asset to the U.K. and Eastern European’s move here for their own benefit.
People make assumptions about all types of people: African men, Thai women etc.

In fact 41% of children at my local primary school are EE yeh this kind of thing actually plays into the hands of bigots, it’s not seen as a positive

What do I think?
That you're very welcome to live here and I'm sorry that people make you feel unwelcome.

As an early years teacher, if I'm totally honest, when I scan my new class list, I'm always thankful when I see a good percentage of Eastern European looking names.
Why? Because from experience they are generally lovely families, parents are actively involved with their child's education but without the pushy, entitled attitude of some and their children are polite, keen to learn and well prepared for or school.
I realise the above sounds like a sweeping generalisation but it's just the bare facts of what I've observed over the past decade.

Where I live has an established eastern european community. They are not the problem.

In my list of problems, one I missed is groups of people hanging out in the street drinking. It puts people off walking through the area.

I think that people tend to assume that national stereotypes are true when they don't know people individually. And the average EE stereotype is not a positive one in the UK, generally.

It doesn't take a great amount of imagination to see beyond the stereotype: just getting to know someone is usually enough. But unfortunately not everyone even wants to do that. Many people, especially ones that never moved far from where the were born, and who want everything to stay the same around them forever, do not see multiculturalism as a plus. It's narrow-minded and short-sighted, but that's the way a lot of people are.

In short: it's not you, it's them. I'm living far from home, and I am lucky that my nationality is viewed positively in most places. It would be hard to always have people assume the worse, simply because of where I came from.

The two Polish girls I waitressed with were the hard-working women I've ever come across. If M was doing the bar on a Saturday, I knew we'd be ok however busy we got. She never let a shift drop and could get drinks and desserts out faster than anyone I've ever come across. By contrast, their husbands were unpleasant, bone-idle misogynists of the first order who used to threaten to turn in the Brazilian guys to immigration all the time (and did it in the end) even though they themselves had been illegal only a short time earlier. The other Polish guys were lovely, though. Like any other nationality I guess. I voted Remain without hesitation and don't care for the mood in this country, since.

@GimmeAy my SIL is Russian, I’ll let her know you hate her and all her countrymen because of the actions of one bloke who happened to be born in the same country.

if people are here legally and keep to the law (and let's face it, many British born don't do the latter) then fine with me. Economic migrant here to make money or for a safer life? Also fine with me.

Wherever you are, there will be a minority of people who are nasty. They are bullies and, like a school bully, will go for anything that makes you different. It's best to keep away from these sorts of people and not try and get them to accept you because why would you want to be accepted by a nasty person?

Where do you live OP ?
I am a city based Brit and have a lot of EE friends and neighbours
So my answer is that of course , I like the EE that I am friends with , and for the ones I don’t know - I don’t have a strong opinion . And personally I way prefer living in a Multicultural society .

@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.

Scotland isn't a eutopia where everyone loves people from Eastern Europe, there are dickheads in every nation. I remember there being quite a bit of local tension when the incoming Polish immigrants were viewed as 'taking the summer jobs' from the student population at Inverness Tesco. When it's a simple case that they could hire Polish people who settled in the area permanently, rather than deal with training students who would only be there for a few months.

I also remember the only time I have ever heard one of my childhood friends say anything even vaguely racist, was when she started complaining about the number of Polish immigrants who'd recently moved into one the local rural Scottish town. And said she was unnerved by two Polish people actually speaking to each other in their own language when she was walking down a side street towards them because she didn't know if they were talking about her. The type of quiet, pernicious racism that the OP has sensed is sadly everywhere.

From my own experience, all the Eastern Europeans I've worked alongside have been great. Although I'm stereotyping, they've nearly all tended to be more direct in the way they communicate which I really like and with a dry sense of humour. Never had anything but positive experiences.

I have taught loads of Eastern European pupils over the years. Almost without exception, the kids have been polite, well-behaved and hard working and the parents supportive and involved. In fact, I can't think of a single one that I had any behaviour issues with.

With one exception, a child who arrived in Year 2 and hadn't been to school before because the starting age is later in Romania, they haven't had any difficulties in picking up the language either.

I have Polish friends but live in an area where lots of Poles lived before the EU. They are my friends because we are very similar and have fun. My cleaner is Polish and has lived in the U.K. for almost 20 years but speaks very little English and all her friends are Polish. We have much less in common and the language barrier is an issue. I’d much rather be your friend than a UKIP voter. Not sure I’ve helped but keep trying-us lovely people who want to be your friend are out there!

@SmudgeButt you've heard of the British Empire right? Horrible as it was, that has more to do with those countries speaking English than recent economic migrants.

I used to work with a lot of people from Eastern Europe (mostly Polish people). In the main, and stereotypically, very nice people and very hard working.
I don't care where people come from. I once shut a xenophobic person down for ranting on about the EU by informing her my parents are from (EU country). I sound like I was born and raised here, which I was, and am white (pale!)European so she had no idea I wasn't from a long line of "British" ancestors, especially as I had an "English" surname...
I'm sorry you've met some of the cave dwellers of this country.

My Dp works with a lot of people From everywhere from Brazil and China to Eastern Europe as with all people some are lovely and some aren't.
I do to I get on well with particularly a polish woman and a woman from Romania, from my work. I really like them both but
In truth I don't really socialise much with them (I do sometimes for work things) or anyone else who is "new" in my life but that is because I only really see a few close friends who Iv known for many years (at least 15-20) regularly because I'm disabled I just don't have the energy to fit in more friends on top of daily life. I struggle to keep on top of my already established friendships so it'd all fall apart if I tried to add more

I'm sorry you feel that way banana. You should be happy here. You are part of this country and community.

There were a lot of racist remarks on a Facebook site n Syrian refugees were being given social housing. One woman had the whole ‘sorting out foreigners before your own blah blah...’ I asked her if she knew anything about the conflict in Syria and what these people had fled from? If she realised that we had actually bombed their country and killed innocent civilians and maybe she should talk to a few, sit down and have a coffee and listen to them. They don’t risk life and limb, many with children travelling thousands of miles sometimes by foot for £35 a week and social housing. She also kept banging on about taxes but hasn’t worked a day in her life ffs!

When I first started dating DH who is Polish my boss asked what was wrong with me that I couldn’t get a Irish boyfriend, and I’ve noticed a slight pause when people ask if I’m here because I married an Irish guy (I’m Australian). I’ve also noticed a change in behaviour when some colleagues discover my spouse is Eastern European, they’re a little more careful about ‘casual xenophobia’. We’ve noticed that particularly in customer service Situations, he’ll get people trying to take advantage but when I become involved, they’ll claim it’s a language barrier - he’s been here 15 years and speaks better English than some of the locals.
I think broadly as a generalisation they have an amazing work ethic and education, but that’s a cultural aspect I might possibly tie to post communism whereas in some Western countries the emphasis on education and working has been different as society has changed (There’s a sector of society has a learned generational dependence on welfare). Eastern European’s tend to ‘suck it up’ a bit more, which is both a curse and an asset; years ago when I lived in a house share, our boiler broke in winter and the letting agent’s receptionist was Polish, and was quite dismissive including using kurwa under her breath. She got a fright when I told her I understood every word she said.
On the flip side, some groups of Eastern European’s don’t assimilate well. I sometimes avoid some events as I feel out of place as some groups will deliberately speak Polish to exclude me. I would link that to their home or job.. some do live in a ‘Little Poland’ bubble (not dissimilar to Little Brits in Spain). I know from comments that some of the women can’t see what he sees in me as we’re childfree (when families are very important), I don’t wait on him hand and foot etc
It’s hard being an immigrant, no matter what your origins; every local already has their lives - families, friends, networks, hobbies etc. When they meet someone new, they mig think “Nice person”, but they just don’t have any room in their lives so don’t bother pursuing a friendship. It’s not a criticism, it’s just realistic. I’d love more friends locally, but I’ve stopped putting myself out there.
Also, my grandparent was an Eastern European immigrant, and she said she had to work twice as hard to be considered half as good, and to some extent I think that’s true; people are more likely to make allowances and be accommodating to those they consider their peers.. immigrants are ‘unknown’ and less likely to be forgiven.

Follow our laws, try to speak our language, contribute to our economy and I couldn't give a damn where you are from. If you won't (not can't but won't) do those things then I don't want to know - and that includes people of all nationalities and ethnicity including white British

I know some lovely East Europeans, indeed one of DD's closest school friends is Polish and their family are fantastic. Her friends mum really struggles with English but she tries and that's enough for me - I mean, if I went to live in Poland I'd certainly struggle with Polish!!

I'm sorry you're feeling like this OP, the UK is your home now and I'm pleased you liked us enough to want to stay :)

@Itsrainingandpouring

And said she was unnerved by two Polish people actually speaking to each other in their own language when she was walking down a side street towards them because she didn't know if they were talking about her.

My MIL said exactly the same thing, and she's also in Scotland. There is plenty of racism and suspicion towards EE immigrants north of the border too, anywhere that people feel pushed out and negatively impacted by the arrival of "others". Certainly, your average Scandinavian or French immigrant is not likely to be looking for minimum wage shelf-stacking work in the local Tescos and competing with local on that basis. And that feeds into the negative stereotypes.

Some English people are cunts , we seem to be able to be racist in a very unpleasant manner
Whilst I don’t like generalisations , it’s fair go Say all the Poles I know have a strong work ethic - which pleases me