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

So I’m second generation Eastern European with a name from the country of my grandparents and since the referendum far more people have assumed I’m not british born than ever before. I get questions like “what was your maiden name?” Or “your accent is very good” yeah as I was born in the U.K. to English speaking parents...

I would say 50-60% of my friends and colleagues are non-british, some from mixed families like mine and some who are taking advantage of freedom of movement, and I’m happy about that as someone who grew up with two heritages. I feel really comfortable around other people with an international outlook, but I’m british and have a british upbringing and values.

However the area I live in has lots of HMOs with far more Eastern European’s living in a single house than should be. Usually male skilled workers, to make a generalisation. They just please themselves in terms of making anti social noise and mess and it doesn’t create the best atmosphere for the neighbours and local community. I know this situation is widespread across the county I live in and it makes people uncomfortable and upset and unfortunately fuels bigotry and stereotypes that people then unfairly extend to people like me with an Eastern European name, or like you @Bananasinpjs7 who are respectful members of society. I wish I knew what to do about it. I’m sorry you’re being treated badly, please don’t take it to heart. I’m really glad to see how many posters are being kind and welcoming. We all know nowhere is perfect and there are good and bad people everywhere, please stay here if you can.

The news Media doesn’t help and Easter Europeans get a bad rep from them.

I'm very positive about Eastern Europeans living in the UK, but then my mum is one of them!

I’m sorry you feel like that. My dads partner is Polish and I have a few friends from there. I do see the other horrible side of it though as I employ a fantastic guy from Romania and sometimes have customers ask me not to send ‘the pole’ as he doesn’t speak a word of English. His English is better than theirs. I always challenge it but my husband has worked on construction sites for 20 years and says the racism is horrendous. It’s so sad and small minded.

I've never met one I didn't like and I'm a right miserable bitch.

@araiwa

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

This is the truth.

There are some people who are here short term so no interest in making friends or learning the language etc and others who are the opposite ime. And fair play to both. A couple of my best friends are polish and my life has been so much the better for knowing them 😃

I'm happy that people from Eastern Europe have made the UK their home. I've met people from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, and others. I like hearing their stories - what their lives were like at home, what their culture and customs are, and their perspective on life in the UK. I think it's such a shame that 'economic migrant' has become a xenophobic slur. We are all descended from economic migrants somewhere along the line. Throughout history, people have needed to move where the work is, to survive and hopefully to flourish.

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 so we can generalise negatively on the British and not about Eastern European’s?!
Tbh I hate the gushing about “I’ve never met bad EE” as much as I hate the “they come here and steal our jobs”.
Eastern European’s are people, just like the British, some are assholes and some are delightful. Perhaps the left and the right have more in common than they admit!

I'm truly sorry you feel this way, I was born in Eastern Europe but moved to the UK when I was a baby I'm lucky I suppose that I therefore slip under the radar of most racists with my British accent and the primary reaction when my colleagues learn of my heritage is that A. It's interesting and B. That it's handy that I'm bilingual

I have made some good friends at the school you are from Eastern Europe - however, they have all been here a while now and are very settled. So they are definitely part of the place now and so If I were describing them I wouldn't describe them by their being Eastern European.

One thing I have always had a giggle about and that I think has had a positive impact - Is the way that East European parents completely ignore the snobbery/hierarchy that you sometimes find with parents in the playground and in relation to playdates.

All the East Europeans I have encountered have been hard working, decent people. I have never understood the hate that Polish people get from some quarters especially as the UK has long established links with Poland.

I have rescue dogs from Bulgaria and Romania and their attitude to animals appears to be very different to ours. I judge them for that if I'm honest but more as nations than on an individual basis.

I don't really think anything of it. But, if I was pushed to think of an assumption... I guess I might assume you're married to a tradesman and you're both excellent linguists who speak at least 2 languages fluently. It wouldn't bother me if I was wrong and I wouldn't tell you what I had assumed. I'm sorry that you feel "left out" of society. I stand out visually because I'm BAME in a mostly white area but I don't really think about it. I guess it's harder feeling at ease if these things play on your mind. x

You get to know cultures when you live with them, not so much when you just work or socialise with them.
As much as any small group of people can represent an entire country's culture (which is a nebulous thing anyway).

I know that the Irish are hated but it doesn't really bother me - unless I'm dealing with police. We're the first to blame. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about this. It's a sweeping statement to say 'the Irish are hated'.

I just find that they don't want to socialise much with anyone who isn't one of them. That's my experience.
Again, a limited experience, as is anyone's really.

It's hard to forgive someone who because of their actions landed me living on the streets. Indeed, and I'm very sorry for what sounds like a terrible experience. Is it so hard to imagine, though, that not everyone in or from a country might be a twat just because you were the criminal victim of one person from that country?

I have Eastern European ancestry. I've met some lovely EE people and some not so lovely, like any nationality. I live in London so am very used to living in a multi cultural area. We are a mixed race family, I'm white, dh is black. I will say the only blatant racism we've experienced in London has been from Eastern European people. When I say blatant I mean dropping the n word and blatant racist insults. I'm sure plenty of Brits are just as racist but perhaps know that they need to keep it more undercover and that it's socially unacceptable to say those things. Not sure ..I know not all EE people are racist but I do wonder if the behaviour I've described is because EE countries aren't as diverse as the UK.

I am finding the anti-Russian sentiment from some PPs on this thread grossly insulting.

There are good people and some bad people in Russia. Same goes for Poles, Romanians, Brits or any nation you care to name.

I employed some Polish workmen who ripped me off and did a substandard job. Should I now say I don’t like the entire nation because of that?

Come on.

Where do you live? We are from a non EU EE country.
We’ve always been in London, though moved around it a lot. Always feel a little nervous of leaving and the attitudes, I (think) I don’t have an accent though now, whereas my husband has retained a strong one and doesn’t use colloquial English/still mixes article a bit. Our jobs are ones where people don’t expect too much accent/ non native speakers a lot.

I feel people look at me and think ‘she is from eastern eu’ as if it has some sort of stigma.

How do you know what people are thinking?

I don't get why some people have a problem with economic migrants. My best guess is it's just an objection that xenophobic bigots have come up with that they think is legitimate. There is nothing wrong with people relocating to try and better their circumstances and the British are one of the most prolific nationalities for doing so. If it's good enough for British people to move to Germany, USA, Canada, Australia, Spain or wherever why is it somehow wrong for Eastern Europeans, Asians or Africans to come here?

OP, I would say you're more than welcome in my country. Except, it's not my country (or anyone else's) so you don't need me to welcome you nor do I (or anyone else) have any right to try and make you feel unwelcome.

Seeing as we are currently celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, it's worth reminding people of the significant contribution made by foreigners serving with the RAF at that time. The Polish especially tipped the balance and were rightly recognised by the head of fighter command who wrote "Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle of Britain would have been the same".

If they were good enough to defend our skies with their lives during our darkest hour they are sure as hell good enough to make their lives here.

@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 completely relate. I am from southern Europe and I have been living in London (on and off) for over 25 years.I have friends from all over the world BUT none from England (not from the lack of trying on my part). I could go on and on about poor and dismissive behaviour but I am sure you have experienced enough to get my drift. I just raise above it...surround yourself with people that cherish you for who you are and don't care where you come from.

My husband is Eastern European, and as other posters have said, was pretty frustrated by the brexit vote. We had Eastern European friends leave not long after that too. The most common thing we find is that people are surprised he owns a business and employs many local (British born) workers, as opposed to the other way round. People have also made comments about people in his home country being so very poor, and assume their health/education systems are much inferior to our own. It’s assumed he came here in search of a ‘better life’ which makes him chuckle. He actually came here for a holiday and stayed because we met. We also live modestly and outwardly probably look like we earn much less than we do - there have been a few individuals in the past have been very condescending to him or about him and I have at times wish ’d known we are actually doing pretty well. I also get angry hearing people say the doctors surgeries are too busy because of foreigners. In the 25 years my husband has been in the UK he’s only been to the doctor 6 times!!! Our Eastern European friends also often visited their doctors/dentists/opticians etc on visits to their home country as they believed their health service to be more efficient.

Adjectives that come to mind?

Personable, friendly, hard working.

@GimmeAy

Along with what the Russian stole was my home, my laptop, my ID, and about £1000 worth of clothes. The cunt had no repercussions as he knew. It was a civil matter after all. I've never forgiven him and any Russians (Lithuanians who identify as Russian) haven't fucking changed my opinion. It's hard to forgive someone who because of their actions landed me living on the streets.

@GimmeAy your attitude is ridiculous. Because ONE Russian person you met was awful you hate all Russians? All of them?

You know there are crooks, murderers, thieves and general scoundrels of ALL nationalities and races, right? If you’d been badly treated by someone of your own race/nationality would you hate yourself? Ridiculous.

OP, my grandfather was Polish, settled in Scotland after the war. I went to his Polish club as a child and loved the food, dances and people. I also love visiting Poland and other EE countries because of the beautiful architecture.
As far as I’m concerned everyone is welcome here.

These aren't my personal opinions but I do come from a small, Northern town so can speak about the local generalised perspective to an extent.

I think that because EE are seen as economic migrants and are causing people to lose jobs, that that is part of the reason why there can be some generalised negativity.

I have family members who worked in a local factory for a massive, international brand. They had a record year for profits and the same year they laid off half of their skilled technicians, a lot of whom had worked there for decades, and replaced them with much cheaper agency staff, vast majority of which were EE.

It's not really the fault of the EE workers, moreso the company for being greedy but sadly it's the EEs who get blamed.

I also think that no matter where anyone moves, there's always going to be a preference, even if unconscious, in people to their "own" people. I lived in Australia, you probably couldn't get a country much more similar to the UK, but I was still always "the English girl".