If you live in Cornwall

[Flopseemsstoned]

What’s it really like to live there?

Parents and sister live there, thinking of maybe making the move (abroad at the moment)
What’s life like? Is it affordable to get a house on average wages? We have a toddler, is the lifestyle as great as it seems?

@Meruem

I don't think Cornwall/Cornish people are inherently racist. There was one black girl at my high school and as an adult now, I can see that must have been quite isolating for her. However, she was never badly treated by anyone. She was actually very popular and there was never any racist language used towards her or about her (not at school anyway). Yes there are obviously going to be some racist people in Cornwall, as there are anywhere. But I have lived in many different parts of the country and actually I find the more diverse an area, the more racism there is. Because people then "other" whole communities. It's not about the individual anymore.

I would sum up the Cornish as being honest to the point of sometimes being blunt! No they won't welcome anyone and everyone just to be polite, and why should they? I've seen people move there and make a real effort to be part of the community, who've not seen themselves as "better" than those around them, and they've fitted in. No, they're never going to be long standing members of the community, not for a few generations! But they've got on fine. But it takes time and effort.

Of course people should make an effort to be friendly and welcoming "just" to be polite. It's called having decent interpersonal skills and making an effort. And taking "generations" of time to be accepted. Wow! If you're trying to make an effort it shouldn't have to take generations. You don't get that in cities. I live in a city and we can't wait to have people back... It makes the place vibrant, diverse and alive. Newcomers are welcome and actively encouraged

I bought a souvenir in a touristy place during my most recent visit, the woman in the shop was actively rude. I was polite. It's not on, if it wasn't for "tourists" like me she wouldn't be able to run a bloody souvenir shop and would have no income!

I think Cornwall lacks diversity, but this doesn't in itself mean it is racist. Many will have grown up never seeing, let alone speaking to someone of a different race/colour. Remember, we are at the end of the country and similar to the top of Scotland, there is no travel through to other places. I think this is also what kept COVID rates low (another thread maybe!).

@Turkishangora

As I said, I’ve moved around the country a lot and not once was there a welcome committee waiting for me waving flags at my arrival! I had to get out there and get to know people. If I was nice I made friends, if I’d been an asshole I wouldn’t have. Why should Cornwall be different?

And I didn’t say it would take generations to be accepted. Just that if you’ve spent a short time there then obviously no you won’t be a long standing member. Using “generations” was somewhat lighthearted and I should have made that clearer.

Ok, I get what you mean now! It's interesting re the friendly thing. In one Northern city I lived in... Even though it was the "friendly North" not friendly at all. Another that I still live in now...v friendly, ditto the one my sister lives in, very warm people.

If you were to move in Liverpool everyone would try and be your friend whether you wanted them to or not!

On the whole I think most people here are friendly, particularly, as @Meruem said, if you make an effort yourself and don't give yourselves airs and graces. When we first moved down here I remember going to a coffee morning in the local village hall which was generally attended by elderly residents. I made the mistake of asking one lady where she recommended for the best pasties - she looked at me askance and said "I make my own pasties my dear, my husband wouldn't have it any other way" - that was me told!!

Also regarding tourists- again depending on your location and social circle I don't think there is antagonism- my 15 yr old DD (born here and never lived anywhere else had never even heard the word "emmet" for example. She has friends who are proper Cornish and others whose parents are from elsewhere in the UK and I think they are probably quite similar to teenagers from other places in many respects. Of course they are not as streetwise as they would be growing up in a city, but due to the world we live in, they are quite socially aware and discuss issues eg BLM and the imminent G7. They do bemoan the lack of KFC - my DD's friend drove (or rather her parents drove her) 15 miles to get one the other day. I have said no to this request because I'm mean

@Meruem

I don't think Cornwall/Cornish people are inherently racist. There was one black girl at my high school and as an adult now, I can see that must have been quite isolating for her. However, she was never badly treated by anyone. She was actually very popular and there was never any racist language used towards her or about her (not at school anyway). Yes there are obviously going to be some racist people in Cornwall, as there are anywhere. But I have lived in many different parts of the country and actually I find the more diverse an area, the more racism there is. Because people then "other" whole communities. It's not about the individual anymore.

I would sum up the Cornish as being honest to the point of sometimes being blunt! No they won't welcome anyone and everyone just to be polite, and why should they? I've seen people move there and make a real effort to be part of the community, who've not seen themselves as "better" than those around them, and they've fitted in. No, they're never going to be long standing members of the community, not for a few generations! But they've got on fine. But it takes time and effort.

I’m going to assume that you are white?

So how as a white woman can you give the experiences of a black girl you knew?

How do you know she was never badly treated or language she felt was racist was never used against her.

This is a poor comment.

We loved in St Mawnan near Newquay for a couple of years, i did enjoy it, but its not like how people imagine living in Cornwall tbh.
Quite rough and run down and tourist season is a pain with traffic/footfall, no real industry etc, luckily I was able to keep my job and wfh.

St Mawgan

As a white person I can still comment that I’ve seen far more racism elsewhere. Like when I lived in Cambridge and used to look after a friends mixed race child and when I took the child out I got tuts and dirty looks thrown my way. White people may not experience racism, they may not always recognise it. But I am talking about other people’s treatment of the girl at school and from everything I saw/heard, and things she said herself, there were no issues. No I can’t know every thought that was in her head, nor do I claim to. I also acknowledged in my post that in hindsight it must of been isolating for her regardless of how she was treated.

On the racism point I would hope that given the discrimination and derogatory remarks the Cornish have suffered over the years from the English that the Cornish would be better placed to understand and more appreciative of how unacceptable and hurtful discrimination and derogatory remarks are to people of colour.

On racism in Cornwall, I am sure it exists. But I live in a small village that is ultra-woke and so PC that nothing would shock anyone under age 80. It's radical enough that voting LibDem is seen as ultra-conservative. But there are NO people of colour living here, despite a few hundred folk who'd just love to have black or brown neighbours, just so they could claim the points for having an acquaintance of ncolour. Years ago, I was the token white person in a Latino suburb of NYC.

I take people as I find them, essentially. And the colour of the skin is not something I consider when I wish anyone good morning.