Moving to London area from abroad. Really nervous.

[etoilech]

I guess, I'm looking for a little reassurance. We're moving to England from Switzerland this year. We're Swiss and Canadian. After all the hullabaloo of Brexit, do you think we will be welcome in the local community? We've spent a lot of time in England and we love it. We've had overwhelmingly good experiences with people, very kind and very welcoming.

Do you think people would be upset with us moving? Would people really be feeling a bit hostile towards us as foreigners moving in? I suspect most people will be as friendly as we've experienced previously, but I can't seem to quell my nervousness.

I appreciate any tips or reassurance. We're looking to make this our home, so we will want to be a part of our local community. Thanks in advance.

x Olivia

Depending on where you've lived before, and where you choose to move, you may feel that people are not especially friendly and welcoming because that's just not how they behave.

It won't be because you are Canadian or Swiss though. It'll just be because they are reserved in their interactions with new people.

South west London and Surrey are VERY remain - you'll be welcome. Plenty of people of other nationalities here!

Unfortunately it is especially true of eastern Europeans I have friends of many years who are seriously considering leaving as jolly old England is very hostile to them, makes me glad I moved my dcs to London where they are less likely to pick up this tripe in school.

Surrey was mostly Leave, but agree that the hostility is against those types of immigrants there are deemed to be "too many of", ie the brown ones wearing funny clothes and the Eastern European ones who simultaneously steal jobs while taking all the benefits (welfare).

OP, do you want to live in a city, albeit one with loads of green spaces, or do you want the Home Counties life involving lots of driving, international but all white neighbours, where everyone commutes to London or is essentially a WAG? Very different cultures, more so that Canadian/Swiss vs British.

That part of Surrey was overwhelmingly remain.... despite the MP.

Goodness, this thread is exciting and depressing.

Depending on where you've lived before, and where you choose to move, you may feel that people are not especially friendly and welcoming because that's just not how they behave.

It won't be because you are Canadian or Swiss though. It'll just be because they are reserved in their interactions with new people.

I agree with this, speaking as a foreigner who moved here nearly a decade ago. It may be easier with kids, as you can get involved in local activities and groups. But in general English people can be quite reserved, take a year to invite someone round for a coffee or even ask for help when they need it. I found it quite difficult after living in countries whose citizens are more, er, forthright.

Some rural areas you could live there 10 years and still not get an invite

I am in a leave area with eastern european languages often heard, everyone just gets on. No racist incidents in ages, the locals are quite happy dealing and beating each other up.

Stay clear of right on we love everybody Glastonbury though, the rich people there were shockingly racist last year to Europeans.

Be careful what you believe.

Some rural areas you could live there 10 years and still not get an invitegrin

Gow by comparison I was in Tel Aviv last year, and took the last intercity bus before a major holiday. The bus driver saw that I was on my own and asked if I had somewhere to go for the holiday, because if not his wife was cooking plenty and I was welcome to join! Not in a million years would that happen in England.

Surrey was mostly Leave, but agree that the hostility is against those types of immigrants there are deemed to be "too many of", ie the brown ones wearing funny clothes and the Eastern European ones who simultaneously steal jobs while taking all the benefits (welfare).

OP, do you want to live in a city, albeit one with loads of green spaces, or do you want the Home Counties life involving lots of driving, international but all white neighbours, where everyone commutes to London or is essentially a WAG? Very different cultures, more so that Canadian/Swiss vs British.

This pretty much encapsulates it, OP.

It's so true. The different between life in London proper and life in the commuter villages of he Home acounties is probably a bigger contrast that the difference between a Canadian city and an English city.

If I wanted an inclusive, welcoming and multi cultural neighbourhood I would definitely not live in a commuter village.

You'll be very welcome OP and please don't worry about Brexit and all that stuff. England remains as welcoming to Swiss and Canadians as ever it was.

Watford is Hertfordshire, however. Herefordshire is England's most rural county and is over near the border with Wales - I'm sure you'd be very welcome there too - but they are in quite different geographical locations. My DH (American), used to get horribly mixed up with counties when we first moved here. We were once on the Wirral (near Liverpool) and passed a pub called the Devonshire Arms. 'Are we in Devon?' he asked. Um ... no.

In comparison to many areas of Switzerland I think you'll find even the Home Counties very accepting of newcomers.

Sorry but this thread is ridiculous, Britain is no more or less racist than it was before Brexit .. probably on a level with Switzerland I would imagine!

Its no more racist than before but since brexit the racists are far more vocal in public, but as previous posters have said it is directed towards groups seen as a threat so as a professional mc European the op probally wont find any animosity

I was born here but I have lived in Europe for over 30 years and I worked in an international school and met so many families doing just what you are about to do. My advice to you would be to look on the whole experience as an opportunity to grow as a family, learn about what it is you value and expand your view of the world and life! There are a lot of kind and welcoming people out there.

Britain is certainly more overtly racist and inward looking since Brexit. Brexit, together with international shifts towards protofacist rule, has empowered the bigots and given them the confidence to speak.