lukasvanek
22 Apr 2008
UK, Ireland / Are the Poles in England hated? [450]
Hi!
I am not sure i can speak on behalf of British or Polish - I am Czech. I have been working in the UK since 2003, most of the time during my holidays at uni in CZ. Now I study and in Huddersfield.
During this time i have had the opportunity to experience the whole process of Polish and other Eastern European started to come over.
I have to say that i saw some cases of British being rude or nasty to Polish guys. Also some of them haven't always been very fair to others - Slovak and Czech.
However I have to say that in general British are one of the most cosmopolitan nation I have had the chance to experience (after CZ, SR, PL, Austrian, Germans, French or Portuguese). Even I can openly say I don't like British (perhaps I'm here for too long already :) ) I have to admit I don't know another such country where immigrants and migrants workers would be accepted, tolerated and perhaps even respected so much.
The worse change in attitude to Polish (and at that time, even nowadays Biritish hearing eastern accent didn't do any difference in nationalities - quite few of them don't know where CZ is - except it is between Germany and Russia, but it also could be in central Asia, so being Czech was same like being Polish)- so the worse change in attitude was probably in 2005/2006.
I can remember coming by bus to London Victoria in June 2006. There could be one bus from CZ, perhaps one from Slovakia and about 13 from Poland. It should be understood that inflow of people who have different values and way of behaviour had to lead in some kind of change in the public mood.
Still except some cheatty coments which are common part of humor of lower working class in the UK (no social offence) not only on behalf of foreigners but on behalf of their own people and issues, I can say the immigrants are still treated very fairly.
There were some incidents - even here in Huddersfield - on Polish student was killed (my deepest symphathy to his family) but in general context where people get missing and being killed here, I can say it was unfortunate case and result of dangerous society he was in contact in. It was also speculated that he owned some money to guys related to drugs.
On the other hand, there are several Polish citizens in custody or prisons around Britain, some CZ guys were sentenced for killing their UK employer few years ago and still I can not see any cases of "pogroma" or "Aussiedlung"(German expression for dramatic expultion of mostly Germans from CZ state after WWII).
So to be honest. There is loads of people in the world. So much that not all of them have a job even in their own country. It is hardly possible to expect that there is country in the world where everyone loves migrant workers who make 2% of national population within 4 years. Still if you come to the UK govermental offices without knowledge of english you will be provided with such help and support immigrants in CZ or PL can't even dream of.
People keep their prejudices and distance (British do it to each other as well, this country is pretty two-faced) however in 95% you will be treated quite fairly.
Czest! Lukas
By the way I'm writing my disertation on "Migration of Labour PL - UK" so if you guys (Polish only - sorry there is not many workers going to work to Poland...) had spare 5 minutes I would be grateful for your help!
Mam na imie Lukas Vanek i jestem studentem trzeciego roku BA European Bussiness na Uniwersytecie w Huddersfield. Obecnie jestem w trakcie pisania koncowej pracy zaliczeniowej i ta ankieta stanowi jej glowna czesc, ktora pomoze mi w zebraniu informacji na temat podejmowania decyzji o migracji i jej ekonomicznych uwarunkowaniach.
Ankieta ta jest anonimowa i wszystkie uzyskane na jej podstawie informacje beda poufne, uzyte jedynie na potrzeby mojej pracy badawczej.
Wypelnienie tego kwestionariusza nie powinno zajac wiecej niz 5-10 minut.
FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=lcwrwug4u1ynhnt426647
Dienky bardzo!
Hi!
I am not sure i can speak on behalf of British or Polish - I am Czech. I have been working in the UK since 2003, most of the time during my holidays at uni in CZ. Now I study and in Huddersfield.
During this time i have had the opportunity to experience the whole process of Polish and other Eastern European started to come over.
I have to say that i saw some cases of British being rude or nasty to Polish guys. Also some of them haven't always been very fair to others - Slovak and Czech.
However I have to say that in general British are one of the most cosmopolitan nation I have had the chance to experience (after CZ, SR, PL, Austrian, Germans, French or Portuguese). Even I can openly say I don't like British (perhaps I'm here for too long already :) ) I have to admit I don't know another such country where immigrants and migrants workers would be accepted, tolerated and perhaps even respected so much.
The worse change in attitude to Polish (and at that time, even nowadays Biritish hearing eastern accent didn't do any difference in nationalities - quite few of them don't know where CZ is - except it is between Germany and Russia, but it also could be in central Asia, so being Czech was same like being Polish)- so the worse change in attitude was probably in 2005/2006.
I can remember coming by bus to London Victoria in June 2006. There could be one bus from CZ, perhaps one from Slovakia and about 13 from Poland. It should be understood that inflow of people who have different values and way of behaviour had to lead in some kind of change in the public mood.
Still except some cheatty coments which are common part of humor of lower working class in the UK (no social offence) not only on behalf of foreigners but on behalf of their own people and issues, I can say the immigrants are still treated very fairly.
There were some incidents - even here in Huddersfield - on Polish student was killed (my deepest symphathy to his family) but in general context where people get missing and being killed here, I can say it was unfortunate case and result of dangerous society he was in contact in. It was also speculated that he owned some money to guys related to drugs.
On the other hand, there are several Polish citizens in custody or prisons around Britain, some CZ guys were sentenced for killing their UK employer few years ago and still I can not see any cases of "pogroma" or "Aussiedlung"(German expression for dramatic expultion of mostly Germans from CZ state after WWII).
So to be honest. There is loads of people in the world. So much that not all of them have a job even in their own country. It is hardly possible to expect that there is country in the world where everyone loves migrant workers who make 2% of national population within 4 years. Still if you come to the UK govermental offices without knowledge of english you will be provided with such help and support immigrants in CZ or PL can't even dream of.
People keep their prejudices and distance (British do it to each other as well, this country is pretty two-faced) however in 95% you will be treated quite fairly.
Czest! Lukas
By the way I'm writing my disertation on "Migration of Labour PL - UK" so if you guys (Polish only - sorry there is not many workers going to work to Poland...) had spare 5 minutes I would be grateful for your help!
Mam na imie Lukas Vanek i jestem studentem trzeciego roku BA European Bussiness na Uniwersytecie w Huddersfield. Obecnie jestem w trakcie pisania koncowej pracy zaliczeniowej i ta ankieta stanowi jej glowna czesc, ktora pomoze mi w zebraniu informacji na temat podejmowania decyzji o migracji i jej ekonomicznych uwarunkowaniach.
Ankieta ta jest anonimowa i wszystkie uzyskane na jej podstawie informacje beda poufne, uzyte jedynie na potrzeby mojej pracy badawczej.
Wypelnienie tego kwestionariusza nie powinno zajac wiecej niz 5-10 minut.
FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=lcwrwug4u1ynhnt426647
Dienky bardzo!