when she talks about her old neighborhood, which was an ethnic neighborhood filled with other poles...she will sometimes say, oh, such and such family were "strict".
"strict" meant that they did not mix with non-poles, would not allow their children to get involved with non-poles, and would only marry with other poles
Speed dating was supposedly started by the Jewish Rabbis in New York as too many Jews were marrying outside of the faith, saying it was too difficult to meet someone sharing the faith. So it appears there are many instances of people wanting to remain within their own cultures... Fortunately my family is doing its bit for United Nations :)