Invisible influx - Brits not easy to mix with Poles?

I met with a Polish family at a store checkout today, and only because of the language did I perceive their nationality. Making a point of speaking resulted in a short chat that revealed they lived locally and came from Chorun.I was surprised to be told by them that many Poles are now resident in our (quite small) town. This isn't noticeable apart from the Polish food options in the supermarkets.

The influx is pretty much invisible.

We parted with smiles and handshakes, where I gave my first name and was left wondering, when they didn't offer their names, whether Poles generally prefer not to mix easily. I had previously met (last year) only a half dozen Poles locally, with only the one (a woman) being chatty.

Could it be that us Brits are not easy to mix with? I don't know, so please open up the can on this...

Of course we're easy. I've mixed with many. I went to England v Andorra and England v Macedonia in the Euro 2008 Qualifiers with 3 Polish guys. I've been drinking with Polish people in their flats and in Nottingham... God I hate that Polish vodka.... BLERRRGH! I could have gone out with a Polish girl but she had funny eyes. One pointed left and the other pointed right...

But yeh providing that the Pole or Brit isn't over arrogant then mixing is simple.

It depends on the mentality of the individual. Some people can't see past Britain and won't mix, others welcome new cultures and will make new friends easily.


I think this comes from not being naturally "forward". I don't offer my name unless asked or someone else will mention it. You would have had an answer if you had asked their names.

The poles in britain are ONLY here for money, they dont care about culture or learning from other nationalities

As usually, you're full of shite, putting it in the Glaswegian way.

then they should fit right in amongst the British people </sarcasm>

I apologise if what I am about to say sounds narrow minded, but I tend to find that because (quite naturally) foreigners speak in their own languages to each other when out and about, it puts up a barrier.

It's almost as though they don't want people to know what they're saying and there seems very little effort to speak in English. I find this also quite hard to understand when they have young children in tow as it gives the impression, possibly wrongly, that they're not intending to teach their children English either.

I may get shot down in flames when I say this, but it might help for foreigners to make the effort to speak English when they're shopping etc. It shows that they're happy to live here and want to make this their home, rather than create an enclave of their homeland.

This isn't just my view either, but many people I know notice this.

How do you know these "foreigners" weren't born here? I was, and I speak both English and Polish everywhere, and I don't even have a foreign accent (or bad dress sense, haha) either. When I'm abroad, I speak Italian, Polish, Czech and French, though, lol.

I think that putting too much pressure too soon for any minority to integrate might actually backfire. Take a step back a relax. Polish are not English and immigration process brings aditional stress and take sup a lot of energy in order to adjust to new demands. Immigration could be a big culture shock and it takes TIME.

The accent gives it away.

I can tell the difference between a British born asian speaking Punjabi to her Mother and someone whose Punjabi is their mother tongue.

When it comes to living in another country......

"When in Rome....."

...do like the English Costa expats do? ;)

that is an ideal world you are talking about;)

Yes it takes TIME but people have to make the EFFORT.

And at least us Poles DO make the effort eventually... unlike some people I could mention.

Yes exactly !

That's totally daft !

To go to all the aggro and expense of moving so Spain just so that they can drink tea, eat bacon and eggs and talk like Peggy Mitchell.

Crazy !

They should be able to more than get by in Spanish if they have moved lock stock and barrel to Spain.

why would you say tha they don't? I have experiance living in another country, that is why I said what I said. Have you ever lived in another country yourself?

lol

they only move there because there's "less facking foreigners rahnd 'ere innit" :D

I haven't lived in another country, but I am living in a country which is experiencing a tidal wave of immigration (I know you don't like people saying that, yawn, yawn, change the record etc.) but for local people to start naming the local Asda "The UN" because you never hear anyone speak English anymore, I think it is a concern.

It creates division and an underclass of people who can't access some pretty basic stuff on account of their lack of English. Is this what you want ?

I agree with You in 100%. My English is really bad,but I'm not worried about my son's English. I don't teach my son,becouse I'm sure I would teach rubbish,but when he will go to school his english will be very good.I hope.Kids catch everything very quickly.

Who doesn't ?


Some just go for the weather, but they may as well put up with the wind and rain if they don't want to learn the local lingo.

That makes sound sense to me Miranda, as whenever I'm out walking in Kraków, Wadowice etc., people speak quite easily.

You need to learn with your son, Isska.

You don't want to end up asking him to be your translator in years to come. Through my work, I speak to a great number of people where English is not their first language and it's humiliating for them to have to ask for their nine year old kid to translate for them.

It's great that your son will be able to speak two languages at such a young age, but you need to keep up too !

Get a book on learning the basics that comes with a CD or tape from the library, watch lots of news programmes and listen to something like Radio 4. Don't worry about keeping up with what they say, just pick up what you can. Or just get a load of childrens story books and read them with your son.

I hope I don't sound patronising, I just think you should both learn together :-)

Don’t apologize, speaking ones’ mind is a good thing otherwise people won’t know what you are thinking.


This might be true in some instances but there are other reasons for this. For instance it’s always easier to communicate in native tongue; the person you have conversation with might not speak English etc. I find this very amusing that the natives always think they are the subject of the conversation, it’s called "paranoia" get over it, you’re not a center of attention - trust me. Besides when you go on vacation to a foreign country do you have conversation with your mates in the native language when you go shopping? And are you talking about them?


Key word here is wrong impression. Children do go to school and pick up language very quickly. Parents on the other hand might not speak English or are in the process of learning. So you suppose to be mute in the meantime? Why is it a big deal? Or a sign of not wanting to integrate? Rome was not built in one day, give it time.

If you really want to learn more about your neighbors or maybe have a conversation with them if they are foreign, my advice to you would be to start the conversation first. People who are learning language do not feel comfortable enough to strike a casual conversation and this way you will force them to make an effort. If you get ignored do not feel offended they might not speak English.

So it may seem. As it was said in the previous post some are there to make money nothing else. I’m afraid that those will never learn English (what the hell for, they will go back in few years anyway). The rest I mean the ones who want to stay in England will learn the English language by then. I’ sure you took some foreign language classes in school. How many years have you studied that language? Do you feel comfortable enough to have a conversation in that language? It takes time.


I’m sure they do take it seriously. With such a large group of people moving in at once people tend to stick together in the beginning but eventually they will have enough confidence in their language abilities to integrate into the society as a whole. I have seen it before in the States. All it takes is Time.

I appreciate that it will take time, however, the issue with that is that we (the British) didn't ask for this situation and have been left with little choice but to put up with it.

Many don't want it to take time to get better, they want it to stop and for it to go back to how it was before.

I don't have any particular axe to grind with anyone, but it seems to me that it is the British who have had to sacrifice the most for the least gain.

Pressure your politicians to do something about it.


If you feel that way, that’s even more of a reason to pressure your politicians to do something about it.

Fair point and I do keep meaning too.

The MP for the area I live in has a tiny majority, but she is Labour (the Governing party) so I doubt she will listen.

Anyway it's just turned midnight for me so I'm off to bed. It's been nice chatting with you, Piorun.

Hope to again soon.

Mister H ,it's OK.Don't worry,You are right. ;-)

Good luck with improving your English. Let me know how you get on :-)