How's life for foreigners in the UK?

Question

I mean, those who have professions: engineers, musicians, language teachers, etc...

I am not from the UK, and don't live there.

Answer 1

Hiya, are you thinking of coming over?
Let's see. England claims to be secular and open to other cultures - utter BS. Depends where you decide to live. Up in the north, people tend to be more tolerant and accepting, due to the large amoung of foreigners already settled there.
Unfortunately however, many British people, including Asian British, will be cautious towards a foreigner, particularly when it comes to employing them. A nation that excels on pinpointing accents and associating them to origin and class, often without realising, pull their faces and withdraw if you have as much as a hint of an accent. Even though your English is just as good (or better) than theirs.

The thing I find worse is the patronising. What gets me is well meaning smiles accompanying comments like "oh your english is very good!" or "I realise English is not your first language" or when they smile wide and speak slow at you, would rather ask your English friends what you want rather than ask you...

Let's see. Facts-wise, their taxes are low, compared to the rest of the EU. The National Healthcare system (NHS) sucks, particularly the dentists, favourite passtime is drinking, you can however find most any sort of passtime you choose and with the right company - because there are some really top people in the UK - it can be fabulous to live here.

By the way, you better like cloudy skies. I do :)

Answer 2

I think it's down to where you live and what you do...
There is a lot of stereotypes in working-class society, I think the problem is that a lot of British working class people have very poor payed jobs and when they see foreigners come over to live here and DON'T work (i.e. claim benefits) they become very annoyed. Unfortunately for every foreign national that comes to the UK with every intention to work, there is another that has sussed out that we have a benefit system here that is open to abuse...
How this will relate to you is that unfortunately the only problem will be if you look or sound foreign you will probably be stereotyped by these people...

Apart from these groups however the UK is pretty diverse and accepting compared to a lot of other EU countries.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

For me, until now, it's been great thank God, well I'm a student and my family works for international organisation who needs foreigners, and maybe the fact that I look English helps too.
But so far I haven't seen much discrimination against foreigners,(South Americans at least) there's been some, but not much, a lot less that what I've seen in other countries. So far English people have been very kind and respectful to us :) ( I'm South American)

Answer 4

If you're here to be a professional, do what you gotta do and live a simple, happy life - you're always well-treated. It's when people are out with pathetic agendas that they end up in well-deserved places.

There is a large appreciation for diversity here, which I, as someone from an ethnic minority, greatly respect. If only all those others who misuse all the advantages they have of being here could do the same!

Answer 5

Spain, where they are the bane of the Spanish and the South of France, where they are the bane of the French; Lowri Turner was Chairing the Wright Stuff on Five this morning and mentioned this very aspect of her last visit to the South of France two years ago. Jam packed full of little Englanders walking around incandescent at the insolence of the French not speaking English in France. Priceless!

Answer 6

It's good,if you fit in with people in general that is,alot of people where i am like to see my point of view on things as i have a very different upbringing to them,that's obviously due to the fact that i'm foreign.

Answer 7

I agree with Bedmechanic, foreigners get better treatment than the British.

Answer 8

The cost of living is very high and the payment is very low

Answer 9

Not all that different than in Italy... ;)
Is the same question posted in all different countries versions?

Answer 10

they seem to be ok... but if they dont like it here and want to cause trouble, as today shows.. then they should go home.. as simple as that we wont tolerate much more of this..wait and see...