Why do you treat a foreign person differently?

Question

I've lived in the UK for 2 years. I'm at university which is the reason why I came here. I also have a part time job in hospitality and this thing really brings me down:

I have my nationality written on my name badge so people know I'm foreign straightaway - believe me a lot of them wouldn't if they didn't read it, I worked HARD for my fake English accent. So they see and assume that I can't speak, can't understand them or am just plain stupid. They surely have a point because there ARE people like that and why should they care? But if they don't even bother finding out more about me (if they do they are usually shocked by me not being an uneducated, unskilled immigrant) what gives them the right to look down on me?

This is maybe 3% of all customers but it's changed my view a lot; I used to love the British. I don't want to say the word discrimination and I don't want to be touchy like this but is it my fault?

Answer 1

I am sorry you feel this way. I do have a few words of comfort for you though. I genuinely do not believe that people believe you are stupid because you are an immigrant. I am British.Throughout university i worked as a waitress, i enjoyed it BUT there is an attitude (from SOME) towards waitresses/ hospitality employees of superiority. people would speak slowly to me, roll their eyes if i asked them to repeat something because the music had drowned out their mumblings. If they had a problem with something they would speak in the condescending way that parents might speak to a naughty child. For a while, When i had an oppourtunity, i would try and drop in that i was a student as a kind of justification. After a year i stopped doing it and just laughed at these people. Its not to do with racism its to do with bad attitudes and superiority complexes. Don't let it get to you, when you graduate you will be happier than them, probably earning more money than them (if that motivates you in anyway) and you will be more able to deal with people. Keep your chin up and please don't think its because you are an immigrant xxxxhope this helps

Answer 2

No, it's not your fault. However, according to my experience in the UK and Australia, I felt proud to be there as a visiting lecturer attending our one-month training program at the University of Wolverhampton and again, visiting the University of Queensland four times as part of my research project. Nearly all of them welcomed me because they'd known me who I was, why I visited the universities. As for the accent you mentioned, I don't think it's a problem but we need to practice speaking/talking like native speakers, it's a simple secret, I mean if you're from, say, Thailand and some foreigners can speak Thai like the Thai people or academics, we tend to be more friendly with them since "Language is power" and I may add, "Language brings you more friends", in brief, we need to be proficient in any language skills so that we will be in the same or similar culture.
My advice is that you just go on with your study and your work, be proud of your country and your English. Some may offend you, don't be touchy; many will certainly welcome your service as well as their friendship.

Good luck, take care, smile and go for it!

Answer 3

that is a problem all around the world! i live in Greece and am an I'mmigrant as well ! even though i speak 5 languages i am still treated as though im just a stupid poor immigrant with no where to go! i was born in south Africa but because I'm white I'm not considered African! so in fact i don't even have a country of my own!my daughter was born in Greece with a Greek father and she is also not treated like a Greek but as a foreigner and when she goes to south Africa she is also treated as a foreigner! now can you see we also don't even belong anywhere! don't feel alone and don't let anyone get you down! when anyone asks my daughter where she is from she just says EARTH!

Answer 4

Have you been to any other countries? most people use nationality as a conversation breaker as meeting somebody from a diff rent country opens a new subject which is generally very interesting.....as long as people treat you as an equal and according to your question 97% do go with the flow and ask them return questions.

You should not fake an English accent....be proud of who you are and if the 3% find that this is something they can exploit then it only proves their shallowness....best of luck

Answer 5

please concentrate on the 97% who treat you pleasantly. I'm british and work with a multinational public. I'd say about 3 % of people are rude or ill-mannered, whatever their nationality. I think you'd find that if you were british doing your job or if you were doing your job in your original country. People are people. Rise above it and be one of the 97%!

Answer 6

It is not your fault at all. Some people do that because they want to make sure you understand. I have a new friend from Kenya at my school and I really like her. But sometimes she can not understand what I am saying to her or vice versa. I have to repeat myself at times and talk slower.

Answer 7

Well why don't you migrate back to your homeland and invite the British to attn your countries university, and then your people could do the same like they don't. You are the foreign, YOU have to adapt not them

Answer 8

yeah coz there some people doing it but not all though. i believe u will find other people that respect wherever u come from and friendly, just ignore them when doing it and try to behave normaly dont be touchy and find other friendly friend. gud luck

Answer 9

You say its because you are foreign, maybe they would look down on you even if you were British, I reckon you have a chip on your shoulder

Answer 10

Low self-esteem may be the cause, try and pretend you are happy and people won't care if you are from Bangladeshy or Cameroon.