for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Feb 23rd 2011, 12:33 am
#151
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
A black friend once spent some time in a village in Yorkshire. Prior to her visit, the majority had never met a black person before and didn't even know they existed. They had seen them on east enders but thought they were made up.
Every place she went people would touch her hair for luck and compare it to sheeps wool. Also when you told them you were from London, they would ask if you knew their friend who moved up there a few years previously.
Everyone in that village had pretty much been there all their life. They were ignorant and narrow minded. Where they lived was beautiful but if I had a choice between that village and London, i would pick London everytime. They could not imagine living anywhere else.
Every place she went people would touch her hair for luck and compare it to sheeps wool. Also when you told them you were from London, they would ask if you knew their friend who moved up there a few years previously.
Everyone in that village had pretty much been there all their life. They were ignorant and narrow minded. Where they lived was beautiful but if I had a choice between that village and London, i would pick London everytime. They could not imagine living anywhere else.
I wish it were.
I know many black people who were brought up in Yorkshire and their experience was not like I described. I am not trying to generalise and say all people from yorkshire are ignorant and narrow minded.
I don't remember the name of the village though I do know it was relatively close to a place called Whitby and Scarborough in North yorkshire. I could ask my friend if she remembers and you can go and check it out yourself. Though it was about 20 years ago, I doubt much has changed.
I know many black people who were brought up in Yorkshire and their experience was not like I described. I am not trying to generalise and say all people from yorkshire are ignorant and narrow minded.
I don't remember the name of the village though I do know it was relatively close to a place called Whitby and Scarborough in North yorkshire. I could ask my friend if she remembers and you can go and check it out yourself. Though it was about 20 years ago, I doubt much has changed.
Feb 23rd 2011, 1:41 am
#153
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
It's quite amazing, isn't it, how different people percieve the same things.
We visited London this summer, first time back since we lived there over 10 years ago. My first impressions were those of cleanliness, vibrancy, prosperity, but most of all, energy, energy, energy! This sights, the sounds, the noises, the smells, the colours, the people... it all made you feel like you were alive and part of a city that was full of life and raring to get on with life. The diversity of being able to go from somewhere vibrant and lively like Brixton to somewhere classical and serious - so completely different - like Westminster within a mile or two is so refreshing.
The English countryside remains, as AX said upthread, beautiful and idyllic.
In contrast, on our return to Calgary, we were struck by the sterility and homogeneity and insularity of life here.
Even though I'm still going to be working here, I genuinely can't wait to get back to the UK to live.
We visited London this summer, first time back since we lived there over 10 years ago. My first impressions were those of cleanliness, vibrancy, prosperity, but most of all, energy, energy, energy! This sights, the sounds, the noises, the smells, the colours, the people... it all made you feel like you were alive and part of a city that was full of life and raring to get on with life. The diversity of being able to go from somewhere vibrant and lively like Brixton to somewhere classical and serious - so completely different - like Westminster within a mile or two is so refreshing.
The English countryside remains, as AX said upthread, beautiful and idyllic.
In contrast, on our return to Calgary, we were struck by the sterility and homogeneity and insularity of life here.
Even though I'm still going to be working here, I genuinely can't wait to get back to the UK to live.
Feb 23rd 2011, 1:50 am
#154
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
This is possibly the stupidest thing I've read on BE in a very long time. So these Yorkshire people 20 years ago who thought black people on Eastenders were made up: if they had access to the BBC then might they have seen other stuff like, oh, I don't know, the 1992 Olympics? the 1990 world cup? Did they also think people like John Barnes and Linford Christie were "made up"? Perhaps literally? Did they think that half the athletes and sports stars on telly were white people in blackface?
Feb 23rd 2011, 1:59 am
#155
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
depends how long ago the poster is talking about. My mum told me about the first time she saw a black person, he was the bin man and me mam did n't know what to think having never seen one before and eventully plucked up the courage to ask him...he was from London! of course this was back in the 1940s
That was in the 1950's for chrissake. Ze world hass mouved onn.
Feb 23rd 2011, 2:00 am
#156
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
A this time I would like to ask some of the prairie police force (if there are any on this board) to comment on the 'indegenous' native reserves and their levels of crime relating to drink and anti social behaviour.
It's EVERYWHERE - why don't people realise this???????
Resereves are no different to council estates - there are some good decent people on both and a lot that bring a bad reputation. It's just that Canada os so bloody massive that the issues are more spread out.
You plump the population of Canada on an Island the size of Britain and you will have EXACTLY the same 'problems' - no thats the wrong word - diverse mix of haves / have nots / goods / bads / immigrants / cradles etc.
Relocating to Nova Scotia I would think is like relocating to Lands End- but cheaper. And further way. And with more severe weather.
Can someone put what i'm trying to say in a more eloquent way please?????
It's EVERYWHERE - why don't people realise this???????
Resereves are no different to council estates - there are some good decent people on both and a lot that bring a bad reputation. It's just that Canada os so bloody massive that the issues are more spread out.
You plump the population of Canada on an Island the size of Britain and you will have EXACTLY the same 'problems' - no thats the wrong word - diverse mix of haves / have nots / goods / bads / immigrants / cradles etc.
Relocating to Nova Scotia I would think is like relocating to Lands End- but cheaper. And further way. And with more severe weather.
Can someone put what i'm trying to say in a more eloquent way please?????
As a copper i have experienced way, way, way less issues surrounding alcohol and kids tend to be much more respectful. Vancouver is as large an area as most brit cities and again, way less issues around booze.
Feb 23rd 2011, 2:46 am
#157
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
depends how long ago the poster is talking about. My mum told me about the first time she saw a black person, he was the bin man and me mam did n't know what to think having never seen one before and eventully plucked up the courage to ask him...he was from London! of course this was back in the 1940s
Feb 23rd 2011, 2:51 am
#158
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Feb 23rd 2011, 3:00 am
#159
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
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Feb 23rd 2011, 7:28 am
#161
Éireann go Brách
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: White Man in Hammersmith Palais
Posts: 2,932
Feb 23rd 2011, 8:21 am
#163
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,986
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
The Native people of Canada ( NOT ALL) have drinking problems , however, I guess this is down the fact that with them being native to Canada the gov here have given them the tax free right .so buying booze to them is so cheap thats why theres such a problem with drunkeness in the native areas.
Last edited by lmartin999; Feb 23rd 2011 at 8:34 am.
Feb 23rd 2011, 8:30 am
#164
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,986
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
You will find I labeled your comments as racist and sexist, which I believe they were. Whether that makes you a racist I don't know and don't really care. I am starting to think that admission to Canada, with its commitment to tolerance and diversity, should require some kind of requirement for immigrants to display the same. It seems a peculiarly nasty trait among some Brits to feel threatened by people who don't speak English as a first language. To describe people as 'foreigners' on the basis of the language they are speaking is racist or at the least xenophobic. I would suggest that there are many English who don't speak English at all - though perhaps you wouldn't consider them 'real' English? I find the diversity of culture, language and thus of what being Canadian is to be one of the great strengths of Toronto. I love travelling on the bus with people (not caring whether they are Canadian) and hearing many different languages. Diversity is a wonderful thing, not something to be scared by and objected to.
Last edited by lmartin999; Feb 23rd 2011 at 8:33 am.
Feb 23rd 2011, 8:36 am
#165
So near yet so far.......
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 403
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
deleted that last post Im not getting drawn into this just quittin the site!
This site is usually a fantastic source of support and information (banter included) and I think it is a shame that someone has apparently been hounded off it!!
Don't go billyb! I got the jist of the points you were trying to make in your original post and most threads do not end up like this!
Last edited by Rubie; Feb 23rd 2011 at 8:37 am. Reason: typos