Assimilation

[nigel99 474]

I’m curious to know people’s thoughts on how far migrants should go to assimilate into the culture of their new country. 

I enjoy cultural diversity, the new foods and perspectives that migrants bring. We have quite a few migrants here and there are frequent celebrations for major events (for example Chinese New Year), and these tend to be quite inclusive with everyone joining in.

For the most part migrants speak english in professional settings and at work. With one stark exception, South Africans. My sons went to a high school that had a majority of South Africans, my boys were born in the UK and don’t speak Afrikaans. Despite this, they had teachers that would revert to Afrikaans during lessons. 

I guess I’m a little grumpy about it right now, as I just had a shop keeper try and engage me in Afrikaans (which I don’t speak). I think if you’re working it’s rude to not use the official language(s) and in many ways disrespectful. 

[grimmie 186]

I’m an immigrant. 
Moved to Costa Rica almost 8 years ago with my wife and daughter.

Learned the local customs (let the older folks get in line first at the bank, how to drive like a tico, etc)

Still working on my horrible Spanish. But it sure goes a looooong way when you try in stores and around town.

I get involved in local political discussions. Things our little town is doing good bad and the ugly. But stay out of the national discussions usually.

 

It has been an awesome adventure. And bringing skydiving here on a large scale for boogies has been amazing. The local business people I get to work with has been fun and they love skydivers. Go figure!

We have a lot of ex pats. Some are complete douche bags. All they do is complain that nothing here is like me. Refuse to speak any Spanish. Try to pay poverty wages to their construction, garden and pool workers. Live here illegally. Work illegally. And complain some more.

”Why doesn’t anyone at the bank speak English!!!”

 

[tkhayes 348]

8 hours ago, nigel99 said:

I’m curious to know people’s thoughts on how far migrants should go to assimilate into the culture of their new country. 

I enjoy cultural diversity, the new foods and perspectives that migrants bring. We have quite a few migrants here and there are frequent celebrations for major events (for example Chinese New Year), and these tend to be quite inclusive with everyone joining in.

For the most part migrants speak english in professional settings and at work. With one stark exception, South Africans. My sons went to a high school that had a majority of South Africans, my boys were born in the UK and don’t speak Afrikaans. Despite this, they had teachers that would revert to Afrikaans during lessons. 

I guess I’m a little grumpy about it right now, as I just had a shop keeper try and engage me in Afrikaans (which I don’t speak). I think if you’re working it’s rude to not use the official language(s) and in many ways disrespectful. 

pretty gray area indeed.  I always joke (being from Canada) when talking about immigration there.  People who are generally anti-immigrant here in the USA will say things like "Well you have immigrant problems in Canada too!" and I usually say, "yeah we do, but we like it when they open restaurants.... we want to try the food"  That is the upside.

I generally have no issues with the language issues, they can speak what they want.  even in the USA, it's called the first amendment.  Same for food, clothing, whatever.  none of my business and they are welcome.

The downside... the Air India bombings in the 80's.... the Sikh's brought their politics and their terrorist cells into my home country and set up shop in Canada... fuck that and I still hold somewhat of a grudge against them for doing that.  And the Sikh community could have done more to expose that to the Canadian authorities, but then again, now I am blaming the 'culture and immigrants' for the actions of a few.

There are always extreme examples.  We conquered the west and committed a genocide that continued into the 90's (Catholic schools for native kids), when we were actually the immigrants.

The high road is always best.  follow the laws of the country, leave people alone if it does not affect you and no, culture wars are not an issue that affects you.... if you are afraid of the country turning brown and Muslim, then you better get fucking and start pumping out white Christian kids then...

Edited August 24, 2024 by tkhayes

[riggerrob 643]

Well said T.K.

Immigrants would be wise to learn the local language.

If I had to learn 4 languages during my travels, every other immigrant should learn the basics of the local language. I had to learn to read and write English in my home town. I learned French while serving at CFB Valcartier. I learned to speak German while serving at CFB Baden in West Germany. I learned to speak some Spanish while working at Rigging Innovations in California. Now I great my co-workers in a dozen different languages.

All those moves make me sort of an immigrant. After the 1970 FLQ Crisis, and Quebec politics taking a turn towards the stupid .... I became a political refugee. And Alfred Pinisch was a friend-of-the-family who died in the bungled FLQ robbery of International Firearms.

And I agree with T.K. that immigrants should swear off the political violence that forced them to leave their homelands. My Sikh co-workers explained to me that the Sikh leader who was shot in front of this own temple was on an Indian gov't hit list. He may not have been the most important man on the hit-list, but he was an easy target and was shot "to encourage the others." One of the sadder things about that whole political killing was that Indian gov't agents "cheaped out" when they hired the lowest ranked hit-men, who were mere "foot soldiers" for a criminal gang. They murderers were not even professional enough to leave the country. A year later they were arrested in Toronto!

What a bungling bunch of amateurs!

[riggerrob 643]

At the other end of the scale, you have all the Afrikaner doctors who moved to Canada.

After WCB dropped the ball, my Afrikaner family doctor turned stubborn and Dr. Botha kept referring me to orthopedic surgeons until we found a surgeon who new how to treat torn posterior cruxiate ligaments.

Are all Afrikaners as stubborn as Dr. Botha?

I have a lot of respect for the Afrikaner doctors, real estate agents, bus drivers, skydivers, etc. that I have met over the years because they work hard and hold themselves to high standards.