Why do the Brits alienate themselves?

halffull


Joined: 26/01/2009
Posts: 571

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 10:56

Just returned from a meal with our Turkish neighbours and friends, one of the friends asked why the British are so rude. She has 3 Brits for neighbours, and none of them speak, they have no Turkish and have been neighbours for 6 years. She finds it so rude and puzzling, and finds it refreshing to visit her friend and see how we integrate although our Turkish is still abysmal at least we try and communicate. No wonder the Brits appear so aloof and arrogant when they don't even bother to say hello or try to integrate.

LordJim


Joined: 12/10/2010
Posts: 221

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 10:59

possibly for the same reason 3rd and 4th generation Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in the uk speak no English they prefer their own culture and feel more comfortable being insular rather than embracing the culture of the country they live in.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 11:00

My British neighbours in the uk were the same never spoke. Thank god for turkish neighbours. Although my immediate neighbours are lovely from uk.

TopTen


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 1246

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 11:01

Why do you tar all the brits with the same brush ? most that I know have TC friends and spend time with them

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 11:08

I agree TopTen, but there is not much to moan about at the moment

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 11:09

What a shame halfful,l those Brits are surely missing out on friendly Turkish neighbouring.

On experience Turkish neighbours are so nice, will bring you fruit, veg and samples of there cooking, lovely people !!

magicart


Joined: 05/10/2008
Posts: 985

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 11:34

I also agree with topten/pipie.



We have great TC neighbours and they are really interested in our ways and culture-they are family orientated and are always giving us fruit/coffee and anything else they have.



Its great living in a TC village and being part of their community.

rocking


Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 421

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 15:12

Great to have TC neighbours - I go and sit at coffee shop and somehow we communicate. I often see little enclaves of English and they have no TC neighbours to share with - it is a shame really - I love being part of the TC community.

cypgab


Joined: 09/01/2010
Posts: 338

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 15:17

halfful

Perhaps it is she who has problems with Brits?



Lordjim

Not many 3rd and 4th generation people cannot speak some English

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 15:33

I live in the Cypriot community rather than English, although I do have some Engish neighbours as well. Surpisingly I see more of the Cypriots than English. They love it when I can actually put a sentence together in Turkish, and are always telling me off for not having learnt Turkish having lived here 4 years. I try, but it still goes in one ear and out the other, but at least I try.

halffull


Joined: 26/01/2009
Posts: 571

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 17:04

Message 10. Yes we chose to live in a mixed community, and we have a lot more interaction with our Turkish/Cypriot neighbours. The Brits. (Scots and English) tend to be very insular and "unfriendly".

We have the same problem with the language but they are very forgiving and helpful when we try.



Message 9. I don't think she has a problem with the Brits other than they ignore her! She is very friendly with us and her husband is a great guy (also Turkish).



Message 2 Those communities get lost in a population of 60 million, the Brits who are arrogant and insular get noticed in the TRNC.

I know that not all Brits are the same and lots of us have integrated and love being here and part of the community but the ones who don't stand out and get us all tarred with that brush.

booitsme


Joined: 04/02/2009
Posts: 667

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 17:15

We live on an estate that is mainly comprised of Brits and the majority have little or no contact with the TCs or Turkish neighbours. I'm glad to say we spend a lot of our time with the "locals" - after all that's why we moved here, to learn a new way of life and culture. We can understand more Turkish than we speak and keep our neighbours amused with our attempts at Turkish. Many neighbours comment on how many locals we having calling in for coffee and whatever treats I've just baked - maybe if they tried to integrate a bit more then they would see the same warm, hospitable side we do! Do as we do, if you don't know the word look it up and try to say it - it's the only way to learn for us.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 18:20

good job you went on a good cookery course, well done you . i see it all the time thank god from all our neighbours in the shops next to us, we all look out for each other and no matter what limited English they speak and how bad out Turkish is we gtr by aswe understand each other as humans xxxx

inigo


Joined: 23/10/2010
Posts: 50

Message Posted:
28/11/2010 18:37

One time we gave home made cook to our British neighbours,actually in the first week of we settled to our property.They were quite excited but mostly surprised that we share our home-made Turkish cuisine with them.We were very close to doubt whether we make smth wrong...After a few days,they return our plate with flowers.It was a very kind of them.We are quite amazed as it is the first time that we had return with flowers

I think all foreigners should know that sharing smth,giving food,inviting for coffee is a very common Turkish way of living together as neighbourhood.

Lastly,I do not think that The Brits alienate themselves because they are always smiling,friendly to strangersand I have not seen a weird behaviour from any Brits yet.

Just would like to share my first experience and toughts.