The European Dream Gone Bad!!
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
April 3, 2007 7:33am CST
When countries such as Poland and Romania joined the EU, they were given the freedom to travel and work in the UK without a visa.
What so many expected was an oppotunity to come here and earn money and make a better life for themselves.
Sadly though this dream is not a reality and many have been left homeless, sleeping in parks, unable to find any work.
If you are thinking that the streets of London are paved with gold, think again!!
Most immigrant workers are paid below the average wage and the cost of living in the UK is high.
Really think seriously before you come to find work. I am in no way against anyone trying to better themselves, but this government is not taking the responsibility to inform these countries that it will be difficult for them to find work here!
What have been your experiences of moving to another country?
Have you been able to live the dream?
4 people like this
6 responses
@aprilsong (1884)
• China
4 Apr 07
I have that dream:moving to a wealhty country,but i know i can't live the dream.I am from china,a developing country.I have seen many people migrate to western countries.Most of them is talented.And i also know they lives a harder life there.Some of them wash dishes to make a living.I think it is a big waste.
But we all have dreams.That is their dreams.some of them succeed while others contiune to wash dishes. I think there will be no really equal in those counties.Cuz there are so many invisible discriminations.
1 person likes this
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
4 Apr 07
I have been watching the troubles in China at the moment with the poor farmers having their land taken away from them. The world is so cruel to those who just want to live a decent life.
I
t all comes down to greed and so many people who want to make a better life for themselves abroad, when given the oppotunity, can find it so hard and not recieve the help that they should when they are openly invited to start a new live away from their home.
Thanks for your response!!+
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
4 Apr 07
I've seen some of that happening in Portugal too. The truth is that not all EU countries were prepared for a big influx.
Many can not take care of employment needs of the people already there, let alone the ones that are coming.
This creates the problems you stated and also sometimes - and unfortunately - a feeling of resentment towards the people coming, fearing that their own jobs will be at risk, which usually is not true because those coming often have to take the jobs that the nationals tend to avoid.
As for me, I didn't come to Canada looking for a dream, so my case might be a bit different.
I had a good job back home and my life was not geared towards emigrating - it was actually the furthest thing in my mind. I came because I got married and my husband was here with his family.
I knew my employment in here would be inferior than what I had there - at least at first -. So I wasn't coming after any special monetary dream.
Am I living the dream? Not really but I am living my choice, which is fair enough.
1 person likes this
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
4 Apr 07
Thanks for your views on things, it was very interesting to read.
1 person likes this
@Stiletto (4579)
•
3 Apr 07
Well said - I couldn't agree more. I feel so sorry for a lot of the Eastern Europeans that have come here because many are finding it a real struggle to get work that pays a decent wage and affordable, decent housing. This, coupled with the deeply unpleasant undercurrent of prejudice against immigrants at the moment (at least where I live) must result in a pretty miserable time for them. I would also urge people to be cautious before coming to the UK. It IS a great country to live in and we are very lucky in a lot of ways but it's not the land of plenty!
1 person likes this
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
4 Apr 07
I saw the news today and a man from Romania came here with the promise of work. However, the person he came with deserted him and he is now living in Hyde Park.
It is madness, what is happening and people are promised jobs but are left homeless.
I feel it is through ignorance and the media that makes alot of people prejudice against immigrants. Where I live there has been a big influx of Turkish families. The thing is there is no intergration and each community keeps itself seperate which is ashame as we do not socialise or mix together. If there were more intergration I am sure it would better the community and people would be able to understand each others cultures.
thanks for your response.
@Limey73 (161)
• Canada
3 Apr 07
We have similar problems in Canada. One of the main problems here is the fact that qualifications from other countries are not recognised here. For instance skilled people we need badly, eg doctors, surgeons etc - their diplomas, degrees whatever, do not automatically mean they can get employment in their chosen profession, so often they must take unskilled work to earn a living. All that skill goes to waste!
This happens on all levels, and has gone on for many years. My wife and I came to Toronto from UK in 1981, and even then my City and Guilds qualifications were not recognised, neither was my wife's teaching experience.........In fact we had trouble at first getting any kind of decent job - it was the old Catch 22, "you haven't had Canadian experience" - well how the hell do you get Canadian experience if nobody will give you a job!
Eventually we did OK, by working hard and smart, but it was damn difficult at first.......
People whose first lanuage is not English must have an even tougher time.
There are signs that the government is thinking of making changes, but so far THINKING is not DOING.
Good subject. +
1 person likes this
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
4 Apr 07
This is what is so annoying.
The government lets people in, but as you say they cannot do the jobs they are skiiled at because they do not recognise their qualifications.
I knew a family who came here as asylum seekers, with a child. The father was a factory supervisor and the mother a nurse. They were not allowed to work and had to live off state benefit, which they didn't want to do. After nearly 2 years they were deported, which seemed so unfair, when they were willing to work and make the UK their home.
I believe this government just wants cheap labour and has no intention of helping those who come with experience and skills to do well. It is a hard slog for most of them.
Thanks for your response. Its good to see you are doing well now!!
@aprilsong (1884)
• China
4 Apr 07
I have that dream:moving to a wealhty country,but i know i can't live the dream.I am from china,a developing country.I have seen many people migrate to western countries.Most of them are talented.And i also know they lives a harder life there.Some of them wash dishes to make a living.I think it is a big waste.
But we all have dreams.That is their dreams.some of them succeed while others contiune to wash dishes. I think there will be no really equal in those counties.Cuz there are so many invisible discriminations.
@tdcqfeitian (7)
• China
4 Apr 07
I haven't have experience of moving to another country.I am still a student in college.but i want to apply studying in another country in which pople speak english.Because in these country i can improve my english ,and learn more customs for other countries. London is one city that i want to go ,and i also known the expendence in there is very high ,so i think i can't afford the cost. I think my dream will not came true.
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
4 Apr 07
London is a very expensive place to live, however, I know alot of students at my Uni who have come over from the West Indies and Africa and they have furthered their career, but they are all working as well as stdying.
To come here you do need to have a trade that can keep you going while you study.
I hope your dream does come true one day. I wish you luck!!
