Are a lot of British people unfriendly to those who speak Spanish?
Posted by AstronautaAnomy@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 82 comments
Hello everyone! I am from Uruguay and I always wanted to travel to the UK to see Stonehenge. My Cousin went to London recently, and I had a lot of excitement for her and asked of the trip. Unfortunately though, she told me that a woman got mad at her for speaking Spanish on the phone in public and said she was angry of immigration into the UK. This makes not want to come there for vacation since I’d feel uncomfortable in a place that doesn’t want me. Is it just a rare occurrence that my cousin encountered that I am unlikely to encounter?
antlered-god@reddit
No. Why the heck would we be?????
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Thank you 🥰
antlered-god@reddit
No problem. Don't be put off coming and definitely go to see Stonehenge. It's amazing. It's also worth visiting Avebury stone circle. It's so big there's an entire village inside it. It's only a 40 minute drive from Stonehenge
iamdadmin@reddit
Practice this sentence in case you get something similar. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist Karen, I’m here on holiday and after meeting you don’t worry: I’m definitely going home at the end of it”.
A local would tell her to “f-word off ya nosey c-word” if that helps.
TL;DR there are a-holes in every country, it’s not a guarantee you will meet one thankfully.
ELiTERENNO@reddit
It's a certainty you're going to come across people like that at some point in life.
DesiRose3621@reddit
Did she have loudspeaker on and the phone horizontal against her ear?
We don’t give a fuck what language someone speaks but we hate that shit.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I do not know. She was sending voice message so it wasn’t speaker
sossighead@reddit
It’s incredibly rare for this type of thing to happen in the UK, but it’s also very unusual for people to use voice messaging as well still. I know this is more common in Continental Europe and I guess must be in parts of South America too?
Are we sure said person wasn’t just saying something about her doing that?
London is one of the most multi-cultural, multi-lingual cities on the planet. Most people there wouldn’t bat an eyelid at any foreign language being spoken.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I am sure. Very very rude place.
sossighead@reddit
Oh Londoners can for sure seem rude and cold but not usually in this way. They’re fare more likely to ignore you 🤣
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
That is a real abnormality. Most Londoners don't care and would assume a tourist before immigrant. I work with people in London from around 40 countries.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Yes, isn’t it a big tourist location?
Ok-Answer-7138@reddit
Yes and we don't mind immigration if it's in small amounts, we don't have have much south American migrants I've seen a handful of Ecuadorians in the past year, very few Uruguay. I'm sure you'll be welcome either as a tourist or migrant
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I have no desire to immigrate to UK
lewisluther666@reddit
The whole island is. And from experience, the comment of tourist before immigrant translates to the whole country. Generally people are more hateful towards other parts of the country than other parts of the world.
If anything, most people will be interested that you're from Uruguay. We don't get many people from your part of the world
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Huge in the centre. Work in the centre and tripping over tourists - literally as have tendency to stop dead in path.
Just been thrpugh contentious local election but think she encountered someone not quite with it.
AssumptionCandid6413@reddit
Absolutely not at all
MD564@reddit
Mucha gente aquí dirá: "Oh, eso nunca pasa, es solo mala suerte", pero lo cierto es que la extrema derecha está ganando popularidad y está haciendo que los nacionalistas al estilo de Franco se muestren más audaces. Yo mismo lo he experimentado dos veces, a pesar de ser británico. En general, no tendrás problemas, pero no te dejes engañar por quienes te dicen que esto nunca ocurre; simplemente no lo saben porque nunca lo han vivido.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Exacto, dicen que nunca sucede porque nunca les ha pesado.
Neddlings55@reddit
This didnt happen.
London is full of tourists and foreign languages. No one cares.
fourlegsfaster@reddit
There has never been a rude or racially aggravated comment made in London? No one cares about non-Brits being in the city? Have a look at the voting in the latest local elections.
neilm1000@reddit
It happened to me once, albeit in Milton Keynes. I was speaking Spanish on my phone at a bus stop and an old woman had a pop at me.
ELiTERENNO@reddit
Some people are so strange. Imagine getting angry because someone's speaking another language. For all they know the person you were speaking to may not even speak English. Weirdos.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I’m sorry that happened to you too ☹️
neilm1000@reddit
Thank you. It was very annoying. She shut up when she realised I was British.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
Well it obviously did happen to OP's cousin. You dk rare as it is, especially for any speakers of EU languages, the woman who was shouting could have been some mentally ill person who shouts at anybody for anything. There's a good few nutjobs in all countries that go round shouting at random people. It's a bit unfair to say it didn't happen.
Mickleborough@reddit
Was your cousin speaking loudly, continuously, on loudspeaker, in a confined space? That’s antisocial behaviour.
If you behaved like a normal, ordinarily respectful person, you should be fine.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
On street
Mickleborough@reddit
Street isn’t as bad, but there still may be reasons to irritate people - blocking the way, quiet street. That said, the woman shouldn’t have told your cousin off. Also we don’t know if that woman was British.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
She said she sounded British
Mickleborough@reddit
No disrespect, but that’s not conclusive. It’s a personal call as to whether you visit.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Why do you guys keep trying to deny this happened? ☹️
Mickleborough@reddit
No one’s denying anything. Too many variables to determine who was at fault. If you do feel uncomfortabl - as you seem to - then protect your mental health.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Yes, I will most likely travel to The United States instead since flights there are cheaper or stay in Uruguay
dixii_rekt@reddit
Good luck with ICE.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Very very rude comment, i will never come to UK anymore. Say goodbye to my tourism money.
FuckedupUnicorn@reddit
Oh no the economy is done for
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Uruguay will overtake your economy on a gdp per capital basis by 2050.
dixii_rekt@reddit
Eh? Id never travel to America because of ICE. How is that rude?
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
How dare you accuse my cousin of poor manners
Empty_Estus@reddit
The country has been completely poisoned by the far right at the moment. About 20% of the country are basically fascists at this point, generally people of incredibly low intelligence, low social standing, and from deprived areas.
Oswald Mosley is back in new colours and his name is Führage.
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Mammoth_logfarm@reddit
No way in London of all places did some random woman get mad at someone speaking Spanish into a phone. Sorry but it just didn't happen. London is one of the most multicultural cities on the planet.
gimmematcha@reddit
What is the point of saying this? Can we stop this ‘didn’t happen’ crap? I haven’t seen a zebra yet I know they exist 🙄
In a city of millions of people in a country with a rising right wing party and tons of tourists this has non zero chance of happening. It prevents people from speaking up about it.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
These people do not wish to allow me to speak about my cousins poor experience in their country. “Oh, we have no racism here, impossibility.” “Oh, people got mad at your cousin? Your cousin must have no manners and spoke very loudly in a library.” I have been greeted solely by distrust and accusations of poor manners.
Very very sour taste in my mouth from this Reddit. I will never come to UK. Uruguay is better place for me.
gimmematcha@reddit
I’m so sorry. I think the UK is still worth visiting. There is another thread in this subreddit right now that’s also been posted around the same time talking about how rude UK subreddits have gotten. I have posted there. For what it’s worth the rudeness and misery and how most people think decency and being kind are lame and uncool is why I’m looking to move away.
Anything that’s not unicorns or rainbows over the top positive here gets downvoted. So it’s not just mean but also childish and it makes me ashamed.
People in real life tend to not speak this way. We do however take public space manners seriously and speaking in public on the phone is unfortunately not ideal 😅 it’s just different culture. But even a slight cultural misstep doesn’t justify what your cousin has experienced, she just came across a rare racist nutter.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
It happened
Mammoth_logfarm@reddit
Well in a city of over 8 million people she managed to bump into the one person that cared then, which is astronomical odds. And I guarantee no one cares if someone is speaking Spanish. Because I've been to London many, many times and hearing different languages is something that occurs pretty much constantly in London from the moment you step off the plane or train in the city. Literally no one bats an eyelid.
caravanserai67@reddit
Sounds like your cousin bumped into a moron. They exist everywhere unfortunately.
London is a huge melting pot of a city and many languages are spoken there all the time so the woman who got mad at your cousin must be a permanent state of fury. Please don’t let it colour your experience too much.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I won’t let it color my experience. 🥰
ELiTERENNO@reddit
London is like a different country to the rest of England, I'd be more surprised to hear someone speaking English if anything. 😅
Lost-Actuary-2395@reddit
That woman very likely didn't have issue with your friend speaking loud Spanish on the phone in public... she had problems with your friend for speaking loud on the phone in public.
That said, us brits are probably not as passionately sociable compare to latinas, but there are times and places for that, timing is everything.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I will go to Italy instead
Box_of_rodents@reddit
Seriously don’t worry about it. Just come over here and enjoy.
Easy-Plant-8783@reddit
I don't believe this happened. You are saying a lot of British people, but you have given an example of 1 person. Where was your 'cousin' talking? Was it on public transport, was it in a cafe, was it in a library and how loud was she talking?
notthatbluestuff@reddit
They ASKED if a lot of people are like that.
Easy-Plant-8783@reddit
Still don't believe it happened
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Do you think your country is completely immune to racism? It’s non existent there? 😂
Aarityli@reddit
where did they say that ? it seems like you've already made up your mind before even asking the question
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
You are very rude people. I will stay in Uruguay.
Aarityli@reddit
bruh ...
firstly I don't think your cousin's experience is representative of the uk, I think as long as she wasn't shouting on the phone, no one cares about what language people are speaking. we welcome tourists and high skilled immigration
we do have a lot of tension to do with (mass) immigration, because we have had very very high rates in the last decade or so - that has caused alot of social tension. but I would argue that a lot of people who are anti immigration aren't racist, and would just assume someone speaking Spanish is a tourist. besides, Spanish isn't even spoken by most immigrants groups here.
my point was pointing out that you seem to have already concluded what you think about british people before asking this question, that isn't being rude.
Aarityli@reddit
Uruguay is a beautiful country, I have actually been there. but if I had a bad experience, I would never assume it was reflective of ALL of the people
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
What
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
On sidewalk
Fellattio_Nelson@reddit
Stonehenge isnt worth seeing if it was in your back garden, nevermind a trip from Uruguay.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Really? Why not?
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
Ignore them, it's beautiful! Especially sunrise and sunset they are exceptionally beautiful at Stonehenge, as the monument is specifically aligned with both the summer solstice sunrise and the winter solstice sunset. The summer solstice sunrise is world-famous, and the sunsets then are stunning, this fiery light frames the stones through the central Trilithon. Well worth a visit on a sunny day x
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Avebury is better if you actually want to get close and touch. Bigger and older stone circle.
Stonehenge has been curated too much. That said it is epic in early morning light when driving past. If do go, try and see Old Sarum as well.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I will google those places. Thank you for the tips. 🥰
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
I ask for advice about racism and xenophobia against those who speak Spanish but yet I am greeted by many replies of pure denial. “Liar, racism is no possible here.” How could someone claim to no one in their country is racist? I know Uruguay has racism too, every country does. I don’t deny it due to my maturity and open mind. A perfect Utopia? No, you are liars. This has left extra sour taste in mouth, thank you for helping me make my decision. I will stay in Uruguay or bring my money to another country.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
I'm so sorry that happened to your cousin, that's really really unusual thou! Maybe that woman was mentally ill or something as there's a massive amounts of ESL speakers across London and the UK. Please don't let it ruin any trip/vacation you're planning. I promise you it's a rare occurrence. I hope you have a wonderful time visiting 🫶🏻💖
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Thank you 🥰
Jackheartspurple@reddit
Well there are some British people who go on holiday to resorts in Spain where next to no Spanish is spoken at all. They have an entitlement that everyone speaks English, even when it's actually in Spain. Thankfully this is not most people in the UK.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
That is shocking 😮
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Why is my post downvoting
Bitter-insides@reddit
I’m Mexican. We spent a month and didn’t have any issues. Was more worried about my American husband getting crap but we had a blast!
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
That’s fantastic! 🥰
4nn4s3@reddit
I’m sorry that your cousin experienced this. As a whole people in the UK myself included love it when foreigners come for tourism or skilled work opportunities as it brings diversity and helps our economy. However there is a big problem at the moment with illegal immigrants who are largely disliked by a lot of people, the problem is some low IQ individuals can’t tell the difference between a tourist and an illegal immigrant and just tar all foreigners with the same brush. I would say you are 99% safe and won’t encounter any problems if you choose to visit which I hope you do.
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
That is good news. Thank you. 🥰
stm2657@reddit
There are people like that in this country, and more than we would like. They are being stirred up by certain political parties and change their (likely already odd) personalities like the wind. It sounds like it was only one instance though and in all likelihood she was just unlucky. The majority are more than welcoming
AstronautaAnomy@reddit (OP)
Oh okay, as long as the majority are welcoming I am happy 🥰
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