I’ll never understand why immigrants are so obsessed with seeking out people from their own country of origin. The priest’s wife pleaded with me to sit at the table with Russian-speaking parishioners. I did, and it was not pleasant. They are lovely people, I’m sure, but I have nothing in common with them. I don’t understand their jokes, I have no idea what they are saying. I sat there, silent and bored. Finally, an Anglo parishioner sat down next to me, and within seconds we were hooting with laughter over jicama and Honduras.
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In the words of a friend of mine, “If I had wanted to hang out with [Citizens of a Country], I would have stayed in [Country].”
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Right? I’ll never understand it.
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I agree, as someone whose parents are immigrants from Cuba, the last thing I want is to hang out or be around other Hispanic people. Since I was born and raised in the US, I find that I don’t have much in common with other Hispanic people other than being Catholic and speaking Spanish and I actually get along much better with hipster type white people or older American people.
In a few weeks we’re going to West Palm Beach to visit family for spring break and I know I won’t have much in common with them, they’re like aliens. My maternal family in Florida live in a Spanish bubble and don’t have much to do with normie American culture except for speaking English, they watch Spanish TV, listen to Spanish music and only associate with other Hispanic people. I’m glad my parents moved to New Jersey and got to be around normie Americans and people from different backgrounds
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Both actively seeking out fellow ethnics and actively avoiding them are signs of unresolved issues. Just treat them like you would any other person. If you find them agreeable hang out with them. If not then don’t.
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“why immigrants are so obsessed with seeking out people from their own country of origin”
In early days, some contact with people with a more or less shared frame of reference can help deal with daily frustrations. But the longer a person is in a place the less they should actively seek such contacts.
Now, in public, few things make me turn around or change direction than hearing an American voice.
The only other American where I work retired last year. It was nice to occasionally have an in person talk with someone who understood references even though our political framework was pretty different. Oh well…
Weirdly, probably part of DOGE, the US no longer has any active consular representation where I live. A few weeks ago I was on the street where the former office was and noticed the plaque outside was missing. I looked it up and now if you need something you call a number and then a place/time to meet is arranged… like a drug deal. I’m wondering whether the former sole employee (a Polish person) was fired and they expect you to go to Warsaw.
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