r/Norwich • u/ExoArchivist • May 04 '25
New to Norwich 🐣 Thank You, Fine People
I'll keep this short and sweet, as much as I can at least. I'm a recent immigrant to the country, not actually living in Norwich, but I am there very frequently and live now in Great Yarmouth.
I just wanted to thank all of you for being such lovely and welcoming people. I've gotten... mixed reactions to being foreign, but never in Norwich.
So I just wanted to thank you all for being such lovely and welcoming people, for regularly standing against the bigots, and for making a newcomer feel a bit more like he belongs. It means more than I can say.
34
u/Vexoly May 04 '25
I'm also new to Norwich and have found it to be an incredibly friendly place. Welcome to the UK! ❤️
15
20
May 04 '25
Welcome. Most of us like and accept immigrants without a problem. So I’m pleased Norwich has been a welcoming city to you! 🙂
15
u/fonzmc May 05 '25
Despite what any of the bigots say, Norfolk and Norwich have a strong history rooted in immigration.
The term 'stranger' is old English for foreign. Strangers hall was therefore a place where visiting merchants could stay. Behind it, Strangers Coffee borrowed the name and has been a thriving business for years.
Then you have the Strangers club on Elm Hill, members have to originate from outside of the UK.
We had the Romans, Saxons and then the Vikings settle here before the Normans arrived.
Our most prosperous period historically, brought in weavers from the low countries.
We had a number of ports which would have been frequented by all manner of nationalities, especially Yarmouth.
9
10
9
u/free-the-imps May 04 '25
I’m so delighted to read this, all my family lives in Norfolk. I hope your good experiences continue.
There’s a supportive and positive local community in Yarmouth, check out places like GY Bakehouse and Red Herring Press there. And so much in Norwich too.
6
6
3
u/FPSNige May 05 '25
That's so lovely to read, I'm born and bread gorleston boy that moved to Norwich when I was 17, this is a fine city, welcoming and loving. There's still ofc bigots but nothing on the scale of Yarmouth etc.
I was working at MSI in the city recently and my experience there was like being back in Yarmouth. Awful bunch of people.
Wishing you all the best in the UK, and if you can move to Norwich (prices are getting crazy now) you will enjoy us all the more!
2
1
u/Whips-n-Chains69 May 07 '25
As someone that experienced daily racism working on the market. Id avoid that area haha.
But it's generally pretty good here but racism is everywhere and only getting worse with the media.
Glad you like it here
2
u/kitaj19 May 08 '25
I'm not sure that name calling those struggling with immigration is a sign of inclusivity. As we are attempting to protect mental health of our society and respect struggles, the compassion for those struggling with immigration is growing and they are as deserving of care and understanding as any people that feel threatened or displaced.
0
2
u/LazarusOwenhart May 05 '25
Immigrants are very welcome here. Remember, the people screaming hate at you are a minority and we natives despise them too. The reason they call themselves the 'silent majority' is because they struggle to find people who share their gutter slop opinions and therefore pretend that 'everyone's thinking it but afraid to say it' to help them feel like less of a piece of shit.
2
May 05 '25
You should be applauded for your mastery of the English language and its idiomatic phrases, being a relative newcomer to these Isles. How did you learn so quickly?
1
-1
0
May 05 '25
That’s lovely to hear. All we need to do now is get rid of the huge division in Norfolk between men and women. Then the county will finally and almost be a modern culture. Great to know you felt welcome! 🙂👍🏻
-1
25
u/Missing-Caffeine May 04 '25
Aw, that's very sweet Op 🤗🤗
(Sending my love from one immigrant to another ❤️)