I have been living in the UK for 6 years. I initially came here for university and now I work a corporate job in accounting.
Other Eastern European men might be able to relate to the below.
Life in the UK is quite good - I have a large network of friends, mostly expats from my home country and other European countries. I am quite happy with the lifestyle that my salary provides, the work-life balance, the career opportunities for low to mid-level positions, the infrastructure, the lack of bureaucracy, etc.
However, there are is one area of concern: Dating. Dating has proven to be incredibly difficult. From my and my friends’ experience, most British women are not interested in anything beyond a hookup or short-term relationship with someone from Eastern Europe.
Also, from my experience, most Romanian women in my age range in London either moved here together with their partners from Romania, or (usually the more educated, cosmopolitan ones) are either looking for a British partner to better integrate into the culture here, or want to try things with other European expats (typically Western / Southern European) to experience other cultures while they are young. Nothing wrong with that, but that means that the dating prospects for people in my position are quite bleak.
Before you comment saying that there might be something wrong with me personally, I must say that I believe that is not the case. Out of my close group of friends (6 guys), only one has been able to find a relationship here post-university, and that is with a girl from South America. Another one came here with his long-term girlfriend from Romania. They broke up a year ago, and the girl got into a relationship with an Italian guy shortly after, while the guy is still single and not having much success. Therefore, I am not alone in this regard.
My perception is that being from Eastern Europe has a series of negative stereotypes associated with one’s origin if the individual in question is a man, especially when interacting with Western Europeans (from my limited experience, this does not really seem to apply to interactions with Americans). However, for women, that does not seem to be the case (or at least not to the same extent).
Having said that, I am not really sure if the solution would be to move back to my home country, or perhaps try somewhere else. I feel like I would do a lot better in terms of dating, but then I would definitely not be enjoying the lifestyle I currently do in the UK (accounting doesn’t pay much back home) + a plethora of reasons why I left initially.
What are your thoughts on the above? I am more than happy to have my views challenged.
Man, as a Polish dude who used to live abroad in the West, I feel you. It was pretty clear we’re the Mexicans of Europe. Everyone looks down on us, more than once I was met with a stereotype that Polish men are only violent alcoholics, who work low-paying jobs, beat their wives, and are overall just low-class immigrants. People were often very surprised I spoke almost perfect English, however, even when I was talking with a girl and everything was going right, I could see the disappointment in their faces when I mentioned I’m from Poland. My friend, who is also a Pole, was chatting with a girl at a bar, everything was going smooth, until he mentioned he’s from Poland, at which point she literally just got up and left.
Also, when it comes to women it’s the opposite - the stereotype is that Polish women are more traditional, humble, and feminine, so dudes from Western countries flaunt to them. All my female friends who were abroad had zero problems with dating, and in their case being Polish has actually benefited them on the dating market.
Haha, it sometimes feels like the women get a sudden rush of diarrhea and have to immediately go to the toilet, never to be seen afterwards, once they hear that you are from Eastern Europe XD.
I used to be quite bummed about it, but now I consider it quite funny when it happens.
It’s not everyone. I’m an american in the uk and I think Romania is cool as fuck. I loved visiting there and I endeavor to return asap. Don’t feel bad about where you come from, Romanian is one of the prettiest languages I’ve heard!
Noroc!