Integrate into society

[McLovin]

Re: Integrate into society

@Curious Lady

I feel a certain sense of “we’re different” sometimes. But when I get along with people, I get along well. I seem to not be able to connect with SO’s friends though - probably because of their interests in pop culture which I am far removed from. But other then them, it is all good. I haven’t made super close non-desi friends though.

My biggest issues arise when I honestly share the cultural limitations I have. They find it all very surprising, obviously, which I find a little uncomfortable. But I try to remember that I am the way I am, or have the background I do; different yet the same.

What is SO’s?

Yes, when I go to work these days.. alot of goray say “you dont need to fast?” It will hurt you rah rah rah They dont actually understand the reasoning behind it.. Same goes for not eating pork nor drinking alcohol.

@inspiron

i was also raised pretty much my whole life in the west, but i grew up in a very white area and i actually find it very easy to talk to white people unless they are extremely british. I can get along with black people too, i also get on very well with pakistanis.

So really for me its about the type of person rather than their race.

Exactly! Well my best friend is actually a gora! lol I too grew up in a white town.. Actually during A-levels. All of them were of christian background. There was me and one other Pakistani in that class and one arab. lol Still I got on with them all.. but I could feel I just didnt get their lifestyles.

@gosensgo

I hear ya
Having lived here in the west for 15+ years, I feel that I’ve integrated quite successfully while staying true to Islam at the same time, yet I still have a hard time being comfortable around some folks. At the age I am right now, it seems like the social culture here revolves almost entirely around alcohol, and, as someone who doesn’t drink, it makes socializing a bit more difficult. Heck, the fact that I was far more comfortable hanging around kids of any and all colours when I was younger than the drinking age is testament to that.

Although, outside of our first few years in the west, when I was a kid, I’ve never really felt like an outsider and neither have people treated me as an outsider(for the most part). I guess my light skin and green eyes played a part in that

Tell me about it?! That’s all they talk about these days.. lets hit the nearest pub after work. lol