:cry: I am so upset today I went out to shopping because I need to buy new clothes as I have a new job in hotel kitchen, it is not much job but because my English is not so good I find it hard to get good job and I cannot drive so I cannot be taxis driver.

I bought trousers for work and I decide to have jacket potato, I order one with coleslaw and woman serving was very nice when I explained that I am vegetarian but two thugs behind me lauging all the time so I sit down and eat my potato because I am hungry then.

I hear them calling me "N****r" and "Veggie N****r" under their breath and when I leave shop they follow me and stop me getting on bus and I had to walk home.

They say I am not vegetarian because I had wearing new leather shoes that I bought because Kitchen is dangerous workplace and things can fall and hurt your feet. :cry: I am so sad today.

Sorry :cry:

Nicky.

Hey, i'm sorry you had to go through that but there will ALWAYS be ignorant people that we ALL have to face sometime, you just keep your chin up and remember that what goes around comes around, everything they do will come back one day to bite them in the a**.

Hey, i'm sorry you had to go through that but there will ALWAYS be ignorant people that we ALL have to face sometime, you just keep your chin up and remember that what goes around comes around, everything they do will come back one day to bite them in the a**.

I can see that you are kind, thank you for your reply, my mother tells me same things when I phone her just now but being in a lonely country is hard sometimes when I don't always understand. I have not hurt the people and sometimes I am afraid for my safety, I was beaten by four drunk men once when I was at home in Africa and it brings it all back even though I have never been actually beaten here. I am still shaking now and I am trying to eat and type but I barely able to hold my fork.

wow cucumber nosher.. what a terrible day you are having.. i am very sorry for they way you were treated. no one deserves to have people make them feel sad and afraid... again i am sorry..

:hug:

I'm so sorry that things like that have to happen to such nice people... Don't let them get to you. Remember that we're always here to give you support when you need it. :hug:

I feel that I can get through days when things are bad because of nice people like you guys :yes:

I find it so comforting that I have people to talk now. At home I have lots of friends here I hope I will make some when I start work soon.

Don't worry about me now though because I have stop crying thanks to you.

:) :sunny: :D :hug:

Awwww...you are such a sweetheart. It's horrible you had to deal with idiots like that. But, as long as you know that there are nice people out there--even if doesn't seem it sometimes! Big hugs for you! :hug: :hug: Hope you meet some nice people at work--I'm sure you will! :D

Oh thank you. :)

I am honoured by your kindness and I hope to god that you are all well because you show real care to take the time to reply to dishwashing African with bad english :)

Thank you so much and I hope to repay for your kindness in future in some way. :lovesign: You guys are the best.

What a horrible ordeal for you to go through! What jerks!! Unfortunately, there are always going to be awful people like this around. You just hold your head up high and don't let them get you down! :hug: You're always safe here. :)

I'm usually a pacifist, but in this case, i would have kicked their asses. I honestly believe that racist people do not deserve to life cushy lives free from continuous beatings. There's a racist dude who I work with, and I really wnat to kick his ass when he starts using racial slurs. However, I also don't want to get fired.

If it happens again and they follow you, make sure they follow you straight into a cop shop.

Was this in the hotel? because if you heard them using racial slurs, then you could talk to your manager. I'm sure they'd be happy to kick a couple of racists out. I know i'd love to make a racist feel unwanted.

awww I'm sorry cucumber, what the others said: just hold your head high!

Racist people are not worth it! And about the leather shoes thing...what's the big deal, many vegetarian's wear leather!

I'm usually a pacifist, but in this case, i would have kicked their asses. I honestly believe that racist people do not deserve to life cushy lives free from continuous beatings. There's a racist dude who I work with, and I really wnat to kick his ass when he starts using racial slurs. However, I also don't want to get fired.

If it happens again and they follow you, make sure they follow you straight into a cop shop.

Was this in the hotel? because if you heard them using racial slurs, then you could talk to your manager. I'm sure they'd be happy to kick a couple of racists out. I know i'd love to make a racist feel unwanted.

hahaha..go loki!

If it helps at all, I am quite impressed with your English.... and I am an editor. It's not perfect, but most people's English isn't. Congratulations on your excellent progress in learning another language.
I find that people in general aren't very nice, especially towards anyone who doesn't uphold their idea of the status quo. I know it is hurtful to be made fun of, but I am going to suggest you do what I had to do for many years to keep my self-esteem up: just keep reminding yourself of how much more you're doing for the world than those who are being mean to you-- not only with your veg*nism, but also with the big heart that you seem to have. It sounds like you're a better person than most.
Congratulations on your new job, and good luck!

Oh thank you :)

On my new job I hope to wash more plates than everyone. I know I have poor job but I want to do best at it and hopefully then I will be promoted to better job but I understand it all comes from hard work.

What I really want is to drive Taxis because I like to drive but I no driving license!

You people restore my faith in human nature, I would not wish any bad on people that make fun of me because they do not understand me and I do not understand them.

I talk loud and in spoken English I am not so easy to understand, this is why these people have got onto me.

It's not wise to fight though sometimes, people could have knife or gun.
Please don't fight racists with violence as you might get hurt and I would hate that.

I don't think most (decent) people will judge you because of your job. Service jobs are often "starting out" jobs. Sometimes people end up in them for a long time, but if you're motivated (and it sounds like you are) you'll move on to bigger and better things. I worked on and off as a cook/cleaner/counter person for six years to put myself through school, and now only months out of university I have a very good job. It all paid off for me, and I wish the best for you as well.

Good well done Meatless, I am pleased that you are now editor after working so hard before and I find that life give back what you put in so your words sound true to me :)

hi cucumber!

congratulations on getting your new job. i hope you enjoy it. when do you start working? even though it isn't exactly what you want to be doing, you will probably meet some nice people and have fun. and i agree with meatless about service jobs being "starting out" jobs. i have never worked anywhere except for restaurants. you don't have to do it forever if you don't want to. :)

i'm very sorry about what happened to you. i wish i could say that those things don't happen here. but there are so many ways to look at this. how much courage does it take to harrass a kind-looking man in a restaurant? not much. but how much courage does it take to start a new job in a new place, especially when everyone speaks a different language? it takes so much that many people never even try.

i am glad that you have shown so much courage and so much kindness. and i agree with you that it's better not to fight because people hide weapons.

good luck to you, and please let us know how things go.

edited: loki, is there any way you could talk to your boss about the racist comments your coworker is making? depending on the situation, this can fall under a company's harrassment policy. even if they aren't directed at you, no one should have to be subjected to racism in the workplace.

Good well done Meatless, I am pleased that you are now editor after working so hard before and I find that life give back what you put in so your words sound true to me :)

I'll tell you a secret: I truly didn't believe it WOULD pay off, until it actually did. So your optimism and positive attitude is a step ahead of where I was when I was working towards my goal. :bow:

As for the mean people, they're everywhere unfortunately. I used to get harassed mercilessly for being very pale skinned... called abino, paley and so on. I was also very skinny and for a long time, not very pretty (I like to think I am now :)) However, what kept me going was knowing my own value, and trying to maximize my contribution to the world so that I could know in my heart that no one could take anything away from me.

cucumber, I agree with meatless. I have many students who are learning english while doing their degree, and I wish they had the command of english you do. Your command of english is very good. :)

And also to second veganmuncher, many vegetarians use leather, it's vegans that "cannot" wear leather.

Guys like that will get what's coming to them... ;)

Don't let them get to you! They're not worth that.

I hope you won't meet such stupid, mean people again :).

meatless wrote:
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I know it is hurtful to be made fun of
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I wanted to point out that cucumber nosher was not merely "made fun of." I would perceive it, if I heard someone mutter "N-word" under their breath, as being threatened with violence. Further, these 2 low-lifes apparently followed thru with their threats. As cucumber nosher wrote:
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when I leave shop they follow me and stop me getting on bus and I had to walk home.
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cucumber nosher -- what part of Africa did you live at?

Cucumber: I'm a vegetarian and sometimes I wear leather. I avoid it as much as possible, but I'm a dancer so I have to buy leather shoes for that. And like you said, working in a kitchen, leather will protect your feet from falling things. There's nothing wrong with wearing leather if you feel that it's necessary, and in my opinion (and it seems that many here agree with me), it doesn't make you any less of a vegetarian.

It's terrible what happened to you. Just remember that you're so, SO much better than them. They're just very immature, insecure people who are threatened by anything different from themselves. But I have a pretty good feeling it will get better the longer you stay. The more comfortable you are in your new environment, the more confident you'll be, and people will pick up on that and be less likely to harrass you.

For now, I'm sure you'll meet some nice people at work. Just remember that racists are troubled, misguided individuals. Their hatred is a terrible burden to them. Don't let it burden you, because you're not the one with the problem.

Of course I know that, Soilman.

Just trying to be empathetic. In a sense, I do know what it is like to be harassed for my skin colour. Not the same thing, but I've never faced the same kind of racism so I was trying to relate in whatever ways I could.

tofulina writes:
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remember that what goes around comes around, everything they do will come back one day to bite them in the a**.
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I don't believe we can depend on that happening, unless we bite them ourselves. That said, I do not believe in foolish, angry responses that put oneself in danger. I believe in in planning, developing, and executing safe and effective pruning of lowlife from society.