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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Just chiming in to say that I found it difficult as well. Many don't know English well and aren't willing to learn and I'm not keen on learning their language. One would think that immigrants would want to communicate with their "new" society, but in my experience, they tend to isolate themselves by only communicating with people from their culture. When I was in other countries, I made every effort to communicate in the dominant language, even if I wasn't great at it. I made an effort. Op, if you really want to reach out to them on their terms, send your neighbors a note in their native language. See if that breaks the ice.[/quote]

Omg. The judgment on this one!

Do you understand cultural nuances? Some of these immigrants are from countries that are culturally very different from US. A lot of other people don't indulge in small talk the way Americans do, so your questions/chit-chat might appear weird to them. And why are they supposed to be your friends? I see someone that I have nothing in common with, except that our kids are friends, I am not obligated to be their friends, that too when I have a social circle of my own. It's ok and legal for immigrants to learn or not learn English.

It's great for you that you had the confidence to go out of your way to make friends when you were in other countries. But making friends as an adult isn't easy for everyone. Adjusting to a new life, in a new place, you don't see your family for years, nothing seems familiar - that feeling is crippling for many people. So it's natural that they cling to the parts that seem familiar, to people that can speak the same language. Do you think they can't see the silent judgment about their lifestyle, food, habits, parenting, etc?[/quote]

You are both saying the same thing.

There’s little assimilation.

You offer up opinions on why that is. But you’re agreeing with the bottom line: little assimilation and probably little allegiance to America beyond what it can do for you today. 
[/quote]

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