Probably depends where you are. In Sussex they seem to work in the fields, whilst elsewhere I've heard that they create small workgangs concentrating on labouring jobs like painting and decorating. I noticed one girl working in a cafe I used to frequent. She was employed as the 'collector of dirty plates', the most menial job on offer, yet outworked everybody there whilst still maintaining her dignity. I got the impression her fellow workers weren't that impressed, whereas as I admired her work ethic. I was also introduced to a Pole in his early twenties. An extremely talented artist - I watched him produce a portrait in pastels - who was desperate to find work having been thrown off the caravan site he was living on. He settled for gardening work. Simon ----- Original Message ----- From: Judith Evans To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 7:56 PM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: US Immigration policies Oh yes true -- I forgot the "Eastern Europe" factor. But I read that most Eastern Europeans who've come here are well educated and skilled and don't do the dreadful jobs. Indeed, there are Eastern European doctors working in Cardiff.