Whatcom county is not particularly diverse but would it be 'tolerant' or better yet, friendly to an Indian family? (Spokane: neighborhoods)

[Virginia54]

I've spent a few days in Bellingham and a few days around in the small Whatcom county towns - Blaine, Custer, etc. I am a white guy but married to an Indian with two adopted Indian kids. I have considered retiring in that area in a few years for various reasons. But I'm wondering what might be the answer to the title of this post - are people tolerant of cultures/races diverse from the European based groups (i.e. white)? Anything to be concerned about or am I myself concerned about really nothing? Thanks.

[scirocco22]

My opinion? I think you are "concerned about really nothing."

Thanks.

[SeattleTaz]

Well, your question struck me in unfunny ways, so I'll guess you're most likely to find what you expect to find.

Whatcom County, like most of the Western coastal range, tends to be quite accepting of a large variety of people, although it is rural-typically reserved. Bellingham itself is probably 85% white, but then 'county seat' is a pretty white thing to be doing. Western Washington University is located in Bellingham and has a surprisingly international student and faculty body. Lummi Lummi are just west of Bellingham, and there are a gazillion or so Spanish-speaking and Filipino cannery workers all along Bellingham Bay, as well as Spanish-speaking agricultural workers in the Skagit Valley. There are also a number of different Asian neighborhoods and, of course, Vancouver BC an hour north, with it's huge Asian and First Nations groups.

The most common prejudice you're likely to encounter you can pretty much take personally, or understand it's more likely about your being from the East than anything. The East begins with the eastern slope of the Cascades and continues past Spokane and on through Montana and the Dakotas before petering out into nothingness somewhere after Minnesota. India Indians are actually West of here. The South, we understand, seceded before we even became a state and no one seems to have missed it much. We save our seriously nasty side for Anglos from SoCal, and that goes back to the Yukon Gold Rush.

fwiw <G>
Taz