No one ever tells you how hard it is to live abroad. Even in an English speaking country. It's hard because EVERYTHING is different. No, really, EVERYTHING.
But of course I have to say that it's totally worth it, if you are considering it then GO. GO GO GO. I miss London every day and sometimes wish i could snap my fingers and be back, for a few hours or for good. I'm 99% sure I will live there again. I can't get enough. (I was named after two people in the British royalty for what it's worth---it's my destiny!)
My first day in London was....interesting. I had been once before for 2 weeks. Therefore I felt confident I could find my way around the tube and luckily I am very good with directions. My mom came with me to move me into my new life in London, this was her first time. She stayed for 10 days. I already knew I wanted to stay in Earl's Court. I stayed in Ravenscourt Park the first time, and it was a good experience but residential and far from the city center. Earl's Court may be about the same distance but it has a fantastic High Street with lots of restaurants and shops. A perfect place to stay. TIP: look at a map of a hotel before you book to see how far from the metro it is. ALWAYS. It's ok in the middle of your trip but being in a foreign place and with luggage is a pain to walk and walk and walk. We stayed 3 blocks from the tube. On a major street with lots of bus lines. It was perfect. Because I was moving I had 4 giant suitcases. (I'm pretty proud of myself for getting everything I would need for at least a year in 4 suitcases; at that point the end of my stay was not decided yet.)
TIP: In London, only a few tube stations have elevators, most large ones have escalators, but there are TONS of stairs. TONS. Which is not great for carrying a lot of luggage. With me moving we ended up taking a cab from the airport to the hotel in Earl's Court. Yes, it was expensive, but completely possible unlike the tube would have been. Also, black cabs in London are great, there are two seats that sit face to face, perfect for lots of luggage (in the trunk/boot) and at your feet.
TIP:Cars drive on the left side of the road. You know BUT the signs on the ground say look left or look right. take them seriously. If you are from the US PLEASE LOOK. There are buses, cabs, cars, lots of people walking around. Wait until you get used to looking the correct way before taking off. It can be dangerous in highly populated tourist places like Piccadilly Circus.
As soon as we arrived at the hotel, checked in, and dropped our stuff we sat for a few minutes. Got acquainted with the room and the hotel. It was small but comfortable. Then, since I already had a meal in mind, we headed out. Taking our map with us. TIP: We walked up and down the high street once before we ate, it helps to know what's near you; restaurants, shops, doctors office, parks. We just gave it a quick up and down before ducking into Nando's for dinner. Ahhh Nando's. South African chicken. Definitely a cheap option in London, lots of locations, and DELICIOUS.
Since we had a late flight into London, we got in about 7pm, we mostly ate dinner, walked around, and headed back to the hotel. TIP; game plan. once you are fed, sit around and talk a little. NOW i'm SURE you have a game plan, but make a realistic one. are you really tired? do you want to go out that night? how about the next one? I spent the first three days looking for a place to live which was very stressful (despite my best efforts to find something before i left). So my game plan was more long term but get an idea of what you want to do the next day. So you can wake up and be ready to go.
TIP: go to bed local time. If you flew 9 hours from Seattle to London and don't sleep on planes very well like me, you will be tired. especially after also dragging luggage all over the city, walking a lot, and everything else those first few hours.If you get in at 9 pm, get settled and go to bed. however, if you get in at 10am, stay up all day and go to bed around 10pm. it may suck, it may seem like a long time, it may be exhausting but it will be worth it. FIRST, you won't lose the time spent in a new city sleeping and SECOND you will have an easier time adjusting to the time change. I'm great at adjusting forward to the new change (going East) for me it's hard to go back (West). but that's something i know and plan for. Jet lag can be a drag but here are simple tips (I will have more later): drink water or 7up, try to sleep or at least rest, and really try to get on a schedule when you get there.
I love talking about my time living in London and I hope my thoughts and tips are helpful for people thinking of living in England or abroad. I've got so much to say, check it out next Sunday too!
Showing posts with label Living Abroad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living Abroad. Show all posts
Monday, March 25, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Sunday: Living Abroad
Here it is. The start of the first full week. No slacking now. I'm here to pass on my knowledge and wisdom. Haha more like help you learn from my mistakes.
Living abroad is tough. But it's definitely worth it. I just wanted to pass on a few differences.
A word about going through customs in the UK. Pick the right line. They get really mad if you don't. There is a specific sign for non uk residents. Even with a UK visa do not go in that line. They will seem gruff, look through your entire passport, and ask a dozen questions. But just be clear, honest, and know it will be over soon.
Ok back to my tips. I will probably have more as time goes on. And my experience is definitely Europe centric but these could work anywhere.
1. Everything is different. And I mean every thing. Even if you speak English and move to an English speaking country, or high number of English speakers, everything is different.
2. Take things slowly. If you are moving somewhere, even for a few months, there is an urge to take everything in at once. It's about the pace. When I first moved to London I wanted to see everything. And the first few weeks I did. But after I was tethered to going to school. Sight seeing became secondary. And I was so frustrated. I had papers to write, classes, research, etc. I was busy. But I took the time to prioritize. I wrote a list of the things I wanted to do, and planned the month. If a place was near school I went on Tuesdays. Otherwise it was one weekend day to study. And one to sight see. Or, more likely, drink a lot. Keep track of what you need to do, want to do, and make a schedule. It seems silly but it helps.
3. Similar to before. I made a list of what I wanted to see. And when I went there I would write down what day, time, favorite part. It was silly at first but I still have that paper and it brings back memories. This goes for museums, restaurants, parks, etc. I could see where I wanted to go again and what wasn't worth it.
4. Get a local phone. Even for a few weeks. I felt safer with a phone. Learn the emergency numbers. You will meet people you want to contact again. You can get directions. You can get apps. With a smart phone. I didn't have a smart phone but I had a limited plan with mostly texting and it had a built in radio. It was perfect. I could listen to local radio while I walked.
5. Take pictures. With your phone. It's always on you, you know it is. Not sight seeing pictures although those are important too. I took a picture of my street, the signs, the tube stop, everything near me. It helped when I was lost or needed to give a taxi driver my address. If I was walking somewhere new and saw a cute store that was closed I could take a pic and look it up later. I couldn't remember it all even if I wanted to but it was nice to keep track of things I wanted to do or look up later.
That's all for now. Except try to get an Internet connection as soon as possible. Internet cafes are only tolerable for so long. Make it part of your phone plan, share wireless with a neighbor, or sit at McDonalds for hours, just know once you get that situated everything will be so much easier. Well, first secure housing. Then wireless. Housing next week I promise!
Living abroad is tough. But it's definitely worth it. I just wanted to pass on a few differences.
A word about going through customs in the UK. Pick the right line. They get really mad if you don't. There is a specific sign for non uk residents. Even with a UK visa do not go in that line. They will seem gruff, look through your entire passport, and ask a dozen questions. But just be clear, honest, and know it will be over soon.
Ok back to my tips. I will probably have more as time goes on. And my experience is definitely Europe centric but these could work anywhere.
1. Everything is different. And I mean every thing. Even if you speak English and move to an English speaking country, or high number of English speakers, everything is different.
2. Take things slowly. If you are moving somewhere, even for a few months, there is an urge to take everything in at once. It's about the pace. When I first moved to London I wanted to see everything. And the first few weeks I did. But after I was tethered to going to school. Sight seeing became secondary. And I was so frustrated. I had papers to write, classes, research, etc. I was busy. But I took the time to prioritize. I wrote a list of the things I wanted to do, and planned the month. If a place was near school I went on Tuesdays. Otherwise it was one weekend day to study. And one to sight see. Or, more likely, drink a lot. Keep track of what you need to do, want to do, and make a schedule. It seems silly but it helps.
3. Similar to before. I made a list of what I wanted to see. And when I went there I would write down what day, time, favorite part. It was silly at first but I still have that paper and it brings back memories. This goes for museums, restaurants, parks, etc. I could see where I wanted to go again and what wasn't worth it.
4. Get a local phone. Even for a few weeks. I felt safer with a phone. Learn the emergency numbers. You will meet people you want to contact again. You can get directions. You can get apps. With a smart phone. I didn't have a smart phone but I had a limited plan with mostly texting and it had a built in radio. It was perfect. I could listen to local radio while I walked.
5. Take pictures. With your phone. It's always on you, you know it is. Not sight seeing pictures although those are important too. I took a picture of my street, the signs, the tube stop, everything near me. It helped when I was lost or needed to give a taxi driver my address. If I was walking somewhere new and saw a cute store that was closed I could take a pic and look it up later. I couldn't remember it all even if I wanted to but it was nice to keep track of things I wanted to do or look up later.
That's all for now. Except try to get an Internet connection as soon as possible. Internet cafes are only tolerable for so long. Make it part of your phone plan, share wireless with a neighbor, or sit at McDonalds for hours, just know once you get that situated everything will be so much easier. Well, first secure housing. Then wireless. Housing next week I promise!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Sunday: Living Abroad!
I'm hoping to make Sunday the day I talk about my experience living abroad. I lived in London for 10 months. It was one of the greatest things I have ever done and I'm so glad to have that experience.
However it also held a lot of challenges. It isn't as simple as packing a bag and finding a flat. There are so many steps and i plan to share my experience and detail the process. It definitely won't be the same for every country. England is known for having a difficult immigration policy and enforcement. They have good reasons for it but it's definitely a challenge. And once you jump through all the hoops it becomes an adventure.
Obviously the first step is deciding where you want to live. When I was a kid I didn't care, but I wanted to live somewhere else. And I had the perfect opportunity. I graduated from college a semester early and spent the time living with friends and working as a nanny. I wanted more. I began applying to graduate schools, wanting to study Sociology. I applied to UW in my home state, and USC nearby. On a complete whim I applied to the London School of Economics.
I had been to London once before for two weeks. It was a part of my study abroad program 2 years before. And I had fallen in love with the perfect city. Everything was charming. I loved the history and mix of old and new buildings. I was determined to go back. And to my complete shock, the week of my 23rd birthday, after getting rejected and wait listed from a bunch of schools, I was accepted to LSE. I thought about the offer letter for about a minute, called everyone I knew, sent it back in with a shout of glee and began the long 6 months that would get me to London. The program went from September-June (a ten month program, shorter than most) with the final thesis due in December. I was ecstatic! I would be getting my Masters in Sociology from LSE!
There was so much to do. A checklist came and I slowly started the process. I had to do several things at once, but first the complicated visa process. The US and the UK may be allies but they are not friendly for long term visa applicants. The visa application process had JUST changed so it meant additional complications just for me. And a new system for the two governments. I applied for a Tier 3 Student Visa. This meant I could be a student for 2 years before needing to change to another visa if I was going to stay longer in the UK. I also was able to work up to 20 hours a week, part time.
First (1) I needed money. For my program I had to prove I could financially support myself while in their country. I had other loans from undergrad too. But this was a priority for me. I had to cover the cost of tuition and additional fees for housing and other costs. The total needed was just about 40,000. It seemed like a lot, and it is, but the price of two years at USC would have been about 65,000 or more. And i would not be in London. Grad school is expensive but for me it was the right decision. That meant a long talk with the friendly people at Sallie Mae. I was initially approved for half of it, $20,000).
Then (2) I needed visa photo and finger printing. I went to Walgreens and took simple passport photos that i would take to the visa office. The fingerprinting was done by appt about 30 minutes from my home, in Santa Ana, CA, in July 2009. It was a long line of people wanting to change their circumstances. The unfriendly staff went over every detail of my paperwork, scanned my fingerprints digitally, and sent me away with a good luck and don't get into too much trouble.
Next (3) I made an appt with the British visa office 2 hours from my house, in Santa Monica, CA, the first week of August. They are only in big cities so I was glad I lived that close even. I waited about 20 minutes and a nice British woman said my background check and paperwork were fine BUT I needed to prove the full amount. I left without a visa and a furious call to Sallie Mae again. Luckily my aunt and uncle graciously helped me with the other half as I waited for the loan money to go through.
So (4) I was back the next week (difficult to get an appt) at the visa office with the full scary amount in my bank account ad all my paperwork in order. I held my breathe at the counter as she looked everything and finally approved it. She took my paperwork and my passport (scary). I went home finally believing this was going to happen.
(5) About a month later I received my passport in the mail. It looked just the same but with a full page devoted to a colorful British student visa. It was new and exciting and I was full of anticipation for what was to come!!!
So that's the visa process. I know it's specific to my situation but it does explain some of the steps in order to move abroad. The British visa system is complicated but any visa process has challenges that you can and will slowly work through to get where you need to go. Good luck!
However it also held a lot of challenges. It isn't as simple as packing a bag and finding a flat. There are so many steps and i plan to share my experience and detail the process. It definitely won't be the same for every country. England is known for having a difficult immigration policy and enforcement. They have good reasons for it but it's definitely a challenge. And once you jump through all the hoops it becomes an adventure.
Obviously the first step is deciding where you want to live. When I was a kid I didn't care, but I wanted to live somewhere else. And I had the perfect opportunity. I graduated from college a semester early and spent the time living with friends and working as a nanny. I wanted more. I began applying to graduate schools, wanting to study Sociology. I applied to UW in my home state, and USC nearby. On a complete whim I applied to the London School of Economics.
I had been to London once before for two weeks. It was a part of my study abroad program 2 years before. And I had fallen in love with the perfect city. Everything was charming. I loved the history and mix of old and new buildings. I was determined to go back. And to my complete shock, the week of my 23rd birthday, after getting rejected and wait listed from a bunch of schools, I was accepted to LSE. I thought about the offer letter for about a minute, called everyone I knew, sent it back in with a shout of glee and began the long 6 months that would get me to London. The program went from September-June (a ten month program, shorter than most) with the final thesis due in December. I was ecstatic! I would be getting my Masters in Sociology from LSE!
There was so much to do. A checklist came and I slowly started the process. I had to do several things at once, but first the complicated visa process. The US and the UK may be allies but they are not friendly for long term visa applicants. The visa application process had JUST changed so it meant additional complications just for me. And a new system for the two governments. I applied for a Tier 3 Student Visa. This meant I could be a student for 2 years before needing to change to another visa if I was going to stay longer in the UK. I also was able to work up to 20 hours a week, part time.
First (1) I needed money. For my program I had to prove I could financially support myself while in their country. I had other loans from undergrad too. But this was a priority for me. I had to cover the cost of tuition and additional fees for housing and other costs. The total needed was just about 40,000. It seemed like a lot, and it is, but the price of two years at USC would have been about 65,000 or more. And i would not be in London. Grad school is expensive but for me it was the right decision. That meant a long talk with the friendly people at Sallie Mae. I was initially approved for half of it, $20,000).
Then (2) I needed visa photo and finger printing. I went to Walgreens and took simple passport photos that i would take to the visa office. The fingerprinting was done by appt about 30 minutes from my home, in Santa Ana, CA, in July 2009. It was a long line of people wanting to change their circumstances. The unfriendly staff went over every detail of my paperwork, scanned my fingerprints digitally, and sent me away with a good luck and don't get into too much trouble.
Next (3) I made an appt with the British visa office 2 hours from my house, in Santa Monica, CA, the first week of August. They are only in big cities so I was glad I lived that close even. I waited about 20 minutes and a nice British woman said my background check and paperwork were fine BUT I needed to prove the full amount. I left without a visa and a furious call to Sallie Mae again. Luckily my aunt and uncle graciously helped me with the other half as I waited for the loan money to go through.
So (4) I was back the next week (difficult to get an appt) at the visa office with the full scary amount in my bank account ad all my paperwork in order. I held my breathe at the counter as she looked everything and finally approved it. She took my paperwork and my passport (scary). I went home finally believing this was going to happen.
(5) About a month later I received my passport in the mail. It looked just the same but with a full page devoted to a colorful British student visa. It was new and exciting and I was full of anticipation for what was to come!!!
So that's the visa process. I know it's specific to my situation but it does explain some of the steps in order to move abroad. The British visa system is complicated but any visa process has challenges that you can and will slowly work through to get where you need to go. Good luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)