13.8.09
The First Post: Why This Blog & Why Now?
I write another blog for Canadian teachers who want to move to teach in London, England. I love helping teachers understand everything they need to know before making the move across the pond and after 2 years I realize that teachers aren’t the only ones to need this information.
Students, doctors, lawyers, business-people, police officers, servers, graphic designers, travelers, vagrants… all Canadians need this information before they move to the UK.
But also, I realize that while I’m Canadian myself, Canadians aren’t the only ones who need this information. Our American neighbours to the south are searching the internet looking for the same answers as Canadians.
So, here we are.
A new blog to help Canadians & Americans make the move to living in the UK.
In this blog, I will cover:
- How to set up a bank account before arriving in the UK (and why you should)
- How to find a flat & what to avoid while flat-hunting
- How to find a job anywhere in the UK
- How to make new friends in the UK
- How to find other singles in the UK
- How to apply for a visa or work permit for working in the UK
- What to pack for your move abroad
- What electronics will work & which ones you should leave behind
- Ex-pat events in the UK for Americans & Canadians
- Where to get the products you miss most (like poutine for Canadians!)
- Other blogs you should read by Americans & Canadians in the UK
And then some more. Since my job is with Classroom Canada, and I write my other blog every day, I can’t say that I will write this one every day, even though I would like to. I just don’t have the time. But I will do my best to at least cover these subjects, generate some discussion with you all, answer your questions & help you in your research into life in the UK as a Canadian or American.
What do you think? Any topics you’d like to see covered here?
Victoria Westcott
kikimoo
Way to go Victoria! Writing two blogs – that will keep you busy!
Hi Vicky,
No doubt! I write Mon/Wed/Fri for the Classroom Canada blog and just Tues/Thurs for this blog so it’s still the same amount of blogging, just over 2 blogs.
I am thinking about moving to the UK with my husband. I am confused about what to do first. I want to have a job or prospects of one before arriving. But most jobs want be to already have a work permit. The UK gov’t site is so confusing on how to apply and how to find a job and housing. Could you help someone who is completely starting from scratch? Oh yea…I’m a Yankee.
Hi Kendra
I can try to help, but without knowing what you do, your education, your career goals…it’s hard to determine how you would get a visa.
I would suggest that you go through the networking post I wrote, and contact other Americans in the UK who are in your line of work to ask them how they got in.
I hope that helps. Good luck!
Victoria
Hi Victoria!
I moved to England 2 years ago with my husband (who was relocated by his company to Berkshire). It has been a terrific experience, but we have definately encountered some culture shock.
Last year, I decided to document our moving issues and culture shock in a online comic (which isn’t really a ha ha comic, more a diary comic). Please visit my webpage and take a look at the ‘Welcome to Enland!’ link. It’s a work in progress and I’ll be updating it regularly.
I’m so pleased to find your blog and think it’s terrific that you are doing this. Wish you had been around 2 years ago! I’m definately going to keep checking back and will look forward to reading your posts.
Take care…cheers
My website is http://www.braevitae.com …I always forget something!
Hi Rebecca
Thanks so much for your comment! I am so pleased to see that it’s helped, even though you have already been in London for 2 years now. I took a quick look at your comic and it is fabulous! I’d love to feature it & you on this blog. Would you be interested? I can use some of your comics & send traffic your way – I’m sure my readers will love it as well.
Please just let me know your thoughts.
Cheers
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
I’d love to participate. Just let me know what I can do. It makes a big difference to know there’s other Canadians out there
And it helps a lot to share my odd experiences – if we don’t laugh at ourselves, we’ll cry.
I’m planning on adding a links section to the braevitae website and would love to link to your blog. Is that ok?
Hope you are having a terrific sunny day!
Hi Victoria,
Just a quick note to wish Classroom Canada a very Happy 3rd Birthday. Thanks to Classroom Canada I have been a happily employed UK teacher since November 2009. I am home for the summer, but I’m really looking forward to returning to the UK in the fall.
Classroom has and continues to be a great, supportive company to work for and I have recommended them to many of my teacher friends.
Hi! I just set up a new website, selling baby- and children’s clothes called http://www.shopyuko.com and I am selling Redfish kids from Canada, Lucky Wang from NYC and Sckoon from NYC. I thought this might be a nice little article for your blog, as these are all popular brands overseas.