If your purse is stolen:

Okay, first off let’s deal with the whole purse issue.  When I lived in London, I was ridiculously paranoid about my purse wherever I went. I knew where it was at all times, and kept it close at hand never giving someone a chance to “nick it” (aka “steal it”).  I was the only one I knew who hadn’t had their purse stolen and I intended to keep it that way.

My friends lost their purses to thieves by:

• leaving it on the floor by their feet at the library while emailing on the computers,
• leaving it between their legs on the floor while at the pub,
• their wallets were taken from inside an open purse at the fireworks, while strapped over their arms.

So, what’s the moral of this story? Know where your purse is at all times and keep it close to your physical body, ideally zippered shut.  This might sound a bit intense to the newbie moving to the UK, but let’s face it – you won’t be in Kansas anymore.

Now, if you do have your purse stolen, what should you do?

Call the police of course.  Not 9-1-1 though – it’s 9-9-9 in the UK, and don’t dial that one for a purse being stolen as it’s really for emergencies (as in, life or death…).  Just call your local station and make a report. You probably won’t get your purse back, but you might as well report it.

If you’re out clubbing…

There are a couple of street-smart rules to clubbing anywhere, but particularly in big cities like London.

1. Watch your drink at all times. No matter what. Never, ever, ever leave your drink unwatched, whether you are a man or a woman, in a pub or a club.  That means: don’t get up to dance, to use the loo, to get another drink…just don’t ever leave your drink without your eyes on it.  This might sound paranoid, and you might think that only naive club-bar-stars in their late teens get drugged, but again – you’re not in Kansas anymore!  Anyone can get drugged in London.  And it does happen.  So just be smart!
2. Don’t get in a “taxi” that isn’t actually a taxi. Taxicabs in the UK are cleared marked as either Black Cabs or private cab companies that you call and know.  So, if a car pulls up and isn’t marked, and you didn’t call them (on the phone!), and they just shout out the window “taxi!” then say “No thanks!”  No matter what, say no.  If it’s 5 am and you didn’t call a cab, and you can’t find one anywhere, and there’s just this one guy in a car saying “taxi” don’t get in.  Walk with your friends.  Wait til the tube opens.  Just don’t get into an unmarked taxi cab.  You will see posters all over London about this.  So be smart!
3. Make sure the people you are with know you really well. They know you well enough to know how you behave when you’re drunk, and know you enough to spot anything out of the ordinary.  So, if you would never sleep with a guy or girl after a few drinks, and suddenly you’re falling over with slurred speech and going home with a stranger – your friends will spot that as unusual and get you home safe & sound.  If someone drugs your drink, it’s not always obvious to your friends or to you.  But your behaviour will be different and that’s where good friends come in.  They should know you well enough to know what you would or wouldn’t do.  If you are someone who sleeps with a stranger on a first meeting, well…you already know the risks you’re taking, so I won’t say much about this.  Just be careful. Be safe.  Be smart. You don’t need me to be your mother or father…
4. Keep your head! People drink more in the UK than we do in North America, as a general rule.  So, you’ll likely fall right into that when you first move there.  They also start drinking much earlier than we do, often right after work on an empty stomach.  Know your limits, and eat something!  Anything is better than nothing in your stomach.

So, what to do if your drink is spiked?  Or a crime is committed against you while you’re out clubbing? Whether it be rape, abuse, violence…Call the police. 

What to do if you are sexually assaulted in the UK:

If you are assaulted in the UK, you will likely do things a bit differently than you would in Canada or the USA.  First, of course, you will call the police or get a friend to do it for you.  Don’t shower. Don’t throw out any “evidence” which you won’t necessarily think is evidence (ie the blanket you were on – just like in shows like CSI the police look for DNA in everything you’ve touched).  This is the same as in Canada or the USA.  If you wait a couple of days, and have already showered, still call the police & make the report. They will come to you and ask questions, look for and take evidence, etc.  Just like in North America.

But the difference is that in North America, I would normally suggest that you find your local “Rape Crisis Support Centre” or “Sexual Assault Support Centre” or whatever your local support centre is in your area.  But in London, they don’t exist. Shocking right? 

I couldn’t figure out why they don’t exist there, but then discovered that the police & the support centres are closely connected.  So, if you do go to the police you will then be connected to the support centre, where they also check you for signs of assault, STDs & pregnancy, evidence…all the obvious post-rape stuff.  They also put you in touch with a counselor and you can visit the counselor a number of times.  The big difference here is that if your case goes to trial, then what you say in your counselling can be used in court.  Very different than a Sexual Assault Support Centre in Canada or America – where that would never be okay.

They try to make the support centres as comfortable as possible, with magazines, comfy chairs, empathetic staff…but it is what it is.  A place for people who have experienced assault.

*Please note: I just checked out the Havens website again and it looks as though they have made some changes.  Judging from the website, if you don’t want to make a police report you can still use their services.  This is similar to what we do in Canada and the USA so perhaps I was wrong about the differences.  Anyone else know more about this?

There are a million and one different crimes that can be committed against you anywhere in the world, and in London you just need to be a bit more street-smart.  Just like in NYC or any other big city.  Don’t be scared – it’s still a fantastic place to live, but if you are aware & keep your head on then you can avoid many of the not-so-great elements.

I’ve only covered a couple of crimes that could happen to you in the UK and only because I think it’s best that I focus on things that have happened to me or my friends.  Please keep doing your research & ask around as this is nowhere near the be-all and end-all for crimes in the UK.

Questions?  Concerns? Comments?  Please share your thoughts!

The London Expat American Meetup Group!
JOIN US THIS WEEKEND
http://www.meetup.com/americansabroad/calendar/12789768/

What: Great Pub Sunday Lunch Brunch!

When: THIS Sunday, March 7, 2010 FROM 4:00 PM

Where:
Marksman Pub
254, Hackney Rd, E2 7SJ
London

We’re getting together for some Sunday Afternoon drinks. Join us for a great Sunday Lunch just off Columbia Road Market with a fantastic regular menu that also offers a slap up Brunch as well!

American artist Dawn Kolpin and her husband have owned the pub for a number of years and is very much a local community favorite. The emphasis is on real keg beers, quality pub food and
real community spirit. They also have a mad tendency to barter things in exchange for beer!

This place gets packed, and the kitchen closes at 4- reopens at 6 so if you are in it for the food please be patient (or get there a bit earlier). Canadian bar keep Kim will be on hand to dispense the suds. This place is a real find!

See you there!

Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/americansabroad/calendar/12789768/

If I was in London this weekend, I’d go to this event!  Looks like a lot of fun.  Please let me know if you go, and take some pics for me to post here. Thanks!

I promise to get back to regular blog posts soon. I know I’ve just been posting events lately, and my only excuse is that I’m running out of ideas for what to write about here.  If you have suggestions, please share!

Hello Network Canada!

I just wanted to remind you about our upcoming annual quiz night on March 8th at 7:00pm, which is a great way to mingle in an informal setting. We have put together a quiz that isn’t entirely Canada-centric, so please feel free to bring along any non-Canadians and non-members who enjoy a good pub quiz. Everyone is welcome!

We have a Canada Shop hamper for the team that comes in first place, and this is always a popular prize filled with those Canadian goodies that we all miss from the homeland.

Please sign up your team as soon as possible by clicking on the link below:

http://www.networkcanada.org/news/eventregister.asp?ID=845

And if you don’t have a team, please do stop by in any event, as we will be happy to put teams together (just bring along your £2), or you can even play with the Directors (excluding me, as I have so painstakingly compiled the quiz myself).

For all information and to sign up, visit the link below:

http://www.networkcanada.org/news/eventdetails.asp?EventID=845

I can’t wait to see everyone there!

Best wishes,

Membership Director

If you go to this event, please let me know how it goes! I’d love to see pictures as well. Thanks!

Any other events for Canadians or Americans in the UK? Please feel free to email me or leave a comment here so I can invite others for you.  Happy networking everyone!

Have FUN!  Oh, and GO CANADA!

USA v Canada Olympic ICE HOCKEY & BBQ
Game Starts 8:15 TONIGHT
http://www.meetup.com/americansabroad/calendar/12728580/

When TONIGHT Sunday, Feb 28th dorrs open 7:00 pm

Where
Bodeans BBQ
16 Byward Street
Tower Hill, EC3R 5BA
London
Tube: Tower Hill, Aldgate, Aldgate East

For the second time since NHL players began participating in the Olympics, Canada will face the United States in the gold medal game.

This is just too good to let pass by without a meetup. This Sunday the two North American national teams face off for gold in Olympic Ice Hockey finals in North America. We’ve booked out Bodeans Tower Hill for the occasion.

As you all know we are a North Americans cultural social group, 25% of our membership is Canadian. I expect lots of people in both Red, White and Blue and Maple Leafs!

Olympics host nation Canada beat Slovakia today 3-2 to set up a finals hockey re-match, this time for the gold with preliminary-round conquerors, the USA. Canada is now in gold double figures and top of the gold league with 10 gold medals for the Games, one more than Germany and two more than both the USA and Norway.

Team USA had booked their place in tomorrow’s gold metal final earlier in the day by rolling past Finland 6-1. In reality the Canadian game has lost none of its luster, it’s just that American Ice Hockey professionalism has come a long way over the last 15 years. For Team USA, a victory will be its first Olympic gold medal in Ice Hockey since the “Miracle on Ice” super-amazing game against the Soviets 30 years ago.

It’s all to play for as Canadian national pride is on the line with the national game, which was invented in Canada being played on home soil. The Can/Am Womens Ice Hockey match the other day was hard fought between Women’s Team USA (who still retain the title of World Champions) and an absolutely electric national victory for the Canadians, with Prime Minister Harper and Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky in attendance.

This is the grudge match to end all N.A. grudge matches, so keep it polite! Join us for chicken wings, nachos and the best game of Ice Hockey this decade!

You cannot miss this one. See you there!

Gold Silver Bronze Total
1. United States 8 14 13 35
2. Germany 10 11 7 28
3. Canada 12 7 4 23

Special Note: the downstairs area is being opened just for us, and will be serving drinks all night. If you want food it will only be served upstairs.

RSVP
http://www.meetup.com/americansabroad/calendar/12728580/

This is a reprint from a post I wrote for my Classroom Canada blog.

I’ve decided to tell you what my New Year’s Resolution is.  A bit late I know, but still – I am focused on one goal and I know I will reach it.  Are you ready?

I want to win an award in 2010.

It doesn’t really matter what the award is, but something that fits my work would be amazing.

So, imagine my delight when I opened my inbox to find an invitation to apply for an award honouring recruiters who use social media.  Seriously?  Could this award fit my work any better?

Let’s see:

• Classroom Canada now has a zero advertising budget because of my use of social media.
• I write this blog.
• I write this other blog.
• I wrote this ebook.
• I use Facebook & Twitter.
• I participate in online forums discussing life in London as an expat, and teaching in London in general.
• I encourage and participate in this blogging community & love a good discussion.
• I ask for testimonials from teachers to tell what it’s really like to teach in London through the Coffee Time Series (which I am most proud of by the way – I love their stories!)

This award was meant for me!

Right?

If you read this blog, or have just stumbled across it and like what you see, please support me in my goal and vote for the “Teacher Recruitment” button on this link.  I want to win an award!

If not this one, well, then I guess I’ll go for an Academy Award instead.  That would be pretty cool too.

If you want me to just shut up already and get back to talking aboutteaching in London, well…you better vote so I stop harrassing you.  Oh, and vote often. Every day would be great!

Please leave me a comment here if you do vote.  And if you don’t, well…7 years of bad luck is coming your way! (Just kidding) (Sort of)

Thanks so much!

PS) GO CANADA GO!

PPS) Please read Colleen Wagner’s post today about my efforts to win this award. She is far too kind!

Read on my friends…

Name:  Kristina Smith

Current Location:  London, UK

Home town: Orginally from Hickory, NC.  Most recently from Seattle, WA-which is ‘home’ to me.

Education (if relevant):  Undergrad in Accounting from UNC-Charlotte (*so* not relevant any longer, thank goodness!).  MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill.  Concentration in Marketing.  Definitely relevant…

Hi Kristina. Thanks so much for letting me interview you for this little blog.  So you are an American now living in the UK, and specifically in London. 

 When did you make the move across the pond? 

I landed on March 1, 2008.

 Why did you decide to move to London? 

I relocated with my company. I’d always wanted to live abroad, and knew I’d never have such an opportunity practically given to me like this.  So, I decided to take full advantage.

What was the visa process like for you? 

I got lucky.  My company handled all of the ugly paperwork for me.  I completed the application, and gathered all of necessary documentation, but in terms of actually liasing with the British Consulate, that was all handled for me.  Talk about being made to feel like you have to prove your worth!  Literally. 

Do you have any stories to share about flat hunting in London? 

Well…my first experience was quite easy-again, thanks to the corporate relo.  I worked with a company who specializes in helping expats flat hunt.  The 2nd time I searched for a flat-to move in with my boyfriend-was on my own.  I can certainly say, I’ve probably had both ends of the spectrum by now.  The truth of the matter is:  the rental market-and aproach to renting is so completely different from the US (except perhaps NYC?…), and Rental agents can be vultures.  Sorry.  Not all, but a good number of them; and, some companies are good-some certainly aren’t.  I’ve been fairly fortunate wtih both of mine, but have heard the horror stories.  Regardless, a good starting point-whether you have help or not-is www.findaproperty.com   it’s like a ‘clearing house’ of rental properties that most, if not all, agencies post their property to.  Provide your post code, and a few details of what you’re looking for, and voila. 

Contrary to what I’ve heard about landlords, both of mine have been exemplary.  The contract that is used is *definitely* in the landlord’s favor-and makes me rethink the silly one-pager I’m using to rent my place back in the US- but assuming your landlords are reasonable humans, actual dealings with them shouldn’t be that bad. 

What do you do in the UK? (Job that is…) 

 I’m in Search Marketing (PPC & SEO) for a large, online retailer.

Was it easy to find this job?  Can you tell us more about the job application process? 

Well, since I transferred with my company from headquarters to the UK, my process wasn’t like it is for most.  That being said…for the particular field that I’m in, I don’t think I could live in a better city for what I do. The Search industry is very strong here, a bit more advanced than in the US, and unlike the US…people in this space are refreshingly open about what they do-and what they do for their companies.  I really enjoy it, and at this stage in my career, am appreciative of the experience.

To the general question about job searching…like flat-searching, it’s also a different beast.  Agencies (Recruiters) are the norm here.  I don’t know of many people who don’t have their current positions not due to a recruiter.  I’m not even sure if some companies hire in the more direct approach (ie internal recruiting) from the US.  Recruiters are very direct here-I probably get a phone call a week, and a ping on LinkedIn weekly.  I recognize that the level of activity is somewhat due to my industry, but nonetheless-if you’re looking for a job here, get yourself on LinkedIn!

Okay, so now that we understand your life history in regards to moving to London and what your work is, let’s get into some more nitty-gritty details.

What do you absolutely love about your life in London? 

Borough Market on Saturday mornings, free museums and the vast selection of plays to be able to attend, the ability to ‘pop’ over to the continent-for next to nothing-for the weekend, public transportation (I know, I know-it can be a nightmare, but comparitvely, it’s leaps ahead of the US).  I’ll stop there-I could probably list another 10 things!

 And what could you do without? 

Tourists who clog up the sidewalks, the intrusion of my personal space when on said public transport, and the cost of living.  I could also probably list another 10 things, but will try to stay positive.

 Do you miss “home”?  Or do you call London your home now? 

There are days when I miss Seattle, my friends & family, a good, cheap-meal, and a good IPA to the point it physically hurts.  Then, there are days when I’m so flipping happy to be here, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.  Which side of the coin seems to change almost as frequently as the weather here.

 Who are your friends and community?  Do you mostly spend time with other Expat Americans or do you have other friends as well?  Were there any cultural barriers to overcome? 

My friends here fall into 2-3 clusters….Expats (and a few who aren’t) from work, my British boyfriend-and his friends-many of which are mine now, and other various, random folks that I’ve met-thru pup quiz, industry events, friends of friends (of friends…).  It’s a somewhat diverse group.  Probably 50% US; 40% Brit; 10% ‘other’.

Cultural barriers?…yes and no.  I’ve thought a lot about this in the two years I’ve been here.  I think the ‘cultural barriers’ I’ve personally experienced have nothing to do with differences between the US & UK.  Rather, my experiences are due to living in a truly *big* city for the first time.  I think that’s where I’ve struggled the most.  I’m not used to the crowds-and the need to be aggressive to sometimes get from point A to B, and the brusque attitude you can sometimes encounter.  I don’t think that’s a UK thing-I think it’s a big city thing.

The actual ‘cultural’ differences don’t seem too noticeable to me.  Again, having thought about this a bit, I think it’s due to having been raised in the South.  I see a lot of similarities in the culture of the South-and British culture, and think that becuase of this, it was an easy transistion for me.  Either that, or I’m completely oblivious!

But, the fact that my bf is British certainly helps.  He gives me ’street cred’ immediately when we’re out & about, and I’m sure I’ve picked up on cultural bits from him-even subconsciously-that have made my living here seem so smooth.

 In terms of lifestyle, what do you think is different about your lifestyle in the UK compared to your lifestyle in the states?  And what’s the same?

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!?!?

In short, everything-both good and bad: I walk, I don’t drive.  I pay more for rent here than my mortgage in the US.  I never wear a shoe that’s higher than 1 inch.  I drink coffee without half & half.  I get tons more vacation.  I don’t exercise as much, but I drink more. I eat less Asian food, but more Mediterannean food.  I don’t go shopping every other weekend, and buy more ’stuff.’  I realize how good the customer service in the US is now-actually, make that *exemplary.*  I don’t go out during the week as spontaneously as I used to-but at the same time, have more scheduled social events.

 If you could offer any advice to fellow Americans considering the move to the UK, what would it be?

Whew. Where do I begin?…Brace yourself!   I think you won’t even realize how valuable of an experience living in the UK has been-until you move back to the US.  Assuming you do!..

 Thanks so much Kristina! I really enjoyed this interview.  Keep up the great blogging!

Check out Kristina’s blog here & please tell her that I sent you.  Thanks!

Any other questions for Kristina? Please share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to let me know if you know of another blogger I should interview for this blog.  Thanks.

Tonight, the Canadian Men’s Hockey team battles Norway.   Here’s where you can watch the game with other Canadians in London:

Colleen asked her hubby what he did for their contents insurance and here’s his very helpful response:

“The comparison websites like comparethemarket.com ,  gocompare.com, confused.com are popular but some insurance companies like Aviva, Churchill or Directline only offer direct websites, they do not participate in the comparison sites. Normally you need to fill out a form on the sites, so they capture your data. The sites also ask for a bunch of information about your flat… whether you’re on a ground floor or top floor, have an alarm system, if you have an external door or multiple doors. Probably the most obscure questions were about the building grading (apparently a British thing of rating structures) and then the type of roof of the building… flat, steel, concrete, sloping, straw. 

Annoyingly you receive e-mails and phone calls from insurance sales people after completing the info on the website. They fade away after a week or so, but none the less super annoying. Also, the quotes on the sites are not necessarily the price you will get, once you make contact with the insurance companies, they recalculate the whole policy anyway after asking you more detailed questions, and you end up with a completely different rate. This is where our process broke down, for our basic contents they wanted like £150-£200 a year, but then once you add a single item like a wedding ring for a high value, many weren’t interested in covering us, or they want like £600 a year. So I got frustrated and gave up.”

I remember doing the same thing – just giving up!  I lived in 5 different flats in London, from your typical apartment building to a Victorian Terrace House, and each of those had at least 3 different locks to get in.  I also lived with “Bobbies” (aka “cops”) so I guess I just felt safe enough to not bother with home insurance.  I also didn’t own contents that were really worth insuring for the prices they gave.  A new laptop costs less than the price to insure it.  Or so it seemed to me anyway.

So, my advice?  Keep on doing your research and ask for referrals from others in the UK.  Perhaps you will find that amazing little insurance company that is affordable and friendly?  That would be great!  Please keep us posted on your progress.

For health insurance, please see this post.

Anything else you’d like me to cover here?  I’m running out of topics to help other Americans & Canadians make the move to the UK so any questions you need answering, please just ask.  Thanks!

Hi Victoria,

I’ve been reading your blog (Canadians & Americans in the UK) for the past couple of weeks, and I just wanted to say thank you so much for managing such a helpful and resourceful blog!

I haven’t been able to find anything on the blog about contents insurance and I was just wondering if maybe I’ve missed it? My boyfriend and I will be re-locating to London in May and we’re trying to see what our options are for contents insurance for things like golf clubs, computers, other valuable items. Have you written about this?

Keep up the wonderful blog! It’s truly one of the best resources out there!

~C~

1. I should have a “contact me” button somewhere on this blog.  If any of you would like to contact me directly, please feel free to email me at victoria AT classroomcanada DOT com.  I will do my best to answer your questions.
2. And for C’s particular question, yes! I should write a blog about contents insurance, and house insurance and all things insurance related.  I know one reader is writing a post about getting your UK drivers license & car insurance related to that so I will track him down and see how that is coming along.  But I will also do some research and see what I can find to help those readers who want to know about insuring their homes.  My first step will be to ask Colleen at London Relocation Services, as I’m sure she knows the answer to this one.  Watch this space!

On another note, I am in the process of converting the most valuable information from this lil’ blog into a handy-dandy & free downloadable ebook.  What do you think? 

Is it worth my time to compile all this info into an ebook, or should I just keep on with the blog?  I’d likely keep the blog up here, but just thought that some people might like to have the best “How To’s” as one easy-to-download & read ebook.  Kind of like my “Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians” but not about teaching and not just for Canadians. I’d like it to be free, and will ask for donations to Kiva I think.  What do you think?  Please let me know! Thanks.

And finally, have a fun weekend watching the Superbowl everyone!  Where will you be watching it this year?  If you’re in London, please check out this event and watch with your fellow Americans & Canadians in London.

Here, Colleen shares her experiences moving to London and all that entails.  Happy reading!

Name: Colleen Wagner

Current Location: London, United Kingdom

Home town: Bartlett, Illinois USA (suburb of Chicago)

Education: Bachelor of Science in Finance at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana; Masters in Education at DePaul University

Hi Colleen. Thanks so much for letting me interview you for this little blog.  So you are an American now living in the UK, and specifically in London.

When did you make the move across the pond?

Late September 2008

Why did you decide to move to London?

I had gotten married that summer of 2008, and at the time I was in the Chicago area while my husband was still in New York (that made for a fun few years of long-distance…). He had left a job he wasn’t happy in, but could not find any good opportunities in New York or Chicago at the time. He had a good lead in Providence, Rhode Island, however, and then received two job offers in London. We knew several friends in London whereas we knew ZERO in Rhode Island, so we decided to go for the adventure London would offer!

What was the visa process like for you?

It was luckily not too difficult for me because my husband’s company sponsored it. We had HR and their legal consultant taking care of most of the nitty-gritty, so we just needed to complete the application (which, granted, is lengthy but not complicated) and show up at the assigned location for our biometrics (which only took 5 minutes of fingerprinting). The visa process that posed me the most stress was the one after my purse was stolen with my passport and visa inside it! When you’re already in the UK when that happens, it entails making an appointment with the U.S. Embassy to replace the passport and then another with UK’s Home Office to have your biometrics redone, additional forms completed, etc. It’s a massive pain because you may have to wait weeks for these appointments, and if you reapply for the visa by mail, you need to send in your passport and not get it back for 3 months; the expedited alternative is very costly (over 500 GBP), but you get to keep your passport and are issued a separate visa card that arrives within a couple weeks of the appointment. I shall never forget that delightful afternoon sitting at the Home Office in East Croyden for SIX hours…

Do you have any stories to share about flat hunting in London?

Flat hunting was quite the new experience, as I had no idea until we got here that these lettings agencies don’t use MLS (multiple listing system) as they do in the States. Therefore, when you walk into an agency, they only show properties in their immediate vicinity, which is only partial coverage as the agency next door will have their own separate listinsg in the same area. Some agencies do arrange “split deals” in which they collaborate with each other on a property and share commissions, but not all.

This industry has no regulation here—you do not need a license to be a realtor, so you or I could just start up a lettings agency, draft up some leases, and start showing properties if we wanted. That fact alone makes it a very unsettling experience indeed.

The result was that, as we lived out of a hotel at no small cost, it took me 2 weeks to see 23 properties—and then add to that the multiple RE-viewings of several of them when I could bring my husband back with me (he had to start work right away when we came over, so I was on my own for most of the process). I’ve lost count how many different agencies I had to go through to get that coverage, and I only focused on the area around our hotel because I didn’t know anything about any neighbourhoods to know to go directly to an agency in one of them.

I think we really lucked out in happening to randomly walk into the last agency that we did, as they were truly professional (I couldn’t say that for some of the others…they seemed like young kids just enjoying that they had a company car to drive around in) and had our interests in mind when they showed us Lucky #23, where we are still living now in our 2nd year.

So you first came to London hoping to teach, but did that for only a short while. Why did you stop teaching in London?

There was an intersection of factors that all came together to create a Perfect Storm at that time, really. I moved here for my husband’s job, and, left to my own devices, I would have stayed home to be near my family, friends, and fabulous teaching job. Added to that is the fact that we were only just married and this was our first time living together—first time in the same city for 4.5 years, for that matter!

So, needless to say, the transition after relocating was very difficult for me emotionally, so there’s no question that I was not operating at 100% when I started that job. I felt drained of being able to give more of myself and was too vulnerable to absorb much more external stress. And I’ll admit it—I was totally spoiled with my job back home. I have only ever taught in the suburbs of Chicago, and at the schools where I taught, the worst behavioral issue is chattiness; students are generally compliant. I had never been exposed to the city school climate and applaud those who are able to effectively rule with an iron fist as it seems they need to, but that was just wasn’t my personality. I’m not tough like that.

When I had to break up 3 fistfights in my first week teaching here in London, I was incredibly intimidated by the task laid before me, and I further wasn’t quite sure how to manage the 12 and 13 year olds that UK secondary schools also encompass. And without UK qualification status, this was the calibre of school to which the teaching agencies were sending me. Resources were wanting; the administration first gave me curriculum materials after I had already started, and even then they only trickled in incompletely. It isn’t that I can’t improvise and design lesson content myself, but when these UK students need to be taught strictly toward their GCSE exams, I began to worry that my lack of experience with the national curriculum would be a hindrance in their progress.

It came to the point when I needed to put my personal well-being ahead of my career—teaching was once what fuelled me and gave me great happiness, but there was no joy in this. I feel guilty, as I know it probably sounds like I’m way too soft and threw in the towel too soon, but I have no doubt that my decision was the best one for me at that time. I’m still a teacher, and I WILL teach again; we only plan to be here another couple of years, so I think this is a grand opportunity in the meantime to enjoy London and travelling with my husband and indulge in interests I’m also passionate about like reading and creative writing. And now that I’ve fallen in love with London and feel very well-adjusted, I’m considering going into tutoring and perhaps back to part-time supply-teaching.

Then you discovered London Relocation Services right? How did that come about?

When teaching didn’t appear to pan out, I decided to pursue administrative work to help pay the bills. I was tremendously disheartened during this search, as I’ve never just had the “day job”—I’ve always thrown myself into everything I do, and while I couldn’t give teaching all that it required for the time being, I still wanted to be passionate about my daily work. I happened to stumble on the job advert for London Relocation Ltd., and voila! Here I am! Given the whole dramatic spiel I rambled about earlier, it obviously means a great deal to me to now be assisting other folks undergoing the same transition. I bring a vast amount of empathy to the table, and it’s satisfying knowing I can continue to help people in this capacity.

And what do you do with the company?

I assist in fielding the enquiries of prospects of who contact us through our website, email, or phone. The people we hear from are all at different stages in the process—some are just seeking general guidance on how to get rolling with the visa process, find a job, or how expensive cost of living is in London, and others are ready to hit the ground running and find a flat soon. We discuss budgets, average rent prices for different-sized properties in different areas, and any and all property/neighbourhood specifications that I need to qualify before passing them on to Anthony, the relocation agent who will arrange and take them on their viewings.

We have recently hired another wonderful colleague, Billy, who primarily fields these enquiries now and works with me to schedule appointments. More recently, my role has evolved to concentrate more on social media, so I write the company blogs, update our profiles on various social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and I administer our new social network, London Living at www.londonrelocation.ning.com. Social media is relatively new territory for me, so I’m having a blast exploring and educating myself on it, and interacting with all the quality people out there who are so eager to connect with others in positive collaborations.

Okay, so now that we understand your life history in regards to moving to London and what your work is, let’s get into some more nitty-gritty details. What do you absolutely love about your life in London?

Hands-down it’s the opportunity to explore the historical and cultural layers of this city and travel so easily to other countries from here, even if only for a weekend.

And what could you do without?

At the risk of sounding like the Ugly American, probably the slow responsiveness in service and storage issues.

Do you miss “home”? Or do you call London your home now?

Oh yes, I continue to miss home a great deal, but we’ve been blessed to have so many loved ones willing to come over and visit us, and I make it back every few months; the internet helps so much as well when you have options like email, Facebook, or Skype, and there are some great international calling plans out there (I LOVE that you can swap SIM cards in and out of your mobile! Can’t do that at home!). I think if I could just move everyone I love to the UK, though, I could stay here forever. My heart really has found its place here, and I know I’ll be “homesick” for London when it comes time to relocate back.

Who are your friends and community? Do you mostly spend time with other Expat Americans or do you have other friends as well? Were there any cultural barriers to overcome?

I was lucky to start out already with several American friends that my husband and I knew from past jobs and school (I actually fell back in touch with a friend who I hadn’t hung out with since 4th grade, and we’re great friends again now!), so it’s been a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with those people on local turf. I’ve also become good friends with several lovely Brits that I’ve worked with here, and I’m psyched to hopefully meet up soon with some great people who’ve been interacting on our London Living site.

I haven’t really encountered cultural barriers obstructing me from establishing quality relationships with people. The British do have the tendency to be less direct and might talk around an issue rather than directly confront it, but I think it’s all in the name of courtesy, and one thing I will never criticize is their fine manners!

In terms of lifestyle, what do you think is different about your lifestyle in the UK compared to your lifestyle in the states? And what’s the same?

I think London is an ideal start for North Americans wanting to try out an international experience because there is reduced culture shock–it’s more Western than continental Europe, so the day-to-day experience isn’t much of a jolt. That being said, one has to get accustomed to living on a smaller scale, both physically and figuratively.

In the first sense, buildings and streets are smaller, narrower, as are the stores. I’ve had to learn to shop for groceries more frequently and in smaller quantity—I felt like such an American arse when I first bought food and had to hail a taxi to get it all home when everyone else in line had their little baskets with just a few tomatoes and a baguette tucked inside (basically, rather than stock up, they shop for what they need for dinner that night).

Storage place is limited in most flats, so you can’t bring everything from home with you—for us, that included most of the fun wedding presents we’d just gotten and are now sitting in storage back home! The other sense in which one has to scale back here is in terms of energy—every outlet has a switch for shutting it off when not in use, and lights in hallways will go out after a minute unless you click the switch or a motion sensor detects you.

Gas and electricity are REALLY expensive compared to home, so I find myself constantly turning lights or the heater on and off as necessary. And they tax you on freaking everything—owning a TV, a car, etc. Overall, though, you really do learn what you can live without and start to make more conscious choices, which I think is a good lesson.

If you could offer any advice to fellow Americans considering the move to the UK, what would it be?

Be open-minded. Don’t expect the UK to be exactly like home. If you want it to be just like home, then, in all brutal honesty, an international move might not be for you.

It’s important to respect the ways of the nation you move to and know that you can learn from them, just as the people there can learn from you too. To maintain this positive sort of engagement with your new surroundings, you have to be positive yourself.

Things will be annoying. Things will go wrong. The unexpected will always occur. This I promise. But if you can take these things in stride and understand that there are trade-offs, you’ll soon recognize that what you’re gaining in exchange for what you lose is an invaluable experience that you’ll carry with you for a lifetime. For a lot of us, it’s only a temporary situation anyway, so you have to enjoy it for what it is during that time.

Thanks so much Colleen! I really appreciate your honesty and the time you took to answer all these questions for us. 

If anyone else has questions for Colleen, please leave them in the comments section.  Or, if you just want to share your two pence, please do!  Watch this space for more interviews with Canadians & Americans living in the UK.

Also, if you do contact London Relocation Services as a result of this blog, please be sure to mention my name, Victoria Westcott.  Thanks!