Why in the world would you hire an American to teach your British children? The differences in spelling, measurement systems, grammar... It's ridiculous that I'm allowed to teach here.
Try converting kilograms and kilometres and degrees Celsius in a British science class.
Or try editing a student's paper while remembering the differences in spelling between the US and UK. Here are some basic spelling differences:
-color (colour)
-organize (organise)
-defense (defence)
-check (cheque)
-favorite (favourite)
-center (centre)
Teaching has been going well. I started three weeks ago at Kingsgate Primary School, and then quickly moved on to a Catholic secondary school called St. Marks. It was supposed to be a one-day gig, but they liked me and asked me to fill in for one of their absent teaching assistants for 2 weeks. I've been working with a variety of special needs students ranging from physical disabilities (wheelchairs, cerebral palsy) to autism to ADHD to minor learning disabilities. It's been rewarding and exhausting. I commute 90 mins every morning: 5 min walk, hour tube ride (2 trains), 15 min walk. School. If I didn't like the kids and the people I work with I obviously wouldn't deal with such a long commute.
The children all wear matching uniforms... Blazers, sweater vests, ties, and either trousers or skirts. They call all of their female teachers by "Miss" and their male teachers by "Sir." This means that I am referred to as "Miss," too. It's quite nice.
I primarily work with an 11-year-old Lebanese girl, *Mariam, who suffers from cerebral palsy and minor learning disabilities. She wears braces on her legs and has trouble getting from class to class, especially when stairs are involved. She loves dance and the arts. She said to me on our second day together, "Miss, tell me about America. I hear it is just wonderful. I want to move there and become a dancer, actress and writer." I just smiled, told her it was the land of opportunity, you can be whatever you want to be, blah blah and all that other bullcrap.
Last week I witnessed first-hand her passion for dance. I had to help her dress for P.E. class. I was dreading the class the entire day. How was I supposed to help a child with cerebral palsy try to keep up in a gym class full of active 11- and 12-year-olds? The girls P.E. theme last week was dance, and Mariam was thrilled. The teacher started the music and the girls began a semi-choreographed shuffle dance around the gym. Though Mariam's technique looked nothing like the other girls, I was surprised by her quickness. I had never seen her so light on her feet. And her face. She glowed. Even writing about it now I get goosebumps.
You might be wondering why in the world I would come to London and teach. (?!) It really is ideal temporary employment for someone like me who seeks flexibility (for travel) and decent pay. I meet a ton of new people each day. I get to see areas of London that I normally wouldn't take the time to visit. Oh, and the things I learn! For instance, Tuesday I had history where I learned about Medieval kings of England. In english class I learned about alliteration, and I helped students write poems about dragons and wizards. In drama class the students were perfoming puppet shows. One student created a blonde-hair, blue-eyed puppet with an American accent. (hmmmm, sound familiar?) The next period was art where the kids were painting famous places. One boy wanted my personal opinion on his rendition of the Grand Canyon. "Do you live near the Grand Canyon? How big is it? Does my painting look like it?..."
- - - - - - -
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
I saw Fiddler on the Roof yesterday (Thursday). It was magnificent! I love the movie, and the stage version was even better. I knew every song and I sang along in my head.ha. I wish I could see a theatre show every day. That's not possible, but I am on track to see one show/musical/concert/performance each week. 4 weeks. 4 shows: Fiddler on the Roof, I am Falling (contemporary dance), WICKED, 39 Steps. And next week I'm supposed to see Grease with Kyle (Colorado) and Beth & Jenny (Minnesota). Beth and Jen met the lead actor "Danny" last Saturday in a Jazz club, so we have a pass backstage to meet the cast. I'll let you know how that goes. :)
- - - - - - -
New pics are up!
http://ashleyhenke.shutterfly.com
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Happy Half-Birthday to Me!
Hello there -
Today, January 25, is my half birthday! Yay!
Jenny & Beth are taking me out tonight to celebrate (since none of us is celebrating a "real" birthday whilst we're here). I'm not sure what the plans are for the night, but it should be fun, involving singing, dancing and cake.
Things are going well on my end. This blog won't be too exciting or in-depth. My internet at my flat is out again so I'm writing this quickly from an internet cafe. I have so much to share with you all about my first full week of teaching at St.Marks (Catholic School) on the southwest end of London, British lingo, and drama on the Underground...
I'll catch you up soon. Have a terrific weekend! I'm off to the Bunac Office to see what types of cool volunteer work I can sign up for.
Cheers.
Ash
Today, January 25, is my half birthday! Yay!
Jenny & Beth are taking me out tonight to celebrate (since none of us is celebrating a "real" birthday whilst we're here). I'm not sure what the plans are for the night, but it should be fun, involving singing, dancing and cake.
Things are going well on my end. This blog won't be too exciting or in-depth. My internet at my flat is out again so I'm writing this quickly from an internet cafe. I have so much to share with you all about my first full week of teaching at St.Marks (Catholic School) on the southwest end of London, British lingo, and drama on the Underground...
I'll catch you up soon. Have a terrific weekend! I'm off to the Bunac Office to see what types of cool volunteer work I can sign up for.
Cheers.
Ash
Sunday, January 20, 2008
WICKED the musical. The primary school. High Tea at the Palace.
I thought signing up with an education agency would be like signing my life away. I assumed once committed to substitute teaching ("supply teaching") I would be called daily for work or booked well in advance. And so Wednesday was my "LAST DAY OFF" and I thought I had better live it up.
Jenny was free Wednesday, too, and she suggested we see a musical. We walked around Leicester Square and searched the 1/2 price ticket booths for the best possible price. Two-for-the-price-of-one? Student Discount? Matinee reduced price? We decided we would take any deal, but not at the expense of sitting behind a giant pole, tucked in a corner, or next to the release of a giant fog machine. We found a deal for tickets to see Wicked the musical. It was AWESOME. If you're unfamiliar with the story, it's basically "the untold story of the witches of Oz." It was an incredible script, but on top of that, the music, set, and actors were fabulous. I highly, highly recommend this musical for all ages, theatre go-ers or not. (www.wickedthemusical.co.uk)
Thursday I began my life as "Ash, Teacher Assistant" at a Primary School in West Hampstead. The school consisted of adorable brick buildings that enclosed a courtyard (the playground) in the middle. At the office I signed in and found out I was replacing T.A. Jack for the day. Jack was off auditioning for a musical. Later, in the teachers' lounge I found out that many London actors lead a double life as a teacher's assistant. Apparently it's very common. The T.A. is flexible and a good source of income, but in their spare time they pursue their true passion of acting and theatre.
The classroom I was placed in was a Year 2, similar to our grade 2 in the States, but a bit younger. Most of the children were 6 and turning 7 very soon. I was assigned to Thomas*, who suffered from severe ADHD, for most of the morning. In the afternoon I split my time between three classrooms, working with special needs students. Finally at the end of the day I assisted the "Bramble" class with their assembly to the rest of the school. They acted out the story of the Gingerbread man and held up pictures/stories they had created.
I was exhausted by the end of the day. Overall, the school was chaotic. I guess that's to be expected in a school where 85% of the students consider English their second language. I did crafts with Nadirah and Erza who wore scarves around their heads. They told me they loved my eyes (blue), and as I looked around the different classrooms I realized I was the only blonde-haired, blue-eyed person. As I sat at a table covered in glue and scissors and colored paper the children began asking me where I was from. "America," I said. "Ooooh," they all replied, "But where are your parents from?" I said, "Ur, America." They looked slightly confused. Pablo said his parents were from Ecuador. Shekinah was from South Africa. Yohona was from Kosovo. Patrick from Northern Ireland. Talk about diversity.
Despite the obvious differences between the British and American educational systems, they really are very similar. The teachers' lounge is still the hub of gossip and complaining. Children still cry over trivial events on the playground. Glue is still used with the idea that more is definitely better.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Friday Jenny and I spent an hour and a half watching the famous Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. It was cool to see such a traditional ceremony first-hand. I will say that it was a little overrated, or maybe just a bit too touristy. I think it has lost some of the authenticity when they tried to make it more appealing to a crowd of hungry tourists waving their cameras over their heads. Nonetheless, I saw the Changing of the Guards and it was memorable and another thing to check off of my ever-growing list of "things to do before I leave London."
........................
Saturday I had High Tea (formal tea) at Kensington Palace/Kensington Gardens with three of my good friends. Yes, the former residence of Princess Diana. Tea was awesome. I wish we had a tradition like this is the States. The "tea" started off with our very own teapot consisting of a tea of our choice. Traditional English sandwiches came out next, followed by huge scones stuffed with clotted cream (sounds healthy, huh?) and jelly. The last "course" of the tea was a piece of orange cake - - - the signature dessert of the building we were in, which is referred to as the "Orangery." The story goes that when Queen Anne lived in Kensington Palace (sometime in the 1700s) she had a large greenhouse building that housed citrus trees, The Orangery. And that, my friends, is where I had tea on Saturday. Queen Anne's old greenhouse. It sounds so much cooler when I call it Princess Di's greenhouse.
Well thanks for keeping up with me. I'll have pictures up on my shutterfly page from these events by Wed. 23 Jan.
Cheers
Jenny was free Wednesday, too, and she suggested we see a musical. We walked around Leicester Square and searched the 1/2 price ticket booths for the best possible price. Two-for-the-price-of-one? Student Discount? Matinee reduced price? We decided we would take any deal, but not at the expense of sitting behind a giant pole, tucked in a corner, or next to the release of a giant fog machine. We found a deal for tickets to see Wicked the musical. It was AWESOME. If you're unfamiliar with the story, it's basically "the untold story of the witches of Oz." It was an incredible script, but on top of that, the music, set, and actors were fabulous. I highly, highly recommend this musical for all ages, theatre go-ers or not. (www.wickedthemusical.co.uk)
Thursday I began my life as "Ash, Teacher Assistant" at a Primary School in West Hampstead. The school consisted of adorable brick buildings that enclosed a courtyard (the playground) in the middle. At the office I signed in and found out I was replacing T.A. Jack for the day. Jack was off auditioning for a musical. Later, in the teachers' lounge I found out that many London actors lead a double life as a teacher's assistant. Apparently it's very common. The T.A. is flexible and a good source of income, but in their spare time they pursue their true passion of acting and theatre.
The classroom I was placed in was a Year 2, similar to our grade 2 in the States, but a bit younger. Most of the children were 6 and turning 7 very soon. I was assigned to Thomas*, who suffered from severe ADHD, for most of the morning. In the afternoon I split my time between three classrooms, working with special needs students. Finally at the end of the day I assisted the "Bramble" class with their assembly to the rest of the school. They acted out the story of the Gingerbread man and held up pictures/stories they had created.
I was exhausted by the end of the day. Overall, the school was chaotic. I guess that's to be expected in a school where 85% of the students consider English their second language. I did crafts with Nadirah and Erza who wore scarves around their heads. They told me they loved my eyes (blue), and as I looked around the different classrooms I realized I was the only blonde-haired, blue-eyed person. As I sat at a table covered in glue and scissors and colored paper the children began asking me where I was from. "America," I said. "Ooooh," they all replied, "But where are your parents from?" I said, "Ur, America." They looked slightly confused. Pablo said his parents were from Ecuador. Shekinah was from South Africa. Yohona was from Kosovo. Patrick from Northern Ireland. Talk about diversity.
Despite the obvious differences between the British and American educational systems, they really are very similar. The teachers' lounge is still the hub of gossip and complaining. Children still cry over trivial events on the playground. Glue is still used with the idea that more is definitely better.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Friday Jenny and I spent an hour and a half watching the famous Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. It was cool to see such a traditional ceremony first-hand. I will say that it was a little overrated, or maybe just a bit too touristy. I think it has lost some of the authenticity when they tried to make it more appealing to a crowd of hungry tourists waving their cameras over their heads. Nonetheless, I saw the Changing of the Guards and it was memorable and another thing to check off of my ever-growing list of "things to do before I leave London."
........................
Saturday I had High Tea (formal tea) at Kensington Palace/Kensington Gardens with three of my good friends. Yes, the former residence of Princess Diana. Tea was awesome. I wish we had a tradition like this is the States. The "tea" started off with our very own teapot consisting of a tea of our choice. Traditional English sandwiches came out next, followed by huge scones stuffed with clotted cream (sounds healthy, huh?) and jelly. The last "course" of the tea was a piece of orange cake - - - the signature dessert of the building we were in, which is referred to as the "Orangery." The story goes that when Queen Anne lived in Kensington Palace (sometime in the 1700s) she had a large greenhouse building that housed citrus trees, The Orangery. And that, my friends, is where I had tea on Saturday. Queen Anne's old greenhouse. It sounds so much cooler when I call it Princess Di's greenhouse.
Well thanks for keeping up with me. I'll have pictures up on my shutterfly page from these events by Wed. 23 Jan.
Cheers
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
In London with NO MONEY. What would you do?
Last Tuesday I found a lovely little flat in northwest London so I started taking large sums of money from the ATM to pay my first month's rent and deposit. On my last trip to the ATM, the machine kept my card. Keep in mind this is a machine I've used successfully twice in the past. However, on this occasion it simply retained my card, gave me no money, and said "We've retained your card. Please contact your bank." I ran all the way back to the hostel and started making phone calls (after a brief break-down and cry, of course). I called the number on the ATM and the woman told me it was Royal Bank and the country's policy to destroy all cards that are retained. I tried to call my home bank (and my parents) but realized it was only 3:30 a.m. back in Dubois County.
I honestly didn't know what to do. This bank card I had been using was my only access to funds back home. I used it in stores and restaurants as a credit/debit card... for online purchases... as an ATM card, etc. Without it, I had no money. I had 100 British pounds in my new British bank account (NatWest), however, that deposit was a requirement to start the account and couldn't be touched for 30 days. So, I had 12.36 (pounds) in my wallet. I could survive a day on that, but what would happen on Thursday when I was supposed to move into my new flat and pay the deposit and rent? 12.36 just wasn't going to cut it.
When noon in London finally rolled around I called home to cancel my card and to see if my parents had suggestions. Wiring money is always an option, and luckily I had recently set up my own British bank account. They would just wire my funds from home to my new account. Easy, right? Nope. On Wednesday I went to the NatWest Bank. They showed that my funds had been received from the States, but it was their policy not to let clients access them for 24 hours. Awesome. 2 pounds and 42 pence left.
By Thursday morning I was able to pull my funds just in time to meet the landlord and hand it all over. It was a stressful few days, but a learning experience too. I learned how little cash I needed in order to survive in Europe's largest and most expensive city. :) I'm not sure that too many people could handle such a fiasco in only their second week of living alone abroad. It's all part of the adventure, I suppose.
- - - - - - - -
The new flat.
It's modest. Small. Expensive. Conveniently-located.
I'm just a 4-minute walk from the Queen's Park tube station (Bakerloo line, if you're glancing at a tube map).
It's a nice little area with several restaurants and shops and pubs.
I have my own studio flat (This is an apartment where everything is included: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc.) My two new Minnesota friends (Beth & Jenny) are also renting their own studio flats. Beth's is next to mine, and Jenny is in the building next door.
Work.
I had an interview on Saturday with a temp agency, but not just any temp agency, a teaching agency. Ha. If I didn't get enough substitute teaching before I left the states, it looks like I'll have another chance. A lot of Bunac participants sign up with office temp agencies. They get put in random secretarial temp jobs throughout the city... sometimes staying for weeks in a job, and sometimes for just a day. I thought about that route, but for the same pay I could be a teaching assistant or a supply teacher (substitute teacher) and meet lots of cute British kids. We'll see how it goes. I'm just staying open-minded right now. The ladies at the agency loved me and wanted me to start on Monday (2 days ago). I told them I needed a few days to finish some things. . . .
So today I went to the National Portrait Gallery, and then to see a show called '39 Steps.' It was absolutely hilarious (www.love39steps.com). The show only has 4 actors, but they play some 135 different characters or something. It was terrific. Tomorrow is my last day off before I start work so Jen and I are visiting a couple museums and then seeing the musical Wicked. We're hoping to get cheap matinee tickets. :)
My blog entries always seem to be a novel.
I'll conclude.
Cheers to everyone. Keep the prayers and lovely thoughts coming... I'm certain that's what helped me through my mini-crisis last week. :) Take care.
Love, Ash.
I honestly didn't know what to do. This bank card I had been using was my only access to funds back home. I used it in stores and restaurants as a credit/debit card... for online purchases... as an ATM card, etc. Without it, I had no money. I had 100 British pounds in my new British bank account (NatWest), however, that deposit was a requirement to start the account and couldn't be touched for 30 days. So, I had 12.36 (pounds) in my wallet. I could survive a day on that, but what would happen on Thursday when I was supposed to move into my new flat and pay the deposit and rent? 12.36 just wasn't going to cut it.
When noon in London finally rolled around I called home to cancel my card and to see if my parents had suggestions. Wiring money is always an option, and luckily I had recently set up my own British bank account. They would just wire my funds from home to my new account. Easy, right? Nope. On Wednesday I went to the NatWest Bank. They showed that my funds had been received from the States, but it was their policy not to let clients access them for 24 hours. Awesome. 2 pounds and 42 pence left.
By Thursday morning I was able to pull my funds just in time to meet the landlord and hand it all over. It was a stressful few days, but a learning experience too. I learned how little cash I needed in order to survive in Europe's largest and most expensive city. :) I'm not sure that too many people could handle such a fiasco in only their second week of living alone abroad. It's all part of the adventure, I suppose.
- - - - - - - -
The new flat.
It's modest. Small. Expensive. Conveniently-located.
I'm just a 4-minute walk from the Queen's Park tube station (Bakerloo line, if you're glancing at a tube map).
It's a nice little area with several restaurants and shops and pubs.
I have my own studio flat (This is an apartment where everything is included: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc.) My two new Minnesota friends (Beth & Jenny) are also renting their own studio flats. Beth's is next to mine, and Jenny is in the building next door.
Work.
I had an interview on Saturday with a temp agency, but not just any temp agency, a teaching agency. Ha. If I didn't get enough substitute teaching before I left the states, it looks like I'll have another chance. A lot of Bunac participants sign up with office temp agencies. They get put in random secretarial temp jobs throughout the city... sometimes staying for weeks in a job, and sometimes for just a day. I thought about that route, but for the same pay I could be a teaching assistant or a supply teacher (substitute teacher) and meet lots of cute British kids. We'll see how it goes. I'm just staying open-minded right now. The ladies at the agency loved me and wanted me to start on Monday (2 days ago). I told them I needed a few days to finish some things. . . .
So today I went to the National Portrait Gallery, and then to see a show called '39 Steps.' It was absolutely hilarious (www.love39steps.com). The show only has 4 actors, but they play some 135 different characters or something. It was terrific. Tomorrow is my last day off before I start work so Jen and I are visiting a couple museums and then seeing the musical Wicked. We're hoping to get cheap matinee tickets. :)
My blog entries always seem to be a novel.
I'll conclude.
Cheers to everyone. Keep the prayers and lovely thoughts coming... I'm certain that's what helped me through my mini-crisis last week. :) Take care.
Love, Ash.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
NewYearsEve. Flat-Hunting.
I can’t believe I’ve been here a week already. It’s been a busy one.
Monday, New Year’s Eve, was quite an experience… Nothing like watching the ball drop on TV along with the Dick Clark countdown. The city had to shut down several Tube (Underground Subway) stations due to the mass crowds of people. We exited the Tube at the station as close as possible to the London Eye on the River Thames, location of the fireworks display.
It was a very random night. We didn’t really plan anything. We pushed through thousands and thousands of people to get a decent view of the firework show. People were drinking champagne on the subway, dancing in the streets, and just being crazy. The atmosphere was amazing. There’s nothing like ringing in the new year with fireworks in Europe’s largest city, surrounded by over a million of your closest strangers.
**New Year's pictures in this album: http://evansville.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028410&l=a3
FLAT-HUNTING. (flat = apartment)
Due to offices being closed both New Year’s Eve & Day, Wednesday was the earliest I could get to the Bunac Office to do my Orientation. It was very informative. And very overwhelming. I’ve only been here a few days and I realize I’m not expected to get everything done in that time, but geez I have a lot to do. Open a British bank account. Fill out tax exempt forms. Update insurance policies. Write individual cover letters for each potential job. Send CVs (resumes). Set up interviews. Research housing options. Set up mobile phone number. Register phone online. Register Tube pass online. Yadda yadda. Etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying all of it. But anyone who thought I was moving to London to delay the “real world” is sadly mistaken. If anything, I’m jumping into the real world with two feet (and in another country)! Yikes!
. . .
My two Minnesota friends and I have been using gumtree.co.uk and a number of other housing websites in hopes of finding a flat. We’ve viewed 4 this week. Since we don’t have jobs yet, it’s difficult to decide where to live. We’d hate life if we had to commute 70+ mins to work everyday!
We’ve had no luck so far:
Thursday: Finsbury Park (northern London)
- We found this flat for “3 friends” on the Bunac bulletin board. The flat was old-smelling but spacious, and apparently decorated in the late 70s. It was cheap cheap cheap and we were considering it. We weren’t sure about the neighborhood, and we decided we would make the trip again after nightfall just to see how safe we felt. We were walking back to the Finsbury Tube Station when we saw a cute little pub. We decided to pop in for a refreshment and discuss the flat we had just viewed. We asked the bartender (30-year-old male with spikey hair) his opinion of the area. He said he wouldn’t live here. Turns out he commutes 30 mins for work. He said the area is fine during the day, but it has a high crime rate. And we said “oh, what kind?” expecting to hear “vehicle theft or petty crime.” He said “Mostly knife and gun crime.” Eeek. He said “I don’t even feel safe walking home at night.” That was all we needed to hear. I guess God sent us to the pub for a reason that day. We ran to the tube station before it had a chance to get dark.
Friday: North Clapham/ Stockwell (south of the River Thames)
We found this 2 –bedroom flat on Gumtree. It was being “let” by a woman named Modupe. We got lost several times on the way to see it. The neighborhood was practical but not exactly “warm.” The flat was fine, but not quite what we were looking for. It also smelled like curry and dirty socks.
Saturday: Camden (central London near Regent’s Park)
We met another Bunac-er, Ross, and he found this 4-bedroom apartment. It was great. The day we viewed it, the landlord and her husband were there, cleaning and painting. They were putting in a new washer/dryer, new carpet, everything. Downfall: it was a minimum 6-month lease. Ross is the only one of us four who is staying the full 6 months. Bummer. Off to hunting again.
Sunday: Fulham (west London near Baron’s Court)
We had high hopes for this flat after speaking with the landlord, Richard, several times. We thought it was lovely. However, it was about a 40-minute trip by Tube to central London. And, it was a bit above our price range. We were hoping we could negotiate a bit, but he had other people lined up to see it…. People who can afford his asking price and who aren’t recent college grads dealing with a 2 to 1 exchange rate ☹.
So we’re still hunting. Discouraged, maybe a bit, but it’s only been a week.
Wish us luck.
**Pics from Chinatown at night. Moon under the Water Pub. Random funny British things. Etc.: http://evansville.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028682&l=11e4d&id=5040037
Monday, New Year’s Eve, was quite an experience… Nothing like watching the ball drop on TV along with the Dick Clark countdown. The city had to shut down several Tube (Underground Subway) stations due to the mass crowds of people. We exited the Tube at the station as close as possible to the London Eye on the River Thames, location of the fireworks display.
It was a very random night. We didn’t really plan anything. We pushed through thousands and thousands of people to get a decent view of the firework show. People were drinking champagne on the subway, dancing in the streets, and just being crazy. The atmosphere was amazing. There’s nothing like ringing in the new year with fireworks in Europe’s largest city, surrounded by over a million of your closest strangers.
**New Year's pictures in this album: http://evansville.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028410&l=a3
FLAT-HUNTING. (flat = apartment)
Due to offices being closed both New Year’s Eve & Day, Wednesday was the earliest I could get to the Bunac Office to do my Orientation. It was very informative. And very overwhelming. I’ve only been here a few days and I realize I’m not expected to get everything done in that time, but geez I have a lot to do. Open a British bank account. Fill out tax exempt forms. Update insurance policies. Write individual cover letters for each potential job. Send CVs (resumes). Set up interviews. Research housing options. Set up mobile phone number. Register phone online. Register Tube pass online. Yadda yadda. Etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying all of it. But anyone who thought I was moving to London to delay the “real world” is sadly mistaken. If anything, I’m jumping into the real world with two feet (and in another country)! Yikes!
. . .
My two Minnesota friends and I have been using gumtree.co.uk and a number of other housing websites in hopes of finding a flat. We’ve viewed 4 this week. Since we don’t have jobs yet, it’s difficult to decide where to live. We’d hate life if we had to commute 70+ mins to work everyday!
We’ve had no luck so far:
Thursday: Finsbury Park (northern London)
- We found this flat for “3 friends” on the Bunac bulletin board. The flat was old-smelling but spacious, and apparently decorated in the late 70s. It was cheap cheap cheap and we were considering it. We weren’t sure about the neighborhood, and we decided we would make the trip again after nightfall just to see how safe we felt. We were walking back to the Finsbury Tube Station when we saw a cute little pub. We decided to pop in for a refreshment and discuss the flat we had just viewed. We asked the bartender (30-year-old male with spikey hair) his opinion of the area. He said he wouldn’t live here. Turns out he commutes 30 mins for work. He said the area is fine during the day, but it has a high crime rate. And we said “oh, what kind?” expecting to hear “vehicle theft or petty crime.” He said “Mostly knife and gun crime.” Eeek. He said “I don’t even feel safe walking home at night.” That was all we needed to hear. I guess God sent us to the pub for a reason that day. We ran to the tube station before it had a chance to get dark.
Friday: North Clapham/ Stockwell (south of the River Thames)
We found this 2 –bedroom flat on Gumtree. It was being “let” by a woman named Modupe. We got lost several times on the way to see it. The neighborhood was practical but not exactly “warm.” The flat was fine, but not quite what we were looking for. It also smelled like curry and dirty socks.
Saturday: Camden (central London near Regent’s Park)
We met another Bunac-er, Ross, and he found this 4-bedroom apartment. It was great. The day we viewed it, the landlord and her husband were there, cleaning and painting. They were putting in a new washer/dryer, new carpet, everything. Downfall: it was a minimum 6-month lease. Ross is the only one of us four who is staying the full 6 months. Bummer. Off to hunting again.
Sunday: Fulham (west London near Baron’s Court)
We had high hopes for this flat after speaking with the landlord, Richard, several times. We thought it was lovely. However, it was about a 40-minute trip by Tube to central London. And, it was a bit above our price range. We were hoping we could negotiate a bit, but he had other people lined up to see it…. People who can afford his asking price and who aren’t recent college grads dealing with a 2 to 1 exchange rate ☹.
So we’re still hunting. Discouraged, maybe a bit, but it’s only been a week.
Wish us luck.
**Pics from Chinatown at night. Moon under the Water Pub. Random funny British things. Etc.: http://evansville.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028682&l=11e4d&id=5040037
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