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.