Where’s all my stuff?? The Art of Living with Less

 

One thing I have learned since moving to London is learning to love living with less.  Less money, less space, less STUFF! After speaking with other ex-pats I’ve come to realize that this is a common complaint. It can be frustrating at times and can almost feel like you’ve taken steps backwards rather than forwards while climbing the career ladder where the the amount of money you make seems to be a direct reflection of the importance of your job or the hard work you’ve done to get to where you are. But looking at my life now compared to my life before following my dream, I think I can officially say I have never been poorer money wise but felt richer life wise at the same time!

Not to say I was ever rich. I’ve never been rich, but I was comfortable in Canada. I had a well paying job, owned my own apartment (which I now rent out) which was full of possessions that I had accumulated over my 33 years on the planet. I had my own car, and could pay my bills without worrying about making payments.  I would go shopping and not worry about whether or not I could pay the rent if I bought a pair of Converse. I definitely took it for granted! But I also spent money on so many useless items that gave me temporary happiness but did nothing to make my life richer or more fulfilling.

Fast forward to London and the British Pound! While I love my job and the company I work for, I don’t make anywhere close to the income I had at home even after converting to Canadian dollars. BUT I am a lot less stressed out, am working at a company that I can learn from and I can leave work at the end of the day without worrying about my never ending to do list for work the next day. I get to go to work and do what I love, and be able to come home and find other hobbies that I’m passionate about pursuing. However; the smaller income has made me more aware of what I choose to spend my money on.  I am much more concious about shopping trips because a pair of shoes could equal a flight to Barcelona, and for me, a weekend in Helsinki or Lisbon with some good friends far outweighs having another item of clothing hanging in my closet.

There is also a sense of freedom in knowing that all of my worldly possessions here could fit in 2 suitcases; meaning I am no longer tied to a property and if in a year or so I want to move to Paris or Dublin or anywhere, I am free to do so.  When moving to London I had to sell all of my furniture, box up all of my mementos and store them in my parent’s storage space, donate any and all clothing that I didn’t want to take with me, and take what couldn’t be sold or pawned off on friends and relatives to the dump.  All of that is time consuming and costs a lot of money! And the first time I considered moving to London,I found out I was unable to rent my apartment which would have meant selling it.  That was not an option!

Shipping my stuff was also not an option as I had no idea where I was going to live, and the cost of sending one box of clothes cost me $200 cdn and another $300 in taxes over here (which I still don’t understand).

In the beginning I was getting tired and bored of wearing the same clothes over and over again but realized I had the wrong attitude! Once I started focusing on WHY i had less clothing and that reason being because I had this opportunity to live in my favourite city, it no longer became a frustration, but more of a game of how I could take the few items I had and turn them into different outfits for different occasions! It also became MUCH easier to get dressed for work in the mornings because I no longer stood in front of a massive closet of clothes to choose from, I now had one pair of work pants, a few skirts, and a couple dresses to choose from. I now get ready for work MUCH quicker which gives me more time to sleep in the mornings 🙂 and more sleep is always a plus!

I’ve always been someone who loves to decorate (and redecorate) my living space.  I took a lot of pride in how I painted and decorated my apartment back home and was constantly thinking of ways to update my space and make it more cozy and reflect more of my personality in it. From a lime green kitchen with a blackboard wall, to my Tiffany blue painted bedroom, it was all decorated to my tastes and with my own two hands.  It felt like a step back to be renting again in London and have all of the little knick nacks i bought now sitting in boxes. But it also gave me this great opportunity to become more creative with how I decorate my space and to really focus on what makes me happy.  The only decorations in my room are pictures of my loved ones back home and all the encouraging cards and Christmas cards I received since I’ve been here. I did splurge on a super girly flowery duvet cover too which I love! And for me, those items mean much more to me than a flower painting I had bought for my living room back home because I “liked the colours”.

The more I’ve been in London the more I’ve realized that I used to spend so much on creating the “perfect home” because I spent a lot more time in my apartment than I do my flat here.  Sure I’d go out on weekends and occasionally during the week in Vancouver but never to the extent that I’m out here.  While I do like my relaxing nights in, I love the fact that if I want to go out here, there is usually someone up for meeting for drinks or dinner in town or going to see a show or random event happening nearby.

I’ve learned to have a less is more attitude.  I focus on spending money on experiences rather than things.  I’d much rather save money to spend on trips to experience different cultures, than for that Michael Kors or Marc Jacobs purse I had been coveting at Holt Renfrew for months. I think it’s that shift in attitude the past few months that have made me enjoy living in London more and more. And accepting the fact that while I may not have as much money in my bank account as I used to, I am learning how to spend in the best way to enhance my life and get the most out of my time on this planet! Because when i’m 90 years old I’m not going to look back on this life and say “I wish I had bought that Burberry Bag”, but rather “I’m so happy I took that trip that changed my life”.

Thanks for reading!

Krismas x

 

 

Hello…Is it tea you’re looking for? The Expectations vs. Reality of moving to London according to BuzzFeed

Good evening!

So it’s been a bit since I’ve posted, not because I haven’t wanted to but mostly because I’ve been busy enjoying London life and because I’ve lacked writing inspiration for the past week.  Maybe it’s writer’s block? Although I wouldn’t really call myself a writer so it can’t be that!  I’ve gone to see Swan Lake this past week as well as had a lovely day out in Greenwich visiting friends and watching the London Marathon, (blog posts coming soon) but tonight’s blog post is about the expectations vs. reality of living in London after you move.

Sorry, this post has nothing to do with tea, I just bought an awesome new mug which I got in the mail today and it features Lionel Richie’s face with the caption “hello… is it tea you’re looking for?” underneath and I’m sorry but I can’t get enough of it!! And now I constantly have that song in my head.. which hopefully.. now you do too 😉

The inspiration for this post comes from my recent obsession with Buzzfeed.  I’d occasionally see a Buzzfeed article in my Facebook feed back in Vancouver, but since moving here I seem to have more Buzzfeed posts than anything else clogging up my daily FB news screen. And I get hooked onto every single one! I don’t know how many random quizzes I’ve taken to find out how geeky I am, how proficient I am in 80’s movie trivia, and how metal my monthly flow is.. yes I took that one…and No i am not sharing the answer..

This newfound Buzzfeed obsession reminded me of an article that an old co-worker had sent me after telling them I was moving to London.  I’m not sure if it was sent to discourage me from going, or to keep my expectations low.  The article was titled “Moving to London, Expectations vs. Reality”, so I thought it might be interesting to revisit this article and see whether Buzzfeed’s “reality”, match my reality after being here for 6 months.

1. Expectation: Your contract says 9 – 5 BuzzFeed Reality: You stay until the work is done. And the work is never done. My Reality:  My contract actually says 8:30 – 6:00 and those are the exact hours I work, no more, no less.  So I’d have to say while yes, there is always work to be done, I am lucky enough to work for a company that recognizes the need for work/ life balance and is more than accommodating when needing to leave work early or take days off.  So my reality is better than the expectation in this case! Buzzfeed: 0 Me: 1
2. Expectation: You’ll work hard but play hard. You’re in the nightlife capital of Europe BuzzFeed Reality: You’re just too tired. Maybe next week… My Reality: I am in London! So therefore, I make a point of going out during the week and on weekends to enjoy the nightlife this city has to offer! While I am not out until 3 am on a weeknight drinking and dancing, i AM out seeing shows and concerts, going to pubs to meet up with friends, and generally saying yes to whatever adventures await, regardless of the day of week. Buzzfeed: 0 Me: 1
3. Expectation: There are 6 million people – meeting the love of your life should be easy BuzzFeed Reality: People can’t stop telling you about their friend’s online dating success. Eventually you give in. My Reality:  Ugh.. so this one is truer than I care to admit, and as awesome as it is for everyone who has friend’s of friend’s of friend’s that have been successful in the online dating scene, I find it to be as depressing as it was back in Vancouver. So my motto is “it will happen when it happens” and I’d much rather be out experiencing London by trying new things and joining different groups than sitting in front of a computer scouring the internet for potential mates. Buzzfeed: 1 Me: 0
4. Expectation: You will spend your weekends looking around the markets BuzzFeed Reality: You spend your weekends trying to get over Friday night drinks My Reality: While I have had one or two Saturday’s or Sunday’s recovering from a few too many the night before, I have actually made it to Spitalfields, Brick Lane, and most recently the Greenwich markets.  And if I’m not going to a market, the majority of my Saturday’s and Sunday’s as of late have been out in the sun, trying out new places.  So BuzzFeed gets a fail on this one 🙂 Buzzfeed: 0 Me: 1
5. Expectation: You’ll go home and visit friends and family all the time BuzzFeed Reality: You won’t even leave Zone 2, let alone leave London My Reality: This is an unfair one at the moment because I have only been here 6 months.  Had I gone home at Christmas, I probably wouldn’t have come back and for me, I think it was important that I didn’t go back to visit after only a few months.  Also, it’s WAY more fun to have people come visit me!!! I get to be a tour guide for once, IN LONDON!!!  And I’m lucky enough to have not only my family coming to visit in 3 days, but another good friend coming in June and a rendezvous in Paris in September with another great friend!!! So why go back to Vancouver, when people can come out this way?? I’ll get back to everyone on this Reality in a year.  I am hoping to get back to Vancouver for a visit at Christmas time depending on flight prices! Buzzfeed: 1 Me: 1
6. Expectation: Yes things are expensive, but surely that means you earn more money BuzzFeed Reality: You don’t My Reality: I don’t. Not even close, not even after exchange rates.  BUT i’m in a city I love, and while I don’t have the option of going on shopping sprees the same way I used to, I do have the option of cheaper travel to a lot more countries than I had back home.  And for me, that is much more important than my monthly trips to HomeSense to buy yet ANOTHER storage box or picture frame.
   Buzzfeed: 1 Me: 0
7. Expectation: You’ll spend your nights in the coolest bars and clubs London has to offer BuzzFeed Reality: Not so much My Reality: Not being much of a club goer anymore, this one is pretty irrelevant.  However, I have been to pubs that used to be frequented by Charles Dickens, I’ve been to a super cute loungey type place with cute cakes and paper cranes on the ceiling, and I’ve even been lucky enough to go to a party on a boat! So it’s not like you can’t go to these places if you really want to!
   Buzzfeed: 0 Me: 1
8. Expectation: You’ll live in a cool spacious flat near your friends BuzzFeed Reality: You live somewhere so small and far from everything you wonder whether you should have stayed at home My Reality: So NOT true! I live in a really spacious flat with two awesome roommates, and my kitchen here is much larger than the one I had at home! I may not live near my friends but it’s nothing a short bus and tube ride won’t fix! In this city I think you learn to love the fact that you don’t go to your friends house to hang out in the same way you would at home. If you’re meeting up with friends, you’re going out and meeting somewhere central.  And the beauty of that is always trying out new places or finding your “local” that you keep wanting to go back to!!
   Buzzfeed: 0 Me: 1
9. Expectation: You’ll make the most of the musicals and plays the west end has to offer BuzzFeed Reality: Yeah Good luck with that My Reality:  I’ve seen Billy Elliott and Swan Lake since being here as well as gone to see a Christmas concert at Royal Albert Hall, a New Years Eve Prodigy concert at the 02, Chvrches at Scala, and The Beards at a pub in Soho.  I’d say that’s not too bad considering that works out to 1 show a month! Buzzfeed: 0 Me: 1
10. Expectation: You’ll bypass public transport with a casual bike ride to work. BuzzFeed Reality: You’d rather pay for the tube than put your life in the hands of London drivers My Reality: Ha ha ha.. me?? bikeride?? to work?? I wouldn’t even bikeride to work at home.. that would NEVER be my expectation! Maybe one day I’ll be able to walk to work, but bike ride?? no thanks!
    BuzzFeed: 1
    Me: 0 (but really it should be tied because I wouldn’t bike to work no matter where I lived)
11. Expectation: You’ll see your best friend who already lives there all the time. BuzzFeed Reality: Somehow you see them less than you did before. My Reality:  Didn’t have a best friend that already lived here SOOOO can’t really comment…but I can say that the friends I’ve made since being here I see regularly.
    BuzzFeed: 0
    Me: 1
12. Expectation: You’ll visit all the tourist attractions and take in the city’s unique culture. BuzzFeed Reality: You refuse to leave the house at weekends to avoid encountering tourists. My Reality: um… no.. I am ALWAYS up for visiting tourist attractions!!! Museums, walking along the Thames, taking the obligatory Harry Potter picture at Kings Cross.  I am a tourist at heart (aside from being a slow walker), and I will always enjoy visiting the places in London that I grew up watching on TV and in movies!! It never gets old!
    BuzzFeed: 0
    Me: 1
13. Expectation: You can get anywhere in no time thanks to the world-famous London Underground. BuzzFeed Reality: Please use the rail replacement bus service My Reality: Maybe I’ve just been lucky but the most service disruptions I’ve seen have been trying to use the Overground which always seems to be delayed so I only use it if absolutely necessary.  Other than that, it has been smooth sailing, even during the transit strike 🙂
    BuzzFeed: 0
    Me: 1
14. Expectation: London is home to some of the coolest pop up restaurants in the world BuzzFeed Reality: They don’t take reservations so you queue for hours My Reality: I don’t wait in line for a restaurant unless it’s a 10 minute wait or less.  If it’s longer, I move on to the next restaurant without a line that most likely serves the same quality of food at a cheaper price.  It’s like Stepho’s in Vancouver. Why people wait an hour in line when there is an equally as good if not better greek restaurant 3 doors down that’s CHEAPER!!!! it’s Greek food.. you can’t really go wrong with Greek Food!
    BuzzFeed: 1
    Me: 0 (again, only because I don’t do lineups or pop up restaurants)
15. Expectation: You’ll go to the gym every night after work BuzzFeed Reality: You go to the pub every night after work My Reality: A combination of the two.  I have to go to the gym after work in order to justify going to the pub other nights of the week 🙂 It’s all about the happy medium 😉
    BuzzFeed: 1
    Me: 1 (because I do both!)
16. Expectation: You’ll live there for 5 years before moving back home for a quieter life BuzzFeed Reality: You’ll never leave My Reality: I hope BuzzFeed is right because I have no intention of leaving 🙂 I love it here and hope to call this city home for a good long while!!! Long after my 5 year VISA runs out!!
    BuzzFeed: 1
    Me: 1

Totals:  BuzzFeed: 7  Me: 12

Verdict: While BuzzFeed does make a good argument in some of these examples, the overall message is that London is what you make it to be! You can choose to move to London and act the same way you would at home, having quiet weeknight evenings in, and avoiding touristy areas, OR you can experience London for all the reasons you came here and enjoy it!!! 🙂 Yes, London is expensive, and crowded, and your days of getting around by car are numbered… BUT for every not so awesome thing about London, there are about 100 awesome things to make up for it! So after six months.. my love for this city seems to keep getting stronger! I may be poor money-wise, but I feel like the richest person in the world right now with all the many things I have to be thankful for at the moment! I have no complaints.. and with only 3 more sleeps until my parents and baby brother get here, I’d have to say Life just keeps getting better!! I am SO excited to make the journey out to Heathrow on Thursday to greet them at the airport! Pretty sure a few happy tears will be shed by me since i’m a bit of a sap when it comes to airport reunions (the opening and closing sequences to Love Actually get me EVERY..SINGLE..TIME). Anyhow.. it’s bedtime for this Londoner. Goodnight! Krismas x

I say eggplant… you say… aubergine?!?!?

So I feel as though it’s only fitting that as this is a moving to London blog.. i should do the obligatory post on Canadian vs. British sayings and differences..  I’m pretty sure we all know that French Fries are Chips in this lovely city and that you take a Lift in a building, not an Elevator.  I’m not going to insult anyone’s intelligence by giving you a “say this… not that”, this is more just entertaining little differences that I noticed after I moved here that I found confusing, and that Londoners found confusing about things that I would say 🙂  Especially when I say my canadian “eh”.. but i think that was more just something people could make fun of me for 🙂 along with how I say about… Apparently it sounds more like aboot than I’d like to think!

I do have to say I still feel awkward saying things like crisps and chips, not because I’m against saying it, but because I feel like a bit of a poser when I do.  It doesn’t feel natural. But some words like lift and flat are coming out of my mouth automatically now and my Canadian friend made fun of me when I said I had “proper” wings.  As much as I would love to have a British accent, my Canadian one isn’t going anywhere and I still do a horrible impression!! Now if only I could stop saying dollars.. 5 months in and I can’t get past dollars and cents.  Pounds and pence do not come naturally to me.  Probably because I still don’t even know how to use change properly and will always pay with bills so as to avoid the embarrassment of taking five minutes while figuring out which coin is which.. but that’s another story!

So here’s a very short list of little difference I’ve noticed so far, I’m sure it will keep growing..or maybe I’ll stop noticing the differences and the British versions will become the normal way for me to write. Only time will tell 😉

Party vs. Do : Everything here is a “do”, from a stag “do”, to a hen “do”, to a going away “do”,  you are usually not going to a party but to a “do” of some kind!

Hey vs. You Alright?: This is a general greeting. When you greet someone here, you will usually get a “Hi you alright?” instead of a “hey, how’s it going?”.  This was so confusing to me when I first started hearing it because I thought people were literally asking me how I was 3 or 4 times a day. Which is probably why I would get some funny looks when I would answer back “i’m fine thanks, and how are you” each and every time :S oops!

No Worries vs. That’s Alright:  Where we would say No Worries instead of your welcome,  the Brits say That’s Alright. I actually really like how this sounds.. maybe one day it’ll replace my no worries.

Awesome vs. Brilliant:  Self explanatory,  Any time someone is really happy about something it’s “brilliant”. It makes me happy just hearing people say something is brilliant!

Toque vs. Beanie.  No one knows what a toque is and you sound extremely Canadian saying it!

Washroom vs. Toilet.  if you ask someone where the washroom is, you will sometimes get a funny look. It’s either the loo or plain and simple, the toilet.  Straight to the point, don’t beat around the bush! You’re looking for a toilet, ask for a toilet. Otherwise you may just get a room with a sink to wash up in! BUT I was disgusted when I was in the washroom at the Science Museum and saw a sign saying “do not drink the water in the toilets”.  ICK!

Zucchini vs. Courgette/ Eggplant vs. Aubergine: Vegetables…  I was always under the impression that Canadian English derived mostly from British English so i’m not sure why the Brits have used French words for these two vegetables? Luckily I don’t like either of these vegetables so I don’t have to worry about it 🙂 But it made me worry about what other vegetables might be called so the first time I went to a subway in London I made sure to only get the veggies I was sure i knew the names of! 😦 It was a very boring sandwich!

Pants is underwear… Don’t compliment people on their pants… they are trousers.. For some inexplicable reason there were a pair of trousers in the garbage can at work and when I asked out loud “who threw their pants away” I got a very strange reaction.. I quickly had to explain that I meant trousers and not underpants.. So embarrassing :s

One phrase that has quickly become normal for me to say is “to be honest”. Everyone says that here ALOT.. And now I can add myself to the list.. No matter what you are trying to say you can generally start your sentence off with “to be honest…”

“To be honest… I didn’t really like that aubergine”
“To be honest… I don’t know what five pence looks like”
“To be honest… I can’t be bothered to figure it out”

Another word you hear more often than not is obviously. But what I am still trying to understand is why it is used for things that are not obvious… “Obviously you need to turn left at the end of this road to get to where you’re going” ok… If someone is asking you for directions it is not obvious!

However, the tables were turned on me at a work “do” last week when I was asking about the obviously phrase and found out North Americans like to say of course in much the same way! What was even more entertaining was when I asked him something he said obviously and when he asked me something I said of course… Point made! Case closed!

This post May or may not make sense considering that nasty flu that has been going around finally caught up with me yesterday…Not cool!!! So as I write this in a sleepy time- tea (thanks rea) induced state of semi- wakefulness I hope you all are having a fantastic start to your week! The sun is still shining in London and fingers crossed I wake up feeling less foggy and more Krismasy.

Happy Monday!

Krismas x

7 swans a swimming.. 6 geese a laying…. 5 months in London!

Ok.. so it’s not Christmas.. but I couldn’t think of anything else that included the number 5 in it.. and today (well yesterday now) marks my 5 month anniversary in Londontown!  It’s an easy anniversary to remember since I landed in London on October 14^th which is my birthday!  As I’m terrible with remembering important dates, this works out well for me!

The past 5 months have gone by in a combination of exciting and emotionally draining growth spurts.  There were a lot of highs, and a fair amount of lows as well, which I’d say is probably pretty standard for any life change.   But I’ve come to realize that without the lows, you’re really not experiencing life.  Sometimes you need to have those painful realizations to fully appreciate and be thankful for what life has to offer!

So as it’s 12:30 in the morning and I’ve just gotten back from a lovely evening of wine and crepes with two good friends (one of whom I am very sad to be saying goodbye to… until they move back to London ;)), I’m going to write a quick note about my first 5 months here… so in the style of David Letterman’s TOP 10, here are my TOP 10 LOVES about London, and my TOP 10 Pet Peeves about London.

First… the Pet Peeves as I’d like to end this post off on a high note!

10. Fake Caesers! I’m talking about the drink, not the salad. Note to London bartenders: Don’t put it on your menu and call it a Caesar when it doesn’t have CLAMATO in it!!! I’ve called a bartender out on this at one restaurant here because I went there specifically for their Caesar which was on their menu online, only to find out it was made with TOMATO JUICE.  So I said very politely, as is the Canadian way, that I was sorry BUT unless it has Clamato, it cannot be called a Caeser.  He was not impressed. And so the search for the Caeser in London continues!

9.  Underground delays due to a “person under the train”.  As much as I appreciate honesty and London Transportation is pretty on top of letting you know when there are delays, (unlike the Skytrain that likes to let you stand on a platform for 20 minutes before telling you what’s up) I don’t especially like to know that the reason my Circle Line to Kings Cross is delayed is due to a “person under the train” or “person on the track”.  I much prefer the slightly less graphic “medical emergency” or “technical difficulties” explanation. I really hope I never have to be witness to someone actually under a train. I still like to live in a bubble where that doesn’t happen.

8. Toilets. I’m used to toilets that flush, ALL THE TIME.  I am not used to toilets that need to take a nap in between flushes so that if someone uses the toilet right after you, they have to stay in there for 5 minutes waiting until they can flush their business.  I’ve basically gotten to the point now where if the toilet doesn’t flush, it’s not my problem, it’s the next persons because I’m not waiting around any longer than I have to.  Especially when I’ve yet to be in a London washroom that isn’t cold and damp and smelly!

7. Water pressure.  Much like my pet peeve with toilets, I’m still getting used to not ever feeling like the shampoo and conditioner have completely rinsed off of my head when having a shower.  Also I still don’t know why the water shower is hooked up to an electrical unit on the wall, I don’t know what this is and  sometimes it likes to just turn off for no good reason.  Much like the toilet it also likes to take naps when it doesn’t feel like doing it’s job!

6. Liverpool Street Station.  It’s not the station that I hate because the station itself is beautiful.  What I do not understand is that no one in this station walks in a straight line.. but rather some form of diagonal formation dance routine I don’t know the moves to that makes it impossible to get from one end to the other without weaving in and out of a flash mob every morning and evening!

5. Tourists.  Yes.. I said it.. and I know I am being completely hypocritical by even saying tourists and I apologize. It’s just WALK FASTER, don’t stop right at the top of an escalator, and have your oyster card ready!! And I really have no right to be mad because I used to walk around all bright eyed and walking slow to take in every little sight and sound.  But now that I live here, if I’m walking I am trying to get somewhere, just like everyone else in this city and dawdling makes everyone angry and prevents them from getting where they need to go. SOOOOO walk faster or step to the side!

4. TV.  IT IS CRAP AND THERE IS NEVER ANYTHING ON except for repeat after repeat of big bang theory, and how I met your mother.

3. The pigeon who likes to sing the song of its people at 6:30 every morning 15 minutes before my alarm goes off.. and on weekends! I vow to find this pigeon and shoot it with a rubber band… not so I kill it, but just so it finds another tree far away to sing in!

2. British restaurants trying to serve hot wings and nachos.  You’ve mastered the burger, the chips, and the milkshakes and you’re getting REALLY close with the pancakes and bacon.  Stop there and be happy.. Unless you’ve gotten hold of some Frank’s Red Hot and blue cheese dressing, and can serve nachos that don’t need to be eaten with a fork, you have no business serving these two items!

1. Coffee… I miss Tim Horton’s double doubles like you wouldn’t believe and I am sorry but a flat white coffee just isn’t the same.  I’m not an Americano girl, and I believe mochas and lattes are meant to be treats. The one cup coffee machines do not give you a full cup of coffee but rather a cup of frothy milk and about a tablespoon of coffee. I don’t even think there’s enough caffeine in there to wake up a mouse, let alone a 33 year old girl who would attach a coffee IV to her if it were possible! I would just like a black filtered coffee every morning with no bells and whistles.

And that concludes the negative portion of this post because in the grand scheme of things, these are all minor annoyances or “first world  problems” as seems to be the catch phrase of the year along with “yolo” and “sorrynotsorry”.  At the end of the day none of these pet peeves ruin my day, or make me hate living here. To be honest most of them just make me laugh and are just the quirky bits that you get used to! And if I’m to be completely honest, it was really hard to actually think of 10 things I dislike about London! Ok except for the coffee….

So now my list of 10 things I LOVE about London.  This list is much easier, and is actually much much MUCH longer but here’s the main 10.. or the 10 that popped to mind when writing this while almost half asleep..

10. There is always something to do! It doesn’t matter what time of day or night, what day of the week it is, or where you are in the city! There are countless events happening every day! From art shows, wine tastings, beer festivals, musicals, concerts, anything and everything you want to see you’ll be able to find in London! I’ve just recently heard of zorb football which sounds extremely awesome and I must try!

9. History.  This is HUGE for me. Coming from a city with virtually no buildings older than 100 years, I love that once Spring is here, the centuries old castles in and around London will be open for me to go explore! From Hever Castle that was once inhabited by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, to Windsor Castle, to Hampton Court,  I will never get tired of visiting these historical landmarks and imagining what life was like as a lady in waiting or a court jester.  I’m also pretty excited to try and visit the Downton Abbey house at some point as well to walk in the footsteps of Mrs Hughes and Mr Bates!!

8.  Walking. London is a fantastic city to walk in.  I’ve gone on so many long walks on my own and purposely get lost just to explore streets and alleys that I’ve never been down before.  Thank goodness for google maps to get me back on track but for an hour or so I just walk in different directions to see where I end up.  You somehow always manage to end up at one tube stop or another!

7. Pubs.  I’m not going to lie, one of the reasons I wanted to move to London was for their famous pub culture.  I love that people are always down for grabbing a pint (or two or three) after work and as soon as 5 o’clock hits you see all the business men in suits standing outside the pubs with a beer in hand enjoying the early spring sunshine! What I love about London pubs is each one has its own character and history.  From Charles Dickens, to the Queen Mum, everyone had their own ‘local’ and it’s fun to imagine a famous author or poet sitting down in the corner of  a dimly lit pub to write.

6. Accents.  Although I still struggle to understand and feel terrible each time I have to ask someone to repeat themselves multiple times, I am in love with all of the different accents.  There is something about an accent that just makes people sound smarter, funnier, and more “posh” sounding.

5. Cornish Pasty’s.  Meat and potatoes covered in delicious puf pastry.  It is delicious and filling and cheap!

4. The fashion and the (window) shopping!!! I love that you can wear absolutely anything in this city and no one bats an eyelid! Everyone here has such cool, unique style and isn’t afraid to wear what they want! It has made me want to be more adventurous in my clothing choices; unfortunately my clothing budget doesn’t quite allow for that… YET!

3. My flatmates.  I lucked out 100% in this area!  I thought I’d have a tough time adjusting to having flatmates after living on my own for the past 5 or 6 years, especially living with people I didn’t know. And I had heard some horror stories from many a Londoner about flatmates from hell and I am happy to say that I haven’t had any such experiences!! I was lucky to have a great place to stay before I moved into my flat and I am lucky to have found two funny and entertaining flat mates who took me in when I had no job and who kept my spirits up when I wasn’t having the easiest time adjusting.

2. Meet-Ups and the friends I’ve met through them. I know I’ve gone on and on about meet up groups but I think the Canadian meet-up group pretty much saved me from becoming an extremely depressed and lonely Londoner these past three months.  London is such a huge city and it’s very easy to feel isolated and alone when you first move here and don’t know anyone.  I am extremely lucky to have met an amazing group of people who all make a conscious effort to get out and experience London life to the fullest! There’s always someone up to try a new restaurant, or see a show, or do something entirely different and it’s awesome!!

1. The number one most amazing thing about living in London is the overwhelming feeling of genuine happiness that I experience every day! A friend in Vancouver asked me this morning if I ever wake up and go “oh my god I’m in London” and to be honest I actually do! I can be walking down a random street and quite often think to myself that I can’t believe that this is my life now! This time last year moving to London wasn’t even on my radar yet.  Now, for the first time in my 33 years on this planet, I FINALLY feel like I am where I belong and that I am on the path I was meant to be on. I’m more motivated here, and I just feel more like myself here than I did in Vancouver.  I’m happy and it’s such a good feeling! I wake up every day thankful for this amazing life and I go to bed happy to be in my favorite city.

I’m not saying that life up until now wasn’t fulfilling. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t gone through the ups and downs in Vancouver.  I just always felt like there was something missing and that I was destined for something bigger.  I know I was given this opportunity for a reason and I am not going to waste it!!   London is 100% where I’m meant to be and 5 months in, things just keep getting better and better!

Goodnight London

Krismas x

Sticking it out on days you want to pack up and go home… the joys of homesickness!

If you’ve moved to London and you’ve been here for about a month or so… you’ve most likely started to feel the familiar pangs of homesickness! After the initial excitement of new sights, new sounds, new everything, starts to wear off and the paranoia of not having a job and/ or not having a list of friends to call and hang out with any more starts to set in… the feeling of “oh my god what did I JUST do” starts to rear it’s ugly head…

BUT FEAR NOT!!!! IT GETS BETTER!!! much much much MUCH better!! but you have to stick it out.. and you have to allow yourself to be homesick! Because once you get through to the other side, you’ll be so proud of yourself and you’ll know it was all worth it!

For me the homesickness started to hit hard as soon as December started. I thought I was doing so well until about mid-November.  I was trying to keep my spirits up while applying for over 100 jobs and getting no responses. I had found a place to live with the BEST flat mates EVER, and I was doing my best to get out and meet people.  Then the Christmas commercials started….

As you may be able to tell by my name, i LOVE Christmas.. My nickname is Krismas for that specific reason and it’s somehow stuck. But the reasons I love Christmas weren’t there for me this year.. I wouldn’t be throwing my annual Krismas party for friends and family, because I didn’t have friends to throw it for.. my 5 boxes of Christmas decorations would stay sitting in my parents storage locker, sad and unused.. I was beyond bummed that I wouldn’t be home for Christmas this year to the point I had to walk out of John Lewis one evening because I couldn’t listen to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” without thinking of home… I know.. melodramatic.. let the violins play…but I really just wanted to hibernate all through Christmas and New Years  and know that by next Christmas things would be 100 times better.

Now, that’s not to say I had a miserable Christmas, I actually had a genuinely awesome first Christmas in London thanks to some special people and it was filled with a lot of really good memories that I get to keep with me. So I am very lucky and thankful to have had a very Krismasy Christmas when I thought it was going to be a miserable one spent by myself. It was actually really great. But back to the homesickness..

What’s really tough about dealing with being homesick was that it wasn’t missing friends and family that was making me upset. If i needed a dose of home, I had Skype, Whatsapp, FaceTime, I could talk to the people back home when I wanted (as long as the time zones allowed).  It was the feeling of being in Limbo.  For a period of time I really felt like I didn’t belong here, but also I didn’t belong in Vancouver.  It’s a hard feeling to describe but when you talk to others in the same boat, it’s extremely common. It’s like you left your old life behind, but don’t know what you’re new life looks like yet. You know there’s a reason why you left but when you’re feeling homesick you’re craving that comfort of knowing what the next day, month, year will most likely bring. I missed the security of knowing where my next paycheque was coming from, and knowing I had plans on the weekends to see the friends I was missing. I missed coming home to my apartment in New West with all of my stuff and a closet full of clothes. After you move and you realize you no longer have that, it’s a really scary and very isolating feeling, especially in a city as large as London! You’ll be walking down a street crowded with hundreds of people shoving their way through, but you’ll feel completely alone because you don’t have anyone there to talk about these day to day mundane activities anymore.  And until you start meeting people in the same situation, it’s really hard to communicate that to everyone back home because even though they want to help, it’s not something they can relate to unless they’ve done a huge move themselves.

My friends and family were extremely encouraging when I felt like I wasn’t cut out for this and feeling like I needed to jump on the next plane to Vancouver and I’m so thankful they stuck by me through all the tearful phone calls and text rants that they had to endure during what I’d like to call my PMMB 🙂 (“post move mental breakdown”).  But part of me felt like such a sham.  I felt like here I am in London, my favourite city in the World, posting pictures on Facebook of Big Ben and the London Eye, “living the life”, when in actual fact, it was the loneliest I had ever felt.  It was like I was letting everyone down every time someone would ask what exciting things I had been doing and I had to respond with “sitting on the couch applying for jobs that I’m not getting”. Everyone who was so excited for me and who knew how much I wanted this.. and I felt like I was letting them and myself down because I shouldn’t feel like wanting to give up.

Since I wasn’t working and was trying to build up a brand new social circle, there were days where I really wanted to give up. I was bored, I was running out of money, and my confidence levels were at an all time low with not feeling like I was good enough for any job.  But as I’ve mentioned in my post on meeting people, the Canadian Meet-Up Group really was a life saver for me.. I was able to meet people who were in the same state I was in (new to the city and still figuring it all out) and I was also able to meet people who had already gone through what I was going through at the time.  What a relief to know I wasn’t the only one who had a tough time finding a job, or that missed being able to hop in their car and drive wherever they wanted! But most of all it was a relief to know that I was allowed to have those down days and not feel like I was being ungrateful for being given this opportunity.

One thing that everyone kept telling me is that things were going to get better!!!

And they did!!! As soon as the New Year started I began to see that light at the end of the tunnel!! After letting go of my negative thinking and focusing on the reasons why I came here and that this was supposed to be an adventure and a new life for me, I’ve now landed an incredible job which I am loving more and more with each week I’m there, I’ve developed a core group of really kind and supportive friends who keep my motivation levels up, as well as teach me new things every day, and I’m enjoying each day in London for everything it has to offer! My week nights and weekends are once again filled with fun things to do and things I would have never done back home! and that’s why I’m here! To experience what I can’t back home… I’m even signing up for a dance class devoted to Michael Jackson choreography. How cool is that!!!

The point is, it’s going to be rough and the length of time it’s going to be rough will be different for everyone.  For me it was about a month of ups and downs. But what’s important is to not beat yourself up about it. And also let your self go through it as it’s just part of the process.  It’s almost like grieving the loss of a loved one. You’re letting go of the life you had before and you’re opening yourself up to a new life that’s filled with opportunities you don’t even know exist yet!

Just know it gets SO MUCH BETTER.. and know that you should be proud of yourself for making the GIGANTIC leap of faith into this new world!  If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. It’s the big decisions and rough patches that make us who we are and make us stronger! I’d like to think I’m not the same somewhat naive girl I was when I stepped off the plane last October. Instead I’m a little wiser, a little less gullible, and I walk with my head held higher!! I now feel like after surviving the past couple of months, I really can conquer anything! And knowing I’ve built a life over here all by myself… it’s the most empowering feeling in the world!

Goodnight London

Krismas x

The silent disco… not as awkward as one might think!

Last night I attended my first “Lates” night at the London Science Museum.  For anyone who doesn’t know what that is “Lates” is an interesting concept where you combine a museum with adults, drinking, DJ’s, and a variety of different pop up stations based on the theme of the night.  The theme last night was Bio-Revolution.  I can’t say I really learned all that much about Bio-Revolution last night, but I can definitely tell an Elvis Lego man from a David Beckham Lego man!!

Although I had been to the science museum a couple times before and really enjoyed it, it was a nice change to be at the museum in the evening with all adults and able to explore the different areas of the museum and hands-on displays without feeling like you’re taking time away from the kiddos also wanting a turn.  It was also a lot less busy and touristy which was a HUGE plus!!!  I feel awful even saying “less touristy” seeing as how less than 5 months ago I was a tourist myself.. and I still consider myself a tourist whenever trying anything new… but sometimes I just want to get to where I need to be without slow walkers and people who don’t know where they are going :S And do not get me started on people taking pictures with their gigantic IPAD’s!!! But let’s nip that rant in the butt before I go off on a tangent 😉

Back to the event! The prices were very reasonable which I found to be a pleasant surprise.   With free admission and only 5 pounds for a cider the size of my head, It was a nice evening out with friends without spending a fortune sitting at a pub.  You also felt like you were getting a little bit of culture and were just that tad bit more civilized 🙂 Instead of saying I went out drinking last night, I can say I was educating myself at the Science Museum 😉 Ok, who am I kidding…

Anyhow,  I experienced my first “pub quiz” last night at the Science Museum as well.  Fun but a little lengthy, and aside from knowing who “Cavity Sam” was… i really had nothing to contribute to our team’s answers..  If it was 90’s music trivia I would have ACED IT!  A tip for those of you planning your first trip to the next Lates night, SKIP THE PUB QUIZ and head straight to the SILENT DISCO!!!!! The pub quiz was fun but it starts at 8 and lasts an entire hour! And with the event itself ending at 9:45 that wasn’t a whole lot of time afterwards to see any of the other exhibits… I really wanted to try out the flight simulator but I think I’ll have to plan a separate trip.

The music playing throughout the museum was eclectic and fun and I think there should always be DJ’s playing music at the museum!! From Dirty Dancing’s “Be My Baby” to Nivana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit”, you’re doing the mashed potato and moshing all within a span of 10 minutes!   And that was just the music that everyone could hear!! Now to the most interesting experience of the night.. the Silent Disco!!

I had heard of silent discos before but wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  From what I knew of it, everyone puts headphones on and dances to the music playing on the headphones… cool concept but I thought it might be a little bit awkward to be dancing in a room with a hundred others with headphones on while being in a silent room.  And when we had first walked past the silent disco area and I’m watching all of these people busting a move on the dance floor I was blown away by their confidence and ability to dance REALLY well and perform for the rest of us all walking by!!  I did not think I’d be able to do that myself.. It takes me a few drinks just to get onto a regular dance floor!! Let alone one where only I can hear the music that I’m dancing to!!!

Unfortunately we made it to the silent disco about 10 minutes before they were shutting it down for the night but we were still able to dance to a few songs.. the first one being the theme to GHOSTBUSTERS!!!! That was enough for me to throw caution to the wind and start dancing!!! And surprisingly once those headphones are on and everyone else is dancing you really do forget that the people who don’t have headphones on have no clue what you’re dancing to… until the chorus of the song comes on and everyone’s shouting “WHO YOU GONNA CALL.. GHOSTBUSTERS!!!”

All in all, another fun night out in London, and another tickbox to check off of different things to do in this crazy city! Highly recommend it, and I’ll definitely be finding another Silent Disco to go to in the near future… I ain’t afraid of no ghost 😉

Goodnight London!! Krismas xxx

Feeling Inspired…

This is just a short post after going to watch Canada win another Olympic hockey game, going on to play in the semi-finals on Friday. USA against Canada… should be  a good one!!

What inspired me to write this post was a conversation I had with another girl who was also watching the game.   It got me thinking about how everyone has their own unique story of what brought them to a city, hundreds and maybe thousands of miles away from everything they knew in the search of something different from the life they had back home.  I’ve met so many interesting people in the 4 months that I’ve been here and every time I meet someone knew it gives me the opportunity to learn something from them and share experiences.

Whether you’ve moved for your job or to be with a significant other, are just passing through as a traveller,  or like me you needed a change, I love hearing everyone’s  stories about what brought them to London, how they’ve found it so far, what they love and hate about it, and how they’ve overcome obstacles to meet their own personal goals since being in this wonderful city!

Not too many people move to a new city on a whim, and most of the people I’ve talked to have usually chosen to make the move after a life changing event, or an overall need to experience something different in their lives.  Some move after a nasty breakup, others move because they hated their job at home while others just needed to get out of the rut that was routine at home.  One phrase that tends to keep popping up is the need to “step out of our comfort  zone”.

A very wise man once told me, “you can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”.  In other words, until you step out of your comfort zone, you will never really discover what can truly make you happy.

My comfort zone was Vancouver.  I had a life there.  Friends, family, a good job, my own apartment, and security in knowing that I could support myself.   There was nothing wrong with my life and I wasn’t necessarily unhappy, but I wasn’t feeling challenged any more, days were feeling the same and it felt like my life had come to a bit of a standstill.   I had nothing to complain about, yet I felt like I was in a rut.

It was June 10th, 2013. the day my friend got back from London and raved about how much she loved it was the day I FINALLY decided that this was it.  No excuses this time.  10 years of going “should I or shouldn’t I” and all signs were now pointing to YES!!! Fast forward 4 months later to October 2013 and I was saying goodbye to everything and everyone in Vancouver and embarking on a new journey that day by day has changed the way I think, and the way I live my life and I am increasingly more grateful and thankful for all the challenges and hurdles that have been thrown my way since being here.  Living life outside my comfort zone hasn’t always been easy, and the changes haven’t all been happy ones.  But everything I have gone through up until this point has been a learning experience for me and changed me in what I hope is for the better.

This past month in particular I’ve noticed a shift in the way I’ve been thinking.  I’ve stopped concentrating on the things I’ve yet to accomplish as something negative.  Instead I treat each day as an opportunity to learn something new from different people in my life.   It can be something as simple as the quickest way to get to work, or the cheapest place to buy avocados.  Or it can be one word or sentence that inspires you to sign up for that Zumba class, or start a blog with a new friend, or encourages you to learn that language you’ve always wanted to.

Everyone has their own story to tell and experiences to share and it restores my faith that we are all here for a reason, to learn from one another, and to always keep taking those steps, whether tip toes or giant leaps, outside our comfort zones!

Goodnight 🙂

The excruciatingly stressful VISA process..

So you’ve decided that you want to move to the UK and now you have to figure out how you’ll be able to work and live there legally! Because I went through the Canadian VISA process, I can only really write about my experience and I did have it easier than most as I was able to obtain an ancestry VISA.  It was still quite a stressful process though and I had my doubts that they would approve my VISA application!

Personally I was worried about my VISA application as I had to give notice to my job before knowing whether or not my VISA would be granted.  As it was an extremely stressful week already with some personal stuff going on and tough decisions to make with regard to the move, having to worry about my VISA application, and telling work that I would be leaving in September, I was reaching my limit on the amount of stress I could handle.

So first things first, when applying for a VISA you have to decide which VISA route you are going to go for as there are a few different options with different requirements and paperwork for each. The information on each VISA can be found here:  http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/

Depending on whether you are going to the UK to study, work, or travel/work, the VISA you apply for will be different and will be for different lengths of time.   Because my dad’s entire side of the family is British, I applied for the 5 year UK Ancestry VISA.   This meant that I could live and work in the UK for 5 years and after that decide whether I want to apply for permanent residency.

Once you’ve decided which VISA you are going to apply for, the next step is to fill out the application form and submit it online.  It is important to read every piece of information and make sure everything is entered accurately as it is an EXPENSIVE application to submit and if they reject you that’s $500 down the drain!! Not fun! I think I had my parents read and reread my application a few times before I was actually able to click the “submit” button.

After the application is submitted, the next step is to make sure you have all the relevant documents! In my case i needed:

• Birth certificates and marriage certificates of my parents and grandparents
• My birth certificate (turns out i had the wrong one)
• Bank statements for the past 3 months showing you have enough money to move to the UK and survive while looking for work (this stressed me out!
• Passport photos that are specifically for VISA applications

Luckily my dad already had my grandparents birth certificates and marriage certificates in a safety deposit box so that part was easy.  And it was actually really cool to see original documents that showed my grandma as a “spinster” before she got married.  Apparently any woman unmarried was called a “spinster”, even at the age of 21!! While my grandpa got to be called a “bachelor” on their marriage certificate. Sounds fair :S

Because my dad never had an original birth certificate we had to order an “original certified copy” of his from the UK.  I’m not sure how copy and original belong in the same sentence but oh well!  Luckily the process was quite quick (although pricey) and it arrived in the mail in a week.

My most worrying piece of documentation was trying to prove I had enough money to live in the UK while I was looking for work as no one tells you EXACTLY how much money you should have. I googled, I scoured expat forums and blogs and all over the internet to see what an acceptable amount of money would be.  I also read a lot of stories of people whose VISA applications were rejected because of “insufficient funds”.  AHH!!! The good thing was I had been saving up for awhile anyway because before I decided to move to London I was planning on taking a European vacation at the time I would be moving.  If anyone is looking for an actual number, what I was able to find from other ex-pats was anywhere between $3,500 – $5,000 Canadian.  I threw in my RRSP statements as well just as reassurance that if the money in my bank accounts were to run out, I had access to other funds. But to be completely honest, the more money you have the better because once you get to London the money goes QUICKLY!!

Once all the correct documents are in place the next step is to make an appointment at the VISA office and have your biometric information taken.   You can pay a fee to get a time that’s most convenient for you but luckily I worked just down the street from the VISA office so I was able to book an appointment at lunchtime for free.  And even more lucky my friend was also applying for her VISA to study in the UK so we were able to make appointments at the same time and go together!  Regardless, we were still shaking in our boots as we went into the VISA office for our appointment. I don’t think either of us got much work done that morning we were so nervous!

The VISA office was not what I was expecting! It’s in a very non-descriptive white waiting room with two little offices off of it.  As you enter you’re greeted by a very unfriendly man sitting at a desk who goes through all the documents before you go in to meet the actual VISA officer. You could see the look of nervousness on everyone else’s faces as we sat in neat rows of 4 chairs patiently waiting for our name to be called.

Once my name was called I anxiously walked into the little office and sat down. I was SO LUCKY to get the VISA officer I did who was extremely nice. They don’t have to go through all your documents before it’s sealed and ready to send but luckily she did as I had the WRONG birth certificate for myself!!  I had the original copy from the day I was born; however it did not note my parents names on it.   Apparently they had changed the information on birth certificates in the 90’s and so I had to order my “long form” birth certificate from the Vital Statistics Agency.

So unfortunately I was unable to continue to the VISA process that day but I am SO thankful that the lady at the VISA office went through my documents and helped me out.  Someone was definitely looking out for me!!! Otherwise my application would have been rejected and I’d have to start all over again!

My second VISA meeting was a lot less stressful but I still decided to sign up for the “express” VISA processing.  This is an extra $100 but to be perfectly honest it was money well spent! It ensures your VISA application is sent the same day and your VISA is issued within 3 days as opposed to possibly waiting 2 weeks!  After going through the documents a second time, the same VISA officer (who remembered me by my pineapple necklace that my grandma had given me 🙂  took my picture and fingerprints, sealed up my envelope and told me where the nearest DHL office was to send off the package.   I remember it being a bright sunny day as I walked to the DHL office which I thought was a good sign that sunny days in London were on the horizon!

One really great thing about the VISA process is they will send you an email for every step of the process after your package had been sent. You’ll get an email saying that the package had arrived in New York, and then another email saying that it has been processed. I can’t even tell you how much of a relief it was to receive this email:

I got this email while I was at work and I think I almost burst into tears because I was so relieved/ happy/ excited!! I pretty much emailed and texted everyone I knew at that point! As everything else in my decision to move had been smooth sailing up until that point I was so worried that this would be my one hang up.  But all was good and it enforced in me even more that moving to London was meant to be for me this time around and nothing was going to stop me! 🙂

If anyone else has their own VISA stories to share please comment as I would love to hear how everyone else obtained their VISA, especially for the different types out there!

The art of meeting people in a new city!

When moving to a new city one of the hardest adjustments can be the lack of access to people to call up and hang out with.. it’s a huge challenge and can leave you feeling quite lonely if you don’t force yourself to do something about it!

When I first arrived in London I was lucky enough to have a friend travelling with me for the first week so it felt like an easy adjustment to life in a new city.  I quickly realized after she left and I was staying in a hotel by myself looking for a job and place to live that it was going to be a challenge.   I missed having someone who was just there to talk to and after buying 70 pounds worth of useless face lotions and potions solely because the sales lady was really nice and talked to me I realized that being on my own for extended periods of time was going to be detrimental to my emotional health not to mention my wallet and bank account!!!

I’ve always been one of those people who likes to be around others and thinks that life is more fun when you’re doing stuff with people.  Even when I was sitting at home by myself in New Westminster, I’d still be texting people to see what everyone was up to and keep that social connection to the world outside my apartment.  So to all of a sudden not have people to text (without there being an 8 hour time difference) it was a challenge.

BUT on the flip side it was a perfect opportunity for me to  realize that I can have fun on my own and that I moved here by myself; therefore I should be comfortable hanging out by myself!! I should not feel self-concious if I decide to go to a museum or sit down at a restaurant or coffee shop and enjoy my surroundings in my own company.   I’ve come to learn since moving here that I no longer NEED to have that validation of having someone with me and I feel like my confidence has definitely been given a boost since being forced to do things on my own and figuring out ways to get everywhere.  I realized that unless I was comfortable doing things on my own, I would be sitting in my favorite city doing the same thing I would do at home.. I needed to get ootinaboot 😉

What I also learned, was that this would be the perfect opportunity to reinvent myself!  At home I’ve always been known as a shy, quiet person and it would take me a long time to open up and really feel comfortable talking to people without being self-concious.  After moving to London I realized that unless I put myself out there and force myself to meet people, I would still be that quiet shy girl that I no longer wanted to be!  That’s when I decided to join meet up groups!

Meet up (www.meetup.com) is the most amazing tool for anyone looking to meet people in a new city or even in a city they’ve been living in all their lives. It’s not a dating site (although there are singles groups if you are looking for that), but it’s a website made up of hundreds of different groups to join based on your interests and things you like to do but don’t necessarily have people to do those things with!  If you like to go hiking, you will find a group who also likes to go hiking. If you are into museums, there will be a group arranging a weekly trip to different museums throughout the city.  Anything and everything that you want to experience in the city but don’t necessarily want to do by yourself, is available to you by clicking on the “join group” button!

The first ever meetup group I joined and event that I went to was for the Canadian Vandoos  Group.  It was at a pub in Oxford Circus and I was a little wary and nervous to go to something on my own.  I wasn’t sure who would be there, what it would be like, or if anyone would talk to me. I would have never done that in Vancouver without having someone come with me and I was pretty proud of myself for stepping outside my comfort zone and forcing myself to step up my confidence level and strike up conversations with complete strangers!  I figured what was the worst that could happen? I either go and have a lot of fun, or I go for a little while and head home if it wasn’t fun.

Turns out it was A LOT of fun! I met a lot of great people and had a lot of great conversations with other Canadians who had moved to London and could share the same experiences and frustrations that I was going through at that time. Because most of them had been in London for longer than I had, it was a great opportunity for me to get some advice on finding a job, overcoming home sickness and generally just surviving in a city that can be quite overwhelming and lonely at times.  I also made a really great friend that night who I now hang out on a regular basis with outside the meetup groups!

After the success of that meetup group I started to branch out and try other groups that weren’t associated with being Canadian as I also wanted to meet a wide range of people from all over the globe!  Through young business professional groups, to London drinking groups I’ve been able to try out many different hotspots and attractions around the city. I’ve gone roller-skating to 70’s disco music, had drinks in a rooftop garden, gone to a 1940’s style “blitz” party and more recently watching the Canadian Olympic hockey games (GO CANADA!!).  Each meetup I go to I meet more and more interesting people with stories to tell and experiences to share! And the more I go the more I start recognizing more and more people which makes it easier to go up and talk to people 🙂

I also love the randomness that these meetup groups provide! From last minute concerts to attend and plans to see the northern lights in Sweden from a tree house, you never know who you will meet or what new plans will transpire after a pint of beer and some proper hot wings!

I’ve met a lot of new people over the past couple of months and people who I can genuinely say have become good friends!  Trish & Rea (my two partners in crime for our Ootinabootinlondon blog) in particular have been really great friends and we’ve had lots of fun exploring the city together!

And the icing on the cake was going to a meet up and having someone say I came across as outgoing!!! Something I never would have heard back home because I lacked the confidence to do anything like this 🙂 Another reason why moving to London was a good idea!!

Welcome to my blog eh! ;)

Thanks for visiting my first attempt at being a blogger! 🙂 We’ll see how this shapes up. This may be my only post (i hope not) or it may be the first of thousands! My main motivation for starting this blog was to write about my experiences (good and bad) in moving to a new country. More specifically, moving from Vancouver, Canada to London, UK.   Originally I wanted to start this blog while I was still in Vancouver and be able to journal the steps along the way that got me to where I am now but unfortunately I am a HUGE procrastinator so 3.5 months into my move, I am FINALLY starting a blog 🙂 better late than never right?

I`m hoping this can be a one stop shop for friends and family who want to know what I`m up to that is a little more in depth than a facebook status update or random instagram pic. I`m also hoping that it can be a source of information for people who, like me, want to move to a different country but don`t quite no how to go about getting it done!  There`s a lot that people don`t tell you and that you don`t even think you need to know before you move and hopefully I can take away some of the guesswork!

Before moving to London I had thought i had done more than enough research about overseas moves and reading other blogs about people who had moved from different parts of Canada to London. I would spend my Skytrain rides (Yay Vancouver!) to and from work constantly looking at job sites, flat share sites, anything and everything that I thought would help me be as informed as possible and try to lessen the stress and culture shock for when I finally got over here.

Yes it seemed difficult but doable! Everyone seemed to get on fairly quickly and adjust to their London life without much stress or culture shock.  I would see pictures of people I had never met living in London, walking in Hyde Park, travelling all throughout Europe, with new friends that seemed to appear in their life as soon as they stepped off the plane. It seemed so glamorous and exciting! And when you first arrive all bright eyed and full of optimism it`s hard to not get caught up in just how exciting it all is and forget about the reality that you`ve just made a complete life change and it does and will catch up with you.

My aim for this blog is not to discourage anyone from moving because London is a FANTASTIC city to live in. I just think it’s important to also be realistic when moving to a new city. From the amazing bits, to the scary bits, to the “oh my god have i just made a huge mistake” bits.  From what you should get done before you leave home, what you need to do when you get here, what people don’t tell you about moving, what people do tell you (and you should listen), and how annoying it is to constantly be asked “Why would you want to move here?” (YOU WILL GET ASKED THIS A LOT!)

So here I am, 3.5 months into my new life in London!

Amazing? YES.
Hard? YES
Have I wanted to give up? YES
Do I regret it? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

So like I said, this is only the first post. I will write posts on the VISA process, what you should hopefully try and get done before you leave home (bank accounts, what to pack, what to send), what you have to do once you get here, and all the fun stuff in between!! stay tuned 🙂 and if you have any questions… or comments on how i can improve this mishmash of jibberish.. please let me know! 🙂 As I said, this is my first blog so I’m still learning 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Krismas 🙂