I'm in London!!!

SigmaChiCard · #1 01-04-2004, 09:47 PM

Forgive me if I mention it in a few threads, but I'm in London for the next six months and everything is crazy. I'm doing BUNAC, and I suggest it...but it truly is very scary. I didn't realize quite the position I put myself in until I moved here. I gotta find a job & accomodation, but I've met enough people that we're all working together on that living situation, but wow is it pricey! My US dollars don't buy much quid at an exchange of 1.85 But I did find a computer with free internet, so while I'm at my hostel (ISH for those in the know) I'm in business, but hopefully that won't be for long. For those brits online, if you know how to get a job, write & we can exchange numbers....GC England...that'd be great, right? Anyway...I made it here safe & sound despite a 2 hour delay due to some security breach at the Baltimore Airport on the 29th of December. But it truly is scary, and I'm just getting acquainted with the city....wish me luck, but I've got to believe things will work themselves out in the end haven't I? Reply...It'll make me a bit less homesick in these late hours...the days are good....the nights I don't have my girlfriend or friends so it's a touch more difficult.

Cory

lifesaver · #2 01-04-2004, 10:05 PM

Dude, hang in there.

You'll find a job and place to stay and all that. This will be an awesome experience for you. Soon, you'll be an expert and will know the place like the back of your hand. You'll do fine and when it comes time for this experience to end, and for you to come back to the states, you will miss England. In the end, you'll wish you had more time there. If you get too homesick, go to a McDonalds or also find a good pub. Maybe some place around a college or something. Also, I am sure there are a buttload of Sig's over there, so maybe your HQ could put you in touch with some of your brothers over there. Its really important to have and make some friends while you're there. You might feel alone right now, but that will soon pass as you make friends. Just think how you felt when you started college and were away from home the first time. By the time you graduated, you were an expert at it all. Its the same thing. Hang in there and keep visiting us on GC.

_Opi_ · #3 01-04-2004, 10:14 PM

adding to the good points above, don't forget to enjoy yourself, even though you feel that you probably arent going to.

I've lived in many different countries and the first months, years, you will feel homesick. But when you look back at this experience and you will appreciate that you hang in there. In the meantime, enjoy the customs of the english people!

mu_agd · #4 01-04-2004, 10:22 PM

I'm so jealous! i went to school in London for a summer and had so much fun! really get to know and enjoy all that the city has to offer! there is so much to do there! one thing i would caution you about is to always be aware of the exchange rate. after being there for awhile i stopped thinking in terms of us dollars and i spent way more money than i had planned to. what part of london are you in? let me know if you want any suggestions of pubs to go to and stuff.

SigmaChiCard · #5 01-04-2004, 10:24 PM

I'm on Great Portland Street in West Minister, and just a few steps out the door from Regent's Park. I'm looking forward to stability, which hopefully I get on the track of tomorrow...damn it's late (2) and I gotta try to find work tomorrow...goodnight!

Cory

Peaches-n-Cream · #6 01-05-2004, 12:07 AM

Cory, enjoy yourself in London, baby! Good luck getting a job.

queequek · #7 01-05-2004, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SigmaChiCard
I'm on Great Portland Street in West Minister, and just a few steps out the door from Regent's Park. I'm looking forward to stability, which hopefully I get on the track of tomorrow...damn it's late (2) and I gotta try to find work tomorrow...goodnight!

Cory

Hey, we stayed there when we were in London! I had a bitter experience with the Great Portland Street Tube station, though. If you have time, go around the back of the tube station, where you can find the basement washroom, and there was my misery began (it was 7 in the morning, so tired because we just got back to London from Edinburgh, cranky as I could be, had to go to the bathroom to do #2, raining, and all you could find was a locked bathroom!

)

And I hate that hostel, since it was so hard to get into our room. We had to pass several locked doors, down the hallway ... and there was not enough points for the internet connection on the second floor, you always had to fight with people who didn't speak english from all over the world!

Anyway, enjoy your stay, dude!

Sister Havana · #8 01-05-2004, 01:50 AM

What is BUNAC?

I am very jealous! I went to London this summer and loved it. I'd love to go back there...have a great time!

I also found that it was much easier for me once I stopped converting all the prices back into US dollars. I was driving myself crazy!

polarpi · #9 01-05-2004, 02:01 AM

I stayed in the ISH while studying overseas for a semester in Cambridge...we spent the entire weekend there, and it was the perfect location....getting off at the Baker St station isn't too bad either to walk back to the ISH, but I wouldn't do it at night by myself

Have a great time over there....when I returned home, all I wanted to do was return back to England. We're looking forward to hearing all about your adventures!

dekeguy · #10 01-05-2004, 03:59 AM

Check out the US Embassy on Grovernor Square/ North Audley Street. They very often have jobs available that require or prefer US citizenship for consideration. Might give you a slight edge in the job market. Also, try the temp agencies. Classic job source for students. Good luck.

Tom Earp · #11 01-05-2004, 06:58 PM

Hey Guy, wondered where you went!

Learn the undergound real quick and buy a long term pass, cheaper that way!

Check with navane as she lived in England for a year! She might be able to tell you who from the states is still there! God there is so much to see it is unbeleivable! Free too!

Good luck on getting employeed sure there are positions for a Smart (?) American. Not smart assed American!

Keep in touch and sure you can find some help from someone on GC!

Pub food is good and reasonable so dont forget that! Fish and Chips Joints, gag!

Sheapards Pie, filling but sucks, English Food Bland as Hell! Dont do Fried eggs that cover Pork and Beans, do try Scotch Eggs with a Pint of larger!

Sherlock Holmes On North Umberland was always my favorite Pub! Between The Thames and Trafalger Square!

Have a Fantastic Time!

ISUKappa · #12 01-05-2004, 11:23 PM

Oh Boy! BUNAC, ISH. . . Those bring back some memories! I did a work/study abroad program through Iowa State and BUNAC the summer between my soph and Jr years, it took a while to get acclimated, but I did love it. I finally found a job waitressing and while it paid the bills, the hours sucked! (I was often taking the 4 am night bus home alone) I hated to leave, but I also couldn't wait to go home and now I can't wait to go back! Definitely learn the Tube and the Bus system, week-long or month-long passes are a God-send. And definitely use the message boards (the old fashioned kind, with Notecards--at least that's what they had when I was working with BUNAC) to help you find roommates and work. I lived with 6 other people on a walk-up about 15 min from the Holloway Tube stop in North London. When you can, take a day and just explore everything! The Camden Markets, Leicester Square, and even do some touristy stuff--the London Tower, Madame Tussoud's, a walking tour. And get to Ireland, Scotland and the continent for a weekend if you can, too. Haggis tours and Paddywagon tours were great ways to see the sights on a fun tour. *sigh* We'll all be living vicariously through you!

If I remember correctly, there was a pub around the corner from BUNAC that served wicked snakebites (1/2 cider, 1/2 lager with black currant flavoring.) Kind of low-brow but good and a cheap way to get drunk! And American beer will always be the most expensive beer at a bar/pub.

For those interested I don't remember exactly what BUNAC stands for (British Universities North American C something or other) but the website is www.bunac.co.uk

SigmaChiCard · #13 01-16-2004, 09:37 AM

still job hunting...hope all abroad is well (it's wierd for me to think of abroad as being in the US..haha)

SigmaChiCard · #14 01-23-2004, 10:00 AM

Got a JOB!

London South Bank University

It's pretty interesting, the pay is good, the people are cool, and I can ride my bike to work...all around a good setting.

cheers~

cory

Kunja_Queen · #15 01-23-2004, 10:10 AM

This is my first post to Greekchat, been a lurker for a long time.
But I really hope you have fun in England. I was born there and spent the first 16 years of my life there before moving to the states. I am jealous that you get to be there right now while I am where I am.

Take care

Cat