Firstly, let me apologize for the lack of posts from Weimar. The Internet connection with my computer was very weak. I tried writing some posts in word processing, but I then could post them to the website. So sadly, Weimar went undocumented. I can tell you that it was a great experience and that I learned a lot. Yes I shed some tears, but also laughed a lot and sang my heart out. I gathered a new understanding of the German market for singers and have discovered that I still have time... at least three years before I'm over the hill.
So on to London! When I left Vancouver, I was gearing up. I was going to be working for Stagecoach (almost certainly) and living, at least temporarily, in Richmond upon the Thames. But alas, this was not to be. Sadly, Stagecoach did not pull through for me. After sending several e-mails to the director answered only by radio silence, I decided I should contact school directly... to no avail. I applied to several and received a response from only one: "Thanks, but no Thanks" Alright, I thought to myself, I will arrive in London jobless. No worries, tons of young folk do it every year. I can deal with that. At least I have somewhere to stay!
I contacted my future-landlord through a website called couchsurfing.org (I highly recommend it for travelers who are looking to meet new and different people and get the insider scoop on where you are visiting) After messaging back and forth a few times, we agreed that I would come stay with her when I first arrived in London and then if we were a good fit, I could rent her spare room. We agreed to stay in touch throughout the summer and she would give me directions when I was closer to arriving. This sounded perfect and I slept well, knowing I would be taken care of. Unfortunately, it seems my host forgot our discussion or something came up in her life because after a few back and forth messages she stopped responding. Initially, I chalked it up to her being busy or traveling, but as September grew ever nearer, I started to get scared. Finally, a few days before my impending arrival in London, I accepted that I wasn't going to hear from her... great. I quickly booked a hostel and hoped for the best.
And so I arrived in London; UN-employed, homeless and ready to take on the world!
Thank God I signed up for SWAP before I left! They are an organization that provides support for young travelers looking to work abroad. Today, Monday, was my first day of "work" or of finding it. I headed to the SWAP ( or BUNAC as we call it here) offices bright and early for orientation and to begin my search. They talked me through how to apply for my NIN (Like a Canadian SIN), how to open a bank account and how to look for work/housing. I decided to devote my afternoon to "British-izing" my CV and set to work. When I showed the staff the fruits of my labour, they were quick to point out that I need a mobile phone. DUH! Well that's easily fixed so a scheduled a little shopping excursion for the end of the day.
My CV mostly complete, I figured now was as good a time as any to apply for my NIN. So, using the payphone at the office, I called them up and proceeded to give them all my information so that I could get my NIN application rolling...but one question stumped me: "What is your telephone number?" ummmmmmmmmm let me call you back! Apparently you can't so anything without a phone around here!
Well, since I couldn't apply for work or a NIN without a phone, the next logical step was to push up my appointment with the shopping mall! I found my way there easily enough, with a brief stop for a snack along the way, and was at the Angel tube station and the Carphone Warehouse, the recommended mobile phone provider. They carry phones from all the networks and great deals. I decided on a phone... a little Nokia for a whopping 3.95pounds! Plus 10pounds top up and it includes 60 free long distance minutes!! Perfect for me. My mobile phone number is: ummmmmmmmm. wish i could tell you, but since they didn't have any of the proper SIM cards in the store, I was out of luck! Yet another roadblock for me! They said I could come back tomorrow at 12 and they would have them for me. So tomorrow I will have a phone and then I can finish my CV and apply for my NIN and maybe,just maybe, start looking for work.
I did accomplish one thing though: I bought an Oyster card for the transit system here. Too bad the tube is on strike!!
No comments:
Post a Comment