She's got a ticket to ride

British-isms That Breed Confusion and Hilarity

2012-06-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Since I’ve moved here, I’ve come across more than my fair share of words and phrases that cause a great number of misunderstandings between myself, my British friends and even strangers on the streets. These are a few of my personal faves:

‘Pants’ means undies over here. What we call ‘pants’, they call ‘trousers’.

“It’s too cold for her not to be wearing pants today”.
“How can you tell?”
“Just look at her. She’s not wearing any pants”.
“!?”

Whenever I enter a store and someone asks ‘Are you alright?’, I never know how to respond. Not sure if this is local to Nottingham or it is a UK-wide phrase, but I can’t tell if it means “Can I help you?” or “How are you doing?”. Either way, my default answer of “yes” probably does not help the situation.

A fanny is a lady’s ‘crawl space’ (if you catch my drift), rather than her behind. So, if your loved one ever asks you to put it in her fanny, you’d better clarify; a misunderstanding is likely to result in at least six sessions of couples counseling.

When a British person is drunk, they are pissed. When Canadians are pissed, we’re angry:

“Ugh, I’m so pissed right now?”
“How much have you had to drink?”
“…what?”

A purse is a wallet. What we call a purse is a handbag. So, if you’re searching on ebay.co.uk or require assistance in a clothing store, it’s best to know the difference. Most of the people I know get all facetious about it, and hand me precisely whichever one they know I’m not asking for. Thanks, guys. Clutches are also purses, rather than handbags. Go figure.

Finally, cookie is one that I don’t really understand, but my boyfriend loves to get all up in my business about it. Cookies only apply to things like Oreos and chocolate chip cookies – the sweet things you dip in milk. They are a type of biscuit, which applies to the saltier, kind-of crumbly items you normally ingest while drinking tea. Biscuits are not the fluffy, buttery pieces of delight that you get with a meal from KFC or Popeyes like they are in Canada. Brits call them scones, but they still aren’t even close.

Also – flapjacks are these. Not these. WTF, right?

More posts to enjoy:

Tea Time: Drinking My Body Weight in Steeped Leaves

Tales of a PubFly: My First Impression of English Pub Culture

Coping With Homesickness While Living Abroad

2012-06-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

In July, I'll have been in England for a year; however, that doesn't make being away from home any easier. Every so often, I get a twinge of homesickness which turns into a fit of tears. It's not just missing home; it's also feeling alone and unwanted (what a wuss, right?). I thought I'd get over it eventually, but homesickness never really seems to go away - at least, in my case. However, I'm not discouraging anyone from moving abroad; it just might be a bit difficult at times, and I want to share a few things I have discovered help when it comes to coping with homesickness.

Keep Busy. It's really easy to stay in bed all day and eat Doritos (I should know); but, making the effort to get out of the house and fill your days will mean that you're focusing on something other than how much you miss home.

Make Friends. Being out of school and working from home means that I don't have many opportunities to meet new people and make long-term friends. So, I find that taking a class will help you meet with local people that have similar interests. It's a great way to strike up a friendship. I'd also suggest volunteering. Just having one good local friend is enough to make you feel less alone.

Take Part in Familiar Activities. Sometimes, it's comforting to be reminded of home, so I try to do things that I inherently associate with being in Canada. And, it can be the simplest things. While British period dramas are thrilling, I like to keep up with my favourite American TV shows online - namely The Real Housewives series (which I spent many hours watching with my mum). It even helps to indulge in foods from home. For example, you can't get Lucky Charms, Pop Tarts or Sweet Tarts in England. So, seek out some of your favourite snacks on eBay or have your family send you a care package. Helpful hint: Selfridges has an American candy department; expensive but worth it.

Write Home. Send postcards and letters to your loved ones back home. Sometimes, it's difficult to keep in touch via Facebook or phone because of the time difference, and writing letters is a great way to stay connected to your friends and family.

Let It All Out. Luckily, I have a couple of wonderful people in my life who are always there to listen to me when I want to cry about missing home. They'll understand: it is difficult and it is scary, and it's really helpful to know that you have a shoulder to cry on.

So, I hope these tips help. Stay active and be social to keep the homesick blues away.

My Favourite Places in Florence

2012-06-16T15:31:00.003-07:00

So, I've recently returned from a 3-day trip to Florence. While I've enjoyed all of my adventures, Florence is very close to topping the list of my best trips. Amazing food, friendly people and lots of shopping - totally my kind of holiday.

I stayed in a lovely apartment in the Oltrano, referred to by the landlord as the "authentic Florence". There are few tourists in this part of town, but the locals are not averse to dealing with bumbling foreigners like myself. There were several inexpensive but great restaurants, art galleries and vintage shops - so, totally up my alley.

Il Santo Bevitore is a lovely restaurant in Oltrarno. The food was fantastic and my whole meal, dessert and all, cost me about £15. Granted, I didn't have any wine, but that would have only brought my total up to about £18. I highly suggested the liquorice creme brulee with coffee ice cream.

Dim lighting, romantic setting, no date.

Volume was a great live music bar in Santo Spirito, where you can catch great acts all week. The bar has a rustic style and is decorated with avant-garde art and bookshelves covered in literature. Many locals circulated the bar, most of which were very friendly and struck up lovely little conversations with me. When I was there, a fantastic duo called Grown Up were playing. So very talented - check them out.

Very chilled out bar in Santo Spirito Sq.

Bardini Garden was a trek to get to, but it was beautiful and secluded. I'm not sure why I decided to go to Bardini instead of the more commonly-frequented Boboli Gardens, but I'm glad I did. After a long climb up a steep hill, you arrive at this beautiful oasis. What I like most about it, is that it isn't very polished. Aside from the beautiful landscaping, the sculptures and the structures were quite haggard, so you get this lovely juxtaposition of renewal and antiquity. It overlooks all of Florence and presents you with a stunning view of the city and its surrounding hills. I had a lovely lunch and relaxed in the Garden for a few hours on my last day in the city.

The perfect way to spend my last day in the city.

So, those are the highlights of my trips, and I highly recommend visiting each of these places next time you're in Florence!

Posts you might also enjoy:

Touring Spain during the economic crisis

7 ways to save money on transportation when traveling

Things You Shouldn’t Worry About When Applying for YMS

2012-05-16T07:02:00.001-07:00

I’m a worrier. It’s a well-known fact amongst my friends and family. I don't think that things are going to work out just fine; my brain is preoccupied with the endless possibilities of what could go wrong. So, when it came to applying for my Youth Mobility Scheme VISA, I dug deep into the corners of my mind to dredge up hypothetical situations in which my application would be rejected.
Applying for an international VISA is a huge undertaking, so I want to use my paranoia for something productive. In case you happen to come upon a particular worry in the process of your VISA application, I hope this post can help put it to rest.

The first thing that I was worried about was the number of times that I had been to the UK prior to applying. I had thought that having visited at least 7 times would make my desire to obtain a VISA look suspicious. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Your previous visits do not have any bearing on your application – unless you had been refused entry.
I was also concerned about making visits back to Canada while on my YMS. I heard horror stories about people being refused entry back into the UK after visits abroad, and I was sure that, with my luck, the same thing would happen to me. However, it doesn’t matter. YMS is a multiple-entry VISA, so you can leave the UK and re-enter as many times as you’d like.
Maintenance funds were also an issue. There were conflicting documents about maintenance funds when I first started looking into YMS. Some said I needed to have £1600 in my account for three months while others said it only has to be in there for one month. As the time for me to apply was drawing nearer, I panicked. I saved all of my money starting in January (I applied in May), living off of ramen noodles and tuna sandwiches so my maintenance funds would stay intact for the following three months. When I actually applied for my VISA, I discovered that the maintenance funds requirements had been changed, and I had only needed to prove the money had been in my account for one month. Doing a bit of in-depth research in January would have likely saved me the trouble – but regressing to my university student diet for a few months did wonders for my figure.
The resource that helped me out the most in my times of need was the Canuck Abroad UK Visas Forum. I posted any and all questions I had and received helpful replies from other members. It also helps to browse the forum to get an idea of issues that others are having and find solutions for them before you encounter them yourself.
Aside from proclaiming to the world that I am anxious almost to the point of insanity, I hope that this blog post also serves to help anyone else that may be having concerns about their YMS application.

Tea Time: Drinking My Body Weight in Steeped Leaves

2012-05-10T13:36:00.003-07:00

I’ve consumed more tea in 10 months than I have in the previous 24 years of my life. I thought Brits just swapped tea for coffee in the morning, but they swap it for every other drink at any other time of day. When you think of tea, I’m sure you think of a couple of delicate old women sitting huddled around around teapot on a doily-laden table. But, that’s not the case. Most people drink tea at any time of day, regardless of what activity they are engaging in or how hot it is outside.

It’s taken quite a bit of getting used to but I’ve really started to enjoy drinking tea. So much so, that I bought my own kettle and have acquired an impressive collection of tea, if I do say so myself. I drink at least three cups of tea a day – even more when I’m hanging out with Andy, who drinks tea like a tea-drinking fish.

I know British people drink tea out of tradition, and I suppose that’s why I was introduced to British tea culture. But, I’ve become an avid tea-drinker likely due to the weather. It’s mid-May and it’s still rainy and cold, and nothing is as comforting as a warm beverage when it’s dreary outside. It’s not as sweet as hot chocolate and it doesn’t get you as wired as coffee, so it sits comfortably in a ceramic teapot somewhere in between.

My lovely little ceramic teapot was purchased from a charity shop for £1.

What you should know about drinking tea in England:

1. ‘Tea’ is just ‘tea’. If someone asks you for a cup of tea, they don’t mean ‘Earl Grey’ or ‘English Breakfast’ or even ‘Orange Pekoe’. They just want ‘tea’. Here, you can buy plain ol’ tea from Tetley or PG Tips, and it doesn’t belong to a special genre or have a particular name.

2. ‘Tea’ can also be a meal. It consists of light and lovely snacks during the mid-afternoon around 4pm. You don’t have to drink tea at ‘tea’, but it is still called ‘tea’ regardless of the type of drink you’re consuming.

3. ‘Brew’ as a slang term refers to a cup of tea (or coffee, depending on where you’re from). When I initially heard people talking about waking up with a brew, I thought it meant that they had a severe alcohol problem – but not so. A ‘brew’ is just an innocent cup of tea.

Before I go, I’ll give you some tips on where to purchase tea: Whittard’s of London. That’s it. Nowhere else. I wasn’t even incredibly impressed with Harrod’s selection of tea. Whittard’s has a huge selection of black, herbal, looseleaf and iced teas. They’re normally on offer, so you can get 3 for £6 or £7, just a little bit more expensive than they would be at Tesco but much better quality.

Similar Posts:
St. Patrick’s Day in the UK

Tales of a PubFly: My First Impression of English Pub Culture

2012-04-21T05:08:00.001-07:00

Since I’ve moved to England, I would have to say that I have spent about equal parts of my time in my bedroom, at Sean’s house and in various pubs. I live in a small town and there is pretty much one pub to every person here. There are no restaurants, so if I don’t feel like cooking, I have two options: buy a ready-meal from Tesco (roast chicken soaked in red wine and loneliness reduction) or go to a pub and eat some underwhelming but affordable grub.

I often partake in the latter. The food may not be fantastic, but it’s better than cooking for myself and setting off my smoke alarm, which doesn’t have an off switch. (It’s now hanging by a wire in the middle of my living/kitchen/dining room, after I yanked it out of ceiling in a fit of rage while trying to remove the battery – as a friendly yet relentless reminder that I should never cook again. It makes a good story for whenever I have guests.)

Now, most of the pubs and bars I’ve been to in Toronto (and there have been a lot of them) seem to inherently incite an uncontrollable urge to get sloshed in all of its patrons. In British- and Irish-style pubs in Canada, patrons want to ‘drink like the Irish’, but that isn’t the case in actual British pubs.

Pubs aren’t just places where people go to get trolley’d and pissed. They’re gathering places, local social clubs. From couples enjoying time together to coworkers on a break, pubs are a place where people go to chat and connect in a friendly way. Maybe it’s because I live in a small town, the population of which consists of about 20 elderly people and a few stray cats - but the pub culture here is very community-oriented.

The pub I frequent

About half of the tables are taken when I enter the pub, as couples, friends and coworkers congregate. They’re all there separately, but at least one person from every group knows someone from another table. They proceed to get up and greet their friends, crossing paths and weaving community-driven webs. Everyone knows everyone else and it’s really lovely to see people connecting in such a personal way.

Don’t get me wrong, though. They drink, too. This week, a man sat down at a table next to me, holding a pint for himself in one hand and in his other, balancing an empty wine glass and a bottle of wine between his fingers. It was for his wife. They were over 60. I thought it was pretty gangsta.

You also get a few teenagers and young adults milling about, playing fruit machines and gossiping. But, I’ve never seen anyone act out of line or get belligerently drunk at a pub. And, I like that.

As such, I can get quite a lot of work done at pubs here (the big pubs have free WiFi!). It’s fun to people watch as I meet my daily deadlines, and listen in on very British conversations about toffs, ponces, scousers and nutters.

I’m actually at a pub right now, and Chelsea is playing Arsenal, so I’m going to turn my attention to that!

Similar Posts

St. Patrick’s Day in the UK

Bravery, and Traveling Alone As A Woman

2012-04-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

I have never been described as ‘brave’. I’m the kind of person who rehearses all of her conversations in advance. I only rode my first upside-down roller coaster after about 12 years of persuasion. I have to get a second opinion on everything. As such, I’ve always demonstrated characteristics that are the opposite of what it takes to make a person courageous.

I've always aspired to live life like this internet meme character.

But, the more I travel across Europe, the more I hear people using the word ‘brave’ to describe me and my adventures. When I first started traveling, it never really occurred to me that getting on a plane and traveling to exotic places on my own was something that most women my age would not do. It’s just that I don’t normally have anyone that will accompany me on my travels, but it doesn’t stop me from going anywhere – and being a young woman doesn’t make me fear traveling on my own.

I really don't know why I feel so differently about travelling than I do public speaking or carnival rides. But, as a woman who has traveled several places on her own, I have discovered that there is - in fact - nothing to fear. I’m 5-foot even and weigh about 100 pounds, and I have actually never felt threatened while going on about my travels in Europe. I suppose I do a few special things to make myself feel a bit safer, so I'll share them with you. So, if you're a little worried about being a lady and travelling alone, I hope that employing these tactics will make you feel a little more secure:

1. Protect your belongings. Make sure there is a safe in your room so you can store all of your important documents and only bring as much money as you plan on spending when you leave the hotel. Keep your money close to your body (sometimes, I keep it in my bra or in a pocket on the inside of my jacket) and hold your purse close.

2. Dress appropriately. If you travel during the summer, it will get hot, but keep your bits covered up. Showing lots of cleavage and wearing shorts that leave little to the imagination may not be a big deal in the UK, United States or Canada – but it can be misconstrued abroad. Take some tasteful dresses and shorts that extend beyond your butt-cheeks.

3. Be social and friendly. When you seem make yourself seem guarded, locals can be put off, thinking you are being rude. So, just relax, make eye contact, say hello and keep walking.

4. European men are notorious lotharios and you will find that you get approached more often than you would at home. When this happens, don’t be rude or act guarded. Just be friendly and turn down their advances. In case of especially persistent suitors, learn the phrase ‘boyfriend’ or ‘husband.

(If you are particularly hot stuff, buy a fake wedding band/engagement ring from Primark or Claire’s. It’s really good man-deterrent.)

5. Be smart. Act the same way you would at home. Don’t accept drinks from men you don’t know. Don’t walk around lonely areas at night (save money for cabs or stay in a hotel in a busy area). It’s also a good idea to memorize the number of the hotel and be sure you know how to use a payphone or make roaming/international calls from your cell. If you get into any trouble, hotel receptionists can be very helpful.

British Summer: A Week of Sun

2012-04-07T04:57:00.001-07:00

When I arrived in the UK last year in July, I was under the impression that I had come at just the right time to have some fun summer adventures. I couldn’t have been more wrong, as I was a few months late for British Summer, the rare few weeks when the weather is consistently beautiful.

Last week, we had British Summer (the equivalent of Daylight Savings’ “Spring Ahead”). It was as though the collective process of the country setting its clocks back created some shift in the weather systems to bring on the rarity of sunlight and heat.

The temperature peaked at about 21, but it was perfect for a few days out in the sun. I visited the Nature Reserve, spent a few days strolling through the town centre and I had foolishly started to make more outdoor plans for the weeks ahead – assuming the weather would continue. Yet, again, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

We had a full week of beautiful weather before the skies converted back to their usual shade of saddening grey. It’s been about ten days now and the forecast does not predict any sun in the foreseeable future. I’ve had to don my winter coat the past few days, draping myself in the woollen fabric of disappointment (because I really wanted to spend a day at Tycross Zoo).

Clear skies during my trip to the Attenborough Nature Reserve)

While what is considered ‘summer’ throughout the rest of the world is approaching, we can’t look forward to the same consistent combination of sunny skies and high temperatures. Like any other season in the UK, June, July and August are full of unpredictable weather and a fair bit of rain. The temperatures do rise to about 25 degrees, though, so you can break out your embarrassing shorts on at least a few occasions.

While it can be pleasant at times, it certainly does not compare to a summer in Toronto. The skies turn that shade of blue that can only be associated with laughter and elation while temperatures soar above 30. You experience the joy of actually being able to put your winter clothes away in a box in the basement because you can be sure that the temperature won’t drop below 20 degrees.

However, I’m not going to miss being unable to sleep and/or breathe at night due to sticky, steamy weather. It’s almost worth the tiny summer we get in exchange for no snow or minus 0 temperatures during winter. Sometimes, the weather even brings a pleasant surprise (I remember wearing shorts to Alton Towers in October last year), so British weather isn't all bad. It just sucks a lot of the time.

Culture Shock: Being Black in England

2012-03-28T04:18:00.003-07:00

I’ve never defined myself by my skin colour. I came from a place where I never had to. Toronto is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, and race never seemed to be a big issue. Everyone managed to blend into the mosaic without compromising their own identities, and I feel like I may have taken this for granted. When I moved to England, I expected things to be similar, since I was under the impression that it was an equally-multicultural country – but that has not been my experience.
I live in a small town called Long Eaton, about a half hour away from the Nottingham city centre. On occasion, I see one or two people of colour, but I’m basically the only Black person around. When I go out in public, I’ve never been made to feel so out of place. People passing me in the street stare me straight in the face, silently interrogating me, trying to figure me out. When I try to start a friendly conversation or ask for help in a store, I am dismissed immediately. A woman clutched her purse as I walked past the other day.

I was under the impression things would be different in the city centre, where there are more people of colour. However, this doesn’t actually seem to be the case. This weekend, I purchased an item in a deli and was in line after two young, Black men. An employee took my item to ring it in, and asked “is this everything?”. I assumed that he was asking if this was all I required, but he handed my box of olives to the man ringing in the two males in front of me. He said, “don’t forget these”, handing my item to the clerk, assuming that all three of us were together.

Obviously, it’s an honest mistake, and he seemed really embarrassed. However, I’ve never really been subjected to that sort of prejudice. It was neither malicious nor intentional; it was accidental – inherent. It was the same kind of prejudiced that occurs when a women protects her purse when I walk past. It just seems to be a natural instinct.

When you add being a woman to the ‘Black + Canadian = strange’ equation, things get even worse. On my first night out in the city, I had my ass grabbed by a young man who was intoxicated. I buried the urge to sock him and chalked it up to him being obliterated, but it was just the start of a trend.

Whenever I go out, I’m approached by British men and the conversation begins with such charming ice breakers as:

“Wow, you’re so exotic”
“You know, I love Black girls/brown skin/curvy women”
“What’s your background?”
“Let me just feel your hair” (yes, seriously)

On the odd occasion, they will get so bold as to touch my hair or grab me by the hips. Now, I go to some classy places (for Nottingham, at least), and I wouldn’t expect this type of behaviour from anyone – but the fascination of seeing a Black woman seems to transcend decorum and etiquette. I’m not flattered anymore, just offended.

I’m aware that this does happen to people of all races in places like Asia and Africa, where Blacks and Caucasians are visible minorities. However, I was under the impression that the big cities in England (of which Nottingham is the smallest) would be more multi-cultural, diverse, accepting.

But, I’m reminded everyday that I’m different. That I don’t blend in and – most importantly – that I don’t belong. It’s a bit painful, since it seems like everyone in Toronto just belongs there. People of all races could identify and socialize with me, and my skin colour was never an issue.

It’s just a bit of culture shock, I guess, but it seems to work both ways.

Spending Abroad: UK Living Expenses

2012-03-21T09:18:00.001-07:00

This isn’t my first time living on my own, but it certainly feels like it. I find that the UK requires a lot more in terms of taxation and living expenses. A few of them came as a shock to me, but I got used to them. This is my experience with living expenses in the UK thus far, and how I've managed them.

Phone, internet and tv are obvious expenses. There are package deals that you can receive, which are way more worthwhile than getting your phone, internet and TV services from three different providers. These also exist in Canada, but they’re very competitive in the UK, as there are quite a few companies to choose from – rather than simply Rogers vs. Bell. I went with Virgin for all of my services, but Sky, BT and Tesco are also popular choices.

I also discovered this fun little thing called “Council Tax”. You pay it monthly, and it covers public services like garbage collection and policing. When searching for an apartment, it’s best to find out which tax band you’re in. It’s almost as important as your monthly rent, as council tax can cost upwards of £100 per month. Mine is £106, but I received a single-person discount of 15%. Make sure you apply for the discount when you receive your first council tax bill. This comes about a month or so after you move in. Your landlord will set this up.

(My council tax has recently been increased to £115. It’s only ten pounds, but I’m feeling that unique type of adult anger which occurs irrationally over small cost transgressions; for example, when a two-for-one deal results in two Appletizers costing £4 when one only costs $1.75. Thanks for that, Tesco).

It is also a good idea to set up a direct debit account for your council tax. You can choose to have it taken from your bank account on the 1st or the 25th of the month. This comes in handy, if you get paid monthly and closer to the end of each month.

Then, there’s the TV license. This really annoys me. You have to pay for cable – and a TV license. It’s £145/year. You can choose to pay monthly, quarterly or yearly. You can even pay weekly, if you’d prefer to do it in smaller instalments. I only use my TV for gaming and forcing my friends to watch Tarantino films on a regular basis, so I’ve avoided this little expense.

Not having sales tax is a positive over here. But, I’m still trying to work out which is the better deal: paying 15% sales tax on every purchase in Ontario vs. paying £100+/month in council tax in England?

Water and electricity are expenses that exist over here, too. You can avoid them, however, by buying into a flat share, where everyone pretty much pays a flat rate. Also - on GumTree, you’ll find regular folks renting out spare rooms and self-contained flats in their homes. In these cases, your water and electricity costs are likely to be included. If not, your electricity usage is averaged. Over the summer, you’ll find that you use less electricity and you’ll get a discount in coming months.

St. Patrick’s Day in the UK

2012-03-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

I must be pretty naïve. I told myself I wanted to get in and out of town before 4pm because it’s St. Patrick’s Day, and I didn’t want to be pulled into the festivities. Who would go out drinking at midday anyways?

But, if there are two things I’ve learned about British people, they are:
[1] Brits love to drink.
[2] They love to dress up.

So, I should have known better. If there is holiday set aside to do both, you’d better believe they would take advantage of it. We celebrate the occasion in Toronto. A few pubs will sell green beer and encourage patrons to wear green. The few authentic Irish pubs in the city will have line-ups outside that span the entire block. But, I was not at all prepared to witness St. Patrick's Day on a British scale.

Pubs’ patrons spilled out into the streets, yelling contentedly and toasting so hard I was surprised that their mugs didn’t smash to pieces. The Market Square, which is normally cleared for fairs and festivals, was filled with people dressed head-to-toe in green clothing. From afar, I felt as though I were on another planet – some really cliché setting out of a 1950s space film, in which all of the aliens are painted green with and outfitted with novelty-sized foam heads.

Overall, it’s quite a joyous occasion. Normally, when I head into Nottingham’s city centre, it is full of drunken students getting out of hand, vomiting in trash cans and crying about their first-world problems. On this occasion, the city was full of people of all ages celebrating a cultural event and sharing their happiness. Although I didn’t take part, it was really lovely to see.

Here’s a little bit of information about St. Patrick’s Day, just so you know it’s not all about getting trolley-ed, pissed, minced and trousered. The holiday actually marks the arrival of Christianity into Ireland. People wear green because it is associated with the Shamrock, which is believed to have been used a symbol for the Holy Trinity, when explaining it to the newly-converted Irish. It is associated with the lifting of lent restrictions, which explains the boozing.

Meeting New People Abroad

2012-03-15T04:11:00.001-07:00

I made my first British friend today!
It's not just someone I met once and I stalked on Facebook for a month, or made light conversation with and now believe we're BFFs. It's a friend I met in September, and we've been hanging out for a while - but I feel like we've now reached 'good friend' status! This is a huge accomplishment for me, since I feel like making friends as an adult is nearly as difficult as it was when I was in 3rd grade and wore braces and snowpants all year 'round.

It's made even more difficult for me because I wore as a freelancer now. Office friends are pretty great because you automatically have one thing in common: hating your boss. However, I don't have that auto-groundwork with anyone. So, I needed new ways to meet people while living abroad.
The first thing I did was enroll in a short class. Luckily, there are plenty of venues in Nottingham which offer them and I found one to suit my interests: Creative Writing. It was a class of about 25 students, all with similar interests, but from completely different walks of life. Everyone was very friendly, talented and willing to share their ideas. In addition to learning new and creative formats and Creative Writing techniques, I got to interact with people like me. It only last four weeks, but I met one really good friend and joined a group that meets up every month to discuss their ongoing writing projects. Very well worth it.
Another great way to meet people resulted from staying in a hostel in Dublin. I was wary about it, but I figured it would be a good way to connect with other young people while travelling alone - and it was the most affordable accommodation I could find in the city.
I was more than happy to stay in my room, finishing up my writing assignments - but being on the top floor meant that I couldn't connect to the internet. So, I had to enter the unknown domain of the Common Area. Several people from across Europe were hanging out and I managed to join in on a conversation and was invited out to a mini pub crawl. Everyone was super friendly and really excited about keeping in touch. I made a few really good friends with whom I speak to regularly.
So, that's all I got for now. When I discover some more friend-making tactics, I'll let you know!

NHS and NI on YMS, OMG

2012-03-13T09:23:00.002-07:00

That's quite a lot of acronyms you got there, England.
And, it can be quite daunting when you're planning your trip, not knowing what any of them stand for. Well, NHS is National Health Service (sort of like OHIP) and NI is National Insurance (like Social Insurance). Having personal numbers for each is essential to starting your life in the UK, but figuring out how to register can be a bit of a maze.

Luckily, my boyfriend and his family knew exactly what steps I would need to take. It was pretty much the most helpful thing in the world, since the internet contained absolutely no information on how to obtain NHS and NI. I would have been completely lost without them. And unemployed, and probably perpetually-ill.
First, I applied for my NI. Simply head to your local Job Centre Plus (here is an extensive list) and ask one of the helpful associates that you're in need of an NI number and inform them that you're here on a YMS visa. They'll hand you a brochure and you'll have to send away for an application.

Once you receive it, you have about 2 weeks to complete it. You may or may not have to attend a 'Proof of Identity' meeting to - what else? - prove your identity. I didn't, but they did ask me for photocopies of a crapload of documents - my VISA, my passport, proof of address, etc. I believe that if you were to attend a Proof of Identity meeting, you'd be required to bring the same documents. After completing the application, I received my NI number within a week.

Next, I embarked on the pursuit of my NHS card. Everyone in the UK is born with one, making it nearly impossible to find information online about how to actually register for NHS if you're from another country. Little did I know it was as simple as going to my local doctor's office and filling out a form. Once I did that, I received my card within a few days. Find a doctor near you accepting NHS patients here.

Maintenance Funds for YMS

2012-03-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

One of the major requirements for the UK Youth Mobility Visa is proving your maintenance funds. It was actually the part that caused the most trouble for me in an otherwise easy process. So, this is my take on getting this done right the first time!

First of all, you are required to have £1600 (approximately $2500) in your bank account one month before leaving. I’ve bolded that bit because most of the internet misinformed me that my funds had to be 3-months old, but I believe that was the case before they updated the Youth Mobility Scheme, and I ended up getting caught in the transition.

In order to prove that you’ve had the funds in your account this entire time, you’ll have to print off bank statements for the past 31 days. They also accept passbooks, but I’m under the impression that most people under 45 don’t have passbooks from their bank. So, head to Kinko’s, spend $3 or so printing off your bank statements, and away you go -

- to your local bank. You’ll need a letter from a teller confirming that your maintenance funds have been in your account for the past month. I had to pay $15 for mine from TD Canada Trust, but I’m not sure you’ll have to do the same with other banks.

Having the bank’s letterhead might not be enough so you should get a stamp as well. However, the teller that wrote the letter got uppity and told me it wasn’t allowed. If this happens to you – this is not true. I collected my un-stamped letter and took it to another branch, where another teller was more than happy to oblige.

Before you send the letter off, do one final check. Does it include:

- The date it was written?

- The date the funds appeared your account?- Your full name and account number?

- Banks name and logo, written on company letterhead?

- Confirmation that funds of £1600 (and its CAD equivalent) have been present for 30 days?