So, life in this ‘wonderful’ city continues and sometimes makes us just want to pack our bags and call it a year. At the end of the day though we tend to laugh and wonder how on earth these people survive considering how difficult it is to do typically normal, individual tasks...or is it because we’re foreign?
1. Matt & I are potentially moving in with one of his fellow American classmates (same school, different program). We’ve looked for 2 Saturdays straight for a place and came across a really nice flat (see pics above) with a little higher price tag than we wanted, but was worth the extra costs. We submitted the ‘one week deposit’ along with ‘application fees’ only to find out 20 minutes later should our application be approved we would move in and have to pay 6 weeks rent as a deposit and the standard 1 month rent. Mind you, that’s about $6,146 up front...that’s alot of money for anyone...now compound that with the fact I am the only one working out of us lot. After push and shove and potential backing out, we compromised and figured out a plan. THEN...we were told we would need someone to ‘vouch’ for us as Matt & fellow roommate obviously had no income...and I didn’t make enough on my end to cover both me and Matt...even though we’re married that was not a benefit of any sort. Catch is the lucky individual would also have to make enough AND had to be British. Honestly, the whole British thing was the hardest thing as it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Luckily though, said potential roommate is more social then either of us and has mastered her charm. Now let’s see if that settles them as I can’t even get a credit card approval in this country....how’s that possible!
2. Matt is looking for a job and goes on an interview only to be told
a) you have no proof of construction documents (despite having a drafting associate’s degree & 3 years architectural work experience)
b) graphics are amazing...you should go work for Fosters (not the beer guys! the hot shot [st]architect)
c) let me introduce you to the team ‘hi, this is Matt...from Texas’ (that’s like saying ‘Hi, your European!)
d) Why do you want to work for us? You’ve done big landscaping projects, skyscrapers, medical buildings, and are interested in sustainable design (uuummm...obviously he wants to EXPAND his portfolio, why get sucked into one niche at the young age of 28!! It’s not like its a career change...all the same language, just a different dialect!)
e) What are you qualifications Part I Architectural Assistant or Part 2? (Let’s see....you have his resume!!! You know the British way....why don’t YOU tell me!!!)
3. Good ole plane tickets that simply put can’t be purchased for travel over 180+/- days, but that can’t be purchased online cheaply with the option to change the date after a certain point with attached change fee and price difference of ticket(known by British Airways as non-refundable/non-exchangeable). Learned the hard way...despite being told over the phone a price, told we’d be charged $50 for booking over the phone, going online to purchase said tickets for the same price, and then not reading the fine print. So they profited about $700, probably sold our seats at a premium price because we cancelled them, and then went through 5 different BA over-the-phone customer service reps before one was kind enough to say we could get 1/2 of the taxes we paid as a refund....$250 richer...in 6-8 weeks time!!
Well, winter has hit and is here to stay for the time being. Luckily we don’t have the dreaded cold and rainy winter just yet...but I promise it will arrive before the year is out. We’ve pulled out our best friend...the remote controlled heater!! Its a nice addition to our radiant heating and has made this weather a little more tolerable. Of course this time around I take the tube everyday and don’t have to stand minutes out in the cold waiting for a bus. We’re ready to go home though as both of us miss you all quite a bit. A year is a long time to be away, but we’re glad that it has passed quickly, Matt is still standing tall, and we haven’t killed eachother in all the stress and turmoil. Love you all and see you all VERY soon...woohoo!!
Love - KD
5 Top Big News in the City:
1. St. Pancras Train Station has opened its fast-track lines to Paris...2 1/2 trip now! More reason to come and visit..the gateway to Europe!
2. Sir Paul McCartney’s soon to be ex-wife is making a fool out of herself, but at the same time wonderful tabloid news for the country.
3. Huge fire in old warehouse on future Olympics 2012 site burns sending clouds of smoke into the air.
4. Christmas is in full swing with gifts, cards, wrapping paper, and christmas light displays on Oxford Street...it’s a little early for my taste!!
5. Spice Girls are on tour, Amy Winehouse is still a big hit despite her drug use and spousal abuse, X-Factor winner (same as “American Idol”) has gone from rags to riches and has an album selling like hotcakes.