LIVING IN LONDON

Julsb
New Member



Joined: 30 Jun 2003
Posts: 6
Location: London, UK

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2003 8:53 am

 

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brandywine - if you're looking for courses, www.hotcourses.co.uk is very useful. They list courses in just about everything, including crafts, arts, professional development, and under/postgrad work. If you're looking to learn & meet people, it's not a bad idea.

As for the gym - gyms can be a bit frustrating over here, as it's difficult to find any that don't insist on a sign-up fee plus minimum year's contract. If you just want a casual drop-in arrangement, you're best looking up your local council's pool/activity centre. (I believe there's one quite close to Surrey Quays.) If you're looking for something more upscale and don't mind paying the joining fee, you're very close to some beautiful gyms at Canary Wharf (one stop east on the Jubilee Line). They range from the very affordable LA Fitness to the very exclusive Holmes Place and Reebok gyms.

And finally - are you buying Time Out every week? It's a must-read if you're new to the city.

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brandywine
New Member



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 5

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2003 12:28 am

 

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thanks for the info on the courses. That is a very informative web site. Funny, I had actually planned to go to Canary Wharf today for my first foray into the public transit on my own, to check out the shopping there. There is also a fitness club at the Hilton Docklands called Living Well that i will check out today. I hope I can find something where I don't have to sign a long term contract, as I don't know how long I will be in this area. Not sure what you mean about the local council centre, but I will try to find out about that. Are you a member anywhere? Do you live close to here since you seem to be quite familiar with the area?
By the way, i lived in Vancouver and Whistler Mt many moons ago, and spent a little time on Vancouver Island too. Don't you miss it? I loved it there.

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Toni
New Member



Joined: 06 Aug 2003
Posts: 2
Location: West Kensington

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 1:39 am

 

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Hi - have just moved to London from Toronto for a work transfer. I dragged my husband along with me and he's still looking for a job, he's not really enjoying being a "man of leisure".
I know what you mean about London being a lonely city. It's hard going without your friends to chat with and go out with.

There is another group for expat Canadians called Network Canada, website is www.networkcanada.org. They have a social get together on the 22nd of each month. We went to our first last month and it was really nice just to talk to some other Canadians.

This is a fantastic summer to be out seeing the sites though - lucky you can avoid the tube during the rush!!!

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jencarr
New Member



Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 1

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 3:54 am

 

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Hi. I'm in my mid 30s and from Vancouver. I recently moved to the UK with my British husband, whom I met while living in NYC.

I'd love to get together with other Canadians but am having a hard time finding out about Canadian expat groups in London. The Americans seem to have that all covered. :)

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

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brandywine
New Member



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 5

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 12:01 am

 

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Hi all. Well, it has been two months that I have been living in London. It is amazing here, but I must admit that I am getting lonesome for life back in Montreal and still feel like a foreigner. I am going back for a planned visit in late September, and am afraid that it will be difficult for me to come back, although I love my partner, and he has to work here. Does anyone have that similar experience--wanting to be with your partner, but feeling like you have given up your own life? Finding the transition difficult? What do you find most difficult?
cheers

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mg_2204
New Member



Joined: 03 Oct 2003
Posts: 1
Location: Berkshire, UK

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:21 am

 

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Hello all!

Been living in England for 5 years and... 7 days. But who's counting?

We are originaly from the South-Shore of Montréal. Candiac. I'm 40, hubby is 42. We're both French Canadians. We speak French all the time at home, unless we have visitors that don't understand French. We live in Berkshire, in a little city called Binfield.

My husband was offered a job here. We were planning to stay 2 years. Children have adapted really quickly and well. They now speak a perfect English! Oldest one has joined the Army and is now stationed in Germany. He's 21. Daughter (12) and younger son (almost 11) are doing great in school and have many friends. They do miss the grand-parents though, cousins and such. They don't really remember our 'old life' in Québec...

I miss Québec! Most of all, I miss my sister and other family members. Miss speaking my own language...

For a time, we were many French Canadians living in the same area. Now most of them have moved elsewhere. Only one other family remaining. I miss those wonderful friends! We had so much fun...

Can't say I've made lots of friends here. I've had really bad experiences as a matter of fact, straight at the beginning. Now I think I've given up making friends amongst the Brits...

After 5 years, I still feel like a foreigner. Maybe it's because I still have a strong frenchie accent? Met an American lady (married to a Brit) who has been living in this country for 12 years. She still feels like a (bloody) foreigner. See?

Over the years, we've tried to explore and discover as much as we can. Been to Edimburgh, Liverpool, York, Bath, Belfast, and also Devon, Cornwall, etc. London's great! Museums and other sites of interest... and just an hour away by train. Buy the 'Good Pub Guide'! A must to discover nice wonderful little pubs here and there... It has become our little Bible.

We've also been abroad for holidays. Countries and places that otherwise we wouldn't have been able to visit. I think we're so lucky!

We will try to obtain dual citizenship now. Will enable the kids to work in Europe too, later in the future.

I've recently discovered this website. There is a 'French Club' nearby but I don't relate much with French people.

I can relate to what you're going through Brandywine!!!

Voilà! That's it...

Have a great week-end all!
_________________
Marie

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brandywine
New Member



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 5

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2003 7:02 am

 

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Hi Marie, and everyone else.
Seems people still feel like foreigners no matter the time they are here. Perhaps the sense of home roots is where you grew up.
Well, both myself and partner are ex-Montrealers. For him it was about a job, and having ancestry rights it was easy for him to work. We had been doing the long distance thing for over two years, and I finally bit the bullet and made the change for us to be together and spent the summer in London. I am now back in Montreal, but returning in two weeks with my cat, so hopefully that will feel a bit more homey. Although this is supposed to be a one to two year arrangement. One never knows how life goes, so I do want to appreciate everything and take advantage of being is such an interesting place, and see more of Europe. Both of us are in our mid-forties, no kids, and have always been adventurous and love to travel. He has a Harley motorcycle so we will see some of the country on that. I would like to get a car though.
In November we are moving to Barnes, which I have never seen. Does anyone live near there? Perhaps we can arrange a get together for whoever is interested in December? I do find us Canadians different than Brits, and Americans (although I do have American family). Seems you notice and appreciate it more when you live somewhere else.
Cheers!

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Toni
New Member



Joined: 06 Aug 2003
Posts: 2
Location: West Kensington

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2003 3:26 pm

 

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Hi

It's been four months now that we've been here and everything is definitely on the up swing... for the most part. Hubby still isn't working but convinced it's just a matter of time. It'd better be this country to expensive for one salary. We're enjoying ourselves but definitely have to be careful on one income.

Brandywine don't worry second month is always the hardest from what I hear and I what I went through myself. You'll be over it in no time and thinking to yourself how cool is this that I am able to uproot from everything that I know and LOVE and travel here to experience so much and all that is new.

Sounds to me like you'll be able to handle it no problem but I would agree that Brits are hard to make friends with. It's not that they're unfriendly, quite the contrary but it's just different. A lot of friendships here are based around work and the pub and friendships in Canada have nothing to do with where you work or what you drink. Maybe a little bit what team you support but we can all be adults about that. We haven't even converted to Rugby and footballl and are still debating with friends from home about Leafs versus Canadiens. Any Montrealers on the site need not remind us when the last time Toronto won the cup!!!

We're hoping to make it to the next Vandoos event and hope to meet some new Canadians there.

Enjoy London in the mean time and remember if you can't find a decent Canadian to hang out with the Ozzies and Kiwis are the next friendliest bet!!

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