Moving to London in September - any tips about adjusting?

donnaone
New Member



Joined: 12 Aug 2003
Posts: 1
Location: Wetaskiwin, Alberta

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:00 am

 

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I accepted a position in the Lewisham borough of London. I know very little about the South East part of London. Does anyone have any tips, suggestions, etc about adjustment? Can you tell me any stories about your experiences in adjusting to this big city?
_________________
"If life gives you lemons make lots of lemonade"

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2003 6:51 am

 

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When I first moved to England I found it hard it to adjust. One thing is the doors. I found I often got locked out because in Britain the outer doors are self locking and they dont have door knobs, you need your key when you go out unless someone can let you in on the inside.
I always find it is the little things like that that make adjusting hard. I was little when I left Canada and after 10 years I pretty much have the hang of it.
Also, if you like Root Beer, drink it while you can-hard to get in the UK!!
Hope this was helpful
Republican

www.canadian-republic.ca

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dognpony_uk
New Member



Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Posts: 4
Location: North Lincs

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2003 12:35 pm

 

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Hi Donnaone,

I lived in Northern London for the first six months. I avoided ging into the city centre... waaaaaay too many people for a country girl like me! And the underground?... noooooo way!!! Not for me.
I found the round-a-bouts most daunting in the beginning but I'd like to think I have those down to a T now. .

Having said all that, I must agree with Republican... it's the little things that you miss the most. Like Nabob coffee, Old Dutch Potato Chips, Astro Yogurt, live hockey games... the list does go on!

There's not much you can do about watching a live hockey game but when I'm really missing some of those things from home I send for a care package or if you don't mind spending a little more on yourself for those good ol' Canadian goodies you can visit http://www.canadashop.uk.com. That's what I do.

Good luck and welcome to UK. The people here are really great!!

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 11:18 am

 

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Unfortunatly, I have no knowledge of that part of London. However, I do have some tips on adjusting in general after 10 years of being an expat. Here are my top tips:

1) Keep in touch with news in Canada, it will make Canada seem less "foreign" when you go back for visits. Got a favorite paper? Chances are you can find it on the web.
2) Enjoy Canada while you can, cherish the little the little things. I am not ashamed to say that on a recent visit home I drank some root beer almost every chance I got-not toomuch though
3) Visit when you can.
Thanks to dogpony_uk for the website address. One thing though when people write my name, they can they remember "republican" is with a small r. Capitol R's imply the American Republican party, where as I am a Canadian who wants a republic. Petty but to me it makes a difference
republican

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dognpony_uk
New Member



Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Posts: 4
Location: North Lincs

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:22 am

 

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Hi republican,

Sorry about using a capitol 'R'. The thought of the American Republic party never even crossed my mind. I hope I have not offended you.

And... good tips for keeping 'in touch' with Canada.
Now, if I could just manage to get my hands on some REAL Canadian Maple Syrup instead of this watered-down stuff....

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 2:10 am

 

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don't worry you diddn't offend me, I used to make the same mistake when writing the word republican
As for real maple syrup, that would be really nice. Does Canada shop sell maple syrup?Personally I loveit from a farm in the countryside mmmmmm One thing I miss is real root beer, I just love it so much!!
republican

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jbeynham
New Member



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 2

Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 8:53 am

 

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You can get Root Beer at Sainsburys supermarket. It's not the same as A&W but it's better than nothing. And if you make it into a root beer float it's pretty close to the real thing.
Sometimes you can get Reeces Pieces in Tecsaco petrol stations.
Also if you stay up until half past 12 on Thursday nights, channel 5 has been showing a few NHL games. And if you're really lucky you might even catch it when a Canadian team is playing.
Englands not so bad once you get used to it, but you're right, it's always the little things you miss the most.

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rom
New Member



Joined: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 8
Location: London, UK

Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:18 am

 

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See you're a social worker. If that's what you'll be doing in Lewisham,
you probably won't have time to be homesick -- some of London's
bleaker neighborhoods are to be found there. Depends exactly where in the borough you'll be. (The 'hoods get better the further south in the borough you go).

Having said that, I in southeast London (Lambeth, on the line with Southwark) and I wouldn't live anywhere else. Housing's cheaper
(relatively), it's easy to get around once you get to know the
bus system (virtually no Tube, which is frankly uncivilised anyway),
and we have some of the best places to eat in town. Some might say
crime is an issue, but I don't regard it as any worse than elsewhere
in London -- and South London neighborhoods tend to have more of
a sense of solidarity than the toff-y ones on the other side of the Thames.

To use a New York metaphor: south London is Brooklyn, north London is Manhattan. (To which north Londoners would say: North London is Manhattan, south London is ... New Jersey. But to each his own.)

RoM

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