Day 62: Two Months in London

Sorry. It passed a long time since the last time I wrote a post: I'm sorry, but I was not able to constantly update this blog till now. Time is money as businessmen say: it's not my case, but here in my new life in London the time is short and there are always plenty of things to do. However, from now on I will try to be more consistent: it is one of my good intentions for the coming months and for this new year! 

Changes. Since the last time I wrote (3 Dec. 2012), much changed. Just few days after that date, I found a room in the beautiful area of Wood Green, just 6 minutes from the tube station and within walking distance to all major shops, groceries stores and shopping centre.

Beautiful job. My Zara job goes on well and every day I love and I'm passionate about more and more. Organization and precision have always been two of my main skills and being able to practice them at work makes me excited: it's always nice to receive compliments for your work! Indeed, it's really appreciable the British habit of thanking those who work at the end of their shift, as the manager will always say "thank you for your time"... it's preferable not to think to the Italian comparison!

The new year began under a lucky star. I decided that, as I was in London, my new year would have to be absolutely original. So, putting aside my shyness, I went to a meetup with other 250 people in a traditional British pub in St. James's Park. Funny and amazing night: I drank good wine, I watched the fireworks on the Thames from a great spot, and above all, I talked to many people and take ​​contacts of some of them to meet them again in the future. A great experience.

My English is going better every day: movies, books and conversations with different people are helping me a lot to improve my vocabulary and my pronunciation. But it can never be enough! Indeed, one of the goals in the coming months is definitely to attend more meet-ups and meet as many people who speak English as possible, to attend an advanced class in writing and conversation and to get the IELTS Certificate with a good score. More effort and commitment in 2013.

Among many good intentions, the first one is to be more punctual. Too many times in the two past months here I've been late and for the British punctuality does really matter. I'm not talking about work, except for once when I made a mistake calculating the travel time from my new home to job place, but especially in interpersonal relationships. I have to learn to better manage my time within the next two months: this is my goal!

Two more. Finally, in addition to the previously stated goal of learning to iron shirts, there are two more good intentions related to each other: sleep less and make special every new day. Seven hours each night will be enough because sleeping more is a luxury. I'm in London, so I wish I could take the best of every day, every hour, every minute, making it special for me, thanking to still be here every time the sun rises.

Lots of ideas for the coming months. Once again, time is short, so now I need to get dressed and go out to attend the next meet-up, before it's too late.

Stay tuned! (I stole this beautiful expression to a dear friend of mine!)

Day 20: My First Pasta & My First Contract

Rain. Last week it rained only once: please stop saying that it always rains in London, it isn't true! It is cold and the temperature is almost below zero, but all days were sunny and it was a pleasure to get around. 

Finally a bit of pasta. I dreamed of a big plate of pasta from the first day I came in England and finally it arrived after almost three weeks. After being disgusted from having tasted a dish of it at the restaurant of the hostel (a strange carbonara with oregano!), finally a taste of home. In fact, the only things needed to breathe a bit of Italy were a nice house and a nice girl. And then, De Cecco pasta and basil sauce bottled in Salerno: what more could I desire from a meal in London!

Permanent job. That dish of pasta gave me the right energy to go to sign the contract with Zara. At the Recruitment Centre, there were only two other people who had part to the group interview with me. Some signatures, details of your bank account and I've done. A permanent contract with three-month trial, a dream for those who come from Italy. My dream. I will start next Wednesday: ti will be hard and tiring, but I'm ready.

Day 14: A Strange Idea of Family (Zara & Leon)

Job interviews day. I had two different job interviews scheduled for today. The first one at Zara in 120 Regent Street, at 11.30 am for a group one. The second one at Leon Restaurant, a healthy fast food chain pretty famous in London, at 3pm in a place close to London Brigde tube station. A strange day with a funny epilogue. 

Zara time. I got there earlier than 11.30 am: punctuality in London very very important. The recruiter was an young Italian gay guy that spoke a good English but sometimes he found difficulty in finding the right word for the speech. For me, it was really easy because my Italian friend Eleonora the day before explained me her job interview step-by-step, so I knew before others the right answers to all questions. Indeed, I fully studied the company website, so I was the one who answered all questions about that. Preparation is better than luck. The interview lasted almost a hour: in my opinion, I did a great job. In fact, around 5pm the recruiter phoned me back to offer me the position of Stockroom Assistant and giving me the opportunity for a face-to-face interview tomorrow at Zara in Oxford Street. Just one last step, I can't wait for tomorrow. 

Funny family idea. At 3 pm I went to the job interview in Leon. The welcome wasn't one of the best because in the recruitment centre there were other twenty people, packed in a small and too warm room. It was a really strange group interview because all candidates had to play games (like quibbles, brainstorming, Jenga) while being watched by recruiters to show their proper skills for the job. A funny way to look for employees. The best part was to discover how the restaurant ran. Leon is considerate a real family so employees have to call managers' restaurants DAD and MOM. Hi Dad, hi Mom! The managers' chief was the UNCLE and Leon's boss was the GRANDFATHER. I'd never thought there could be another different idea of family. For me, it was too much, so I left the job interview, I couldn't handle that. 

My second family. It's really amazing to find different ways of family around the world. I found one here in hostel. Some other wonderful Italian guys with whom share time, meals and days. Beers, chocolate pralines and cakes: we can't wish for better. I think I'll miss this hostel life and this way of family. 

Day 5: Coffee & Sandwich

A coffee. A real Italian espresso. That's what I miss. In hostel, an espresso is a weak instant coffee made of hot water and coffee powder and so watery that it can take up even more than half big cup. It smells good but its taste was weak and disgusting. Anyway, I think it may contain a little amount of caffeine and I need it in the morning, so I decided I should drink it. Outside the hostel, unfortunately, an espresso costs too much, at least more than two euros, so I just quit it. I'm waiting to a room and a kitchen to set up my personal moka and my coffee powder. I can't wait anymore.

Nice to meet Mr. Sandwich. Yes, it's me. Living in a hostel forced me to eat out all my meals. I strongly decided not to eat pizza and pasta until I can cook by myself, so the only solution is eating sandwiches. I mean homemade sandwiches, not just fast food ones, like McDonald's, Burger King or Subway. In London there are a lot of "penny markets" (like "Dollarama" in Canada) where you can buy everything for a pound or less. That's my favourite shop. And that's where I eat everyday. Yes, Mr. Sandwich!

Day 3: Small single or large double room?

Finding a room abroad it's always a problem. Or can be an opportunity to discover new styles of life. Living in London offers a new everyday discovery. Anyway, to really enjoy the city (and to save money of public transportation) is important to stay within the zones 2 or 3. That's the problem. Room rents are pretty high, so the main question is: should I prefer a small single or a large shared double room for the same price?

Today I visited few of them both. Some small single rooms were very small like box rooms with a bed put in a closet large less the two meters, while some others missed basic stuff washing machine or internet connection. The large double rooms that I visited where spacious and comfortable with all modern cons, but I was not sure about sharing with someone else. Prices and zones are almost the same, so it's just a question of way of life. I'm still doubtful and maybe tomorrow I'll take a decision by visiting some other rooms.

Breakfast in hostel is always a great experience. Even though the quality is sometimes poor, the opportunity of talking with people from every part of the world is unbelievable. Today I met a Finnish girl and an Aussie woman. It's always nice to have a different point of view about the city, about what was going on in the world and even about own lives. In particular, the woman told me that I should act and live differently, not just following common ways of live and work, but trying to create my own one. And she gave me some good ideas. That's one of the reasons why I prefer to stay in hostel than in hotel.

Day 1: Hostel & O2

I'm here. I arrived at Gatwick Airport around 9 am. The flight was pleasant with a save landing and luckily no one claps the hands to the pilot. It was a cold but sunny day. Thanks to my elettronic passport, I jumped all the long queue to allow you to get inside UK and London. I could decide the way to get to the city between train and bus, and I chose the last one. In fact, I decided to feel immediately the sensation of driving in the wrong way: it was pretty short because I felt asleep as I got in and woke up just ten minutes before arriving. Then I arrived at Victoria Station and I needed to carry up and down all the stairs my two luggage. Remember me next time not to bring them any more, but just bags I can load on my shoulders.

I arrived sweating at my hostel. It was pretty easy to find. The 28-bed-room was conformable and not so full of people. I looked my important stuff, left my two heavy luggage and then I went out. At the beginning, I felt some strange sensations: I thought I still was in Rome, but just people, buildings and streets were different. For few minutes, I kept asking myself what I was doing here, then I just enjoyed the day. 

Look right, look left. Before crossing the streets, here it is necessary to look before at the own right then at the own left. My first times were really risky, but I was lucky because were anyway far. Then I slowly learn to handle it, even because as I put a feet on the street cars would immediaely stop. I took a long walk avoiding to spend money for the undergound and I really enjoyed it, even if I got lost several times. The neighbourhood (West Hampstead) was sorrounded of beautiful shops, cheap grocieres stores and especially KFC fastfoods. They are at every corner and even if I don't like it, I know I'm gonna try it. But not now, because I'm trying not to spend so much money by eating in the restaurants.

New mobile number. At the end, I finally reach the reason of my walking: the O2 shop. And there I bought a prepaid sim card, like in the CSI films. You don't need to registrate, nor to leave your I.D. or signature. You just pay and get a new phone number. So, now I can be a serial killer. Then, I walked back to the hostel. My day is over, I can hard spell correclty out my words. Good night! :)