27 February 2013

Where have I been?? No, where have YOU been???




I haven't written on this blog since 2011.  I'm so very ashamed.  I really am.  Well not really.  Sooooooo let me fill you in because I know all 4 of you who read this thing are soooooooooo interested!

In a nutshell, came back to the states.  Moved to North Carolina to be with my love.  Then just recently went back to Arkansas to get some things together.  Heading BACK to London next month (I'm so fucking excited)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Come back, find a job I guess....lol (ambitious I am), in Virginia Beach to be with my love once again.  It's all about love, right?

That's pretty much it in a nutshell.  This blog is about London so I'll stick to that.  I'll be there for a month.  I.cannot.wait.  Like seriously.  Like I'm about to jump out of my skin because of it.  I'll share some pics and stories with you guys once I'm there because my life is a freaking soap opera!

Ciao!!

13 November 2011

How to get to the UK.....LEGALLY!


Hey all! I can't believe I've been away for so long! I haven't updated my blog often just because I'm not living in London anymore (which makes me sad) and I've been so busy. Between working and working and working on a dissertation, I haven't had a lot of time nor have I had any motivation. But the blog keeps me connected to London which HOPEFULLY I will be visiting in December for Christmas and New Years! Last year I left London to come home for the holidays and so I think it's only fair to grace London with my beautiful presence for the holidays this time around.

One thing that I'd like to write about that I'm asked about a lot is "How did you get to London?"  I've had people who have expressed interest in living in the UK but really don't know how to do it or go about it and how to afford it. Well don't worry.....I'm here to help! I just wanted to address how I got here and what I did to get here and how you can too if you're interested in living in the UK for a minute!
                 
This is an actual picture I took of Tower Bridge at night! Lovely isn't she?


Ok first off, let me say that the immigration laws in the UK are very strict. With the new government in office, they are really cracking down on immigration because of the negative impact it is having on the UK social system. Basically....they believe immigrants are draining the state and are not trying to assimilate into the culture. That is really a sticky subject with the UK and I kinda touched on it in a previous post and I might touch on it again.  But immigration is kind of a sore subject with the British so cracking down on it's borders is something they are taking very seriously and getting into the UK as a non EU citizen is very hard BUT not impossible!




I can only speak to you about coming to the UK as a student. I TRIED to find a job in London but I wouldn't get a phone call or acknowledgement. The British want to know if you have a visa already because it's VERY expensive for British employers to supply a work visa for a non EU employee. So they want to make sure that they have exhausted all of their options in finding a British person for a job. If not, then they look for an EU citizen and if they can't, THEN they look to a non EU worker. But they have to show the UK government that they have just cause to hire a non EU person and that no British or EU person qualified for the job. Basically they are trying to keep jobs for the British people, especially since the unemployment rate is high in the UK. I understand this. So I looked at other options.


 Become a student!!

Listen, I'm a 30 something that HATES and I mean HATES school with a passion. Once I receive my B.A. I thought that was pretty much it and had zero interest in getting a Masters degree. But I looked into my options into going to London to live there for longer than 3 months and I didn't have any. The easiest way for me to get there was to become a student. Although I hated grad school, it was so worth it because I was able to live in London for 10 months and assimilate into the culture and create some pretty kick ass memories in the process.

I would like to tell you that the UK government is starting to crack down on the number of student visas that they are issuing out to everyone because of the abuse that the student visa scheme is getting. Alot of people are getting student visas and not going to class and living and working in the UK as normal. I would NOT suggest doing that because if you are caught in any crime or just stopped on the street and asked for papers(which is highly unlikely), you can be deported AND banned from the UK forever. I would not suggest doing that but from what I understand, people do it all the time.

A site that really helped me is the UK Border Agency site. It is very thorough and tells you which visas you can get, how long they are for, steps to take and other helpful information. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

If you are an American that is interested in studying in the UK, whether as an undergraduate or graduate student, please know that UK schools accept U.S. federal loans and scholarships. Please look into this at least a year before your departure date and apply as early as possible for both. They do not accept grants but you can get loans. I was able to get the maximum allowed for loans. The Stafford Loans (which is the standard US federal loans) was awarded to me. In addition, I was able to apply and be awarded for the Graduate Plus Loan. That loan is based on your credit score and it was very helpful. Just Stafford Loans alone will not be enough to cover your schooling and expenses in school. So please apply for scholarships and private loans if you need to.

What school should I go to??


Depending on what you want to study, you will have to extensively research UK universities. I knew I wanted to study Communications and in my research, I found rankings and affordability as well as location and chose my school, City University London http://www.city.ac.uk/ (<---free publicity).

One tidbit I'd like to share is that it is more expensive to attend school in London than any other city in the UK. If you are flexible enough to look into other areas of the UK, look into going to school outside of London or other parts of England specifically northern England which is far less expensive to live. Look into going to school in Scotland too. Had I known how inexpensive and lovely University of Edinburgh was, I probably would've gone to school there and it's only an hour flight away from London. Also, look into going to school in Wales or Northern Ireland which is considered the UK. It's less expensive and the experience can be just as rewarding!


In applying for your visa, you have to show the UK government that you have enough funds to sustain yourself so they can be assured that you will not drain benefits and the state. I showed my loan information and my savings. You also have to prove that you have been accepted into the university and the university will issue you a CAS (which is an official form stating your school and program you've been accepted into). 

If you are fortunate enough to get a job in the UK, you are restricted to the number of working hours as a student. You are only allowed to work 20 hours during term and 40 hours during vacations and holidays. I never worked. I only lived off my loans, savings and family! But if you can find a job, do so! It's very expensive to live in London. Other parts of the UK are less expensive as I stated before but if you insist on living in London, you might can get away with not working and being very very poor like I was unless you have rich parents or a rich boyfriend (HA).

If you want to see what other people are doing to get into the UK, visit http://www.immigrationboards.com/.  This site helped me a lot because these are real people who are going through the visa process posting their questions and getting very good answers.

I feel like I'm haven't touched on everything but if there is something I've forgotten, please leave me a question and I promise I'll answer it!

Cheers!

26 September 2011

Reasons Why I Miss London #1

Hello Hello Hello Dear Readers!

I've been missing in action, incognegro, being a gypsy and whatever else you say to describe a wanderlust spirit! I've moved to North Carolina but will be moving to Virginia Beach in about 6 months with the sweetie pie hunny face. In the meantime, I've been missing London soooooo much! I will be heading back there in December for about a month. I have some things to take care of with my banking, school and anything else I can find to make myself feel productive and important while I'm there.

I've been thinking recently of all the things I miss about London! Between drinking wine, getting fat and being in love, I have actually missed the crappola out of London! Reason #1.....

English Breakfasts!

Ok....I'm missing the chips/french fries with the breakfast and the Cumberland sausages instead of the Jimmy Dean sausages and even miss the beans on my plate (although I couldn't bare to eat them). I use to visit this wonderful little Portuguese restaurant in my neighbourhood that sold the best English breakfasts and finding a place in London that sold really good and cheap English breakfast is not hard to find. You pretty much can't go wrong with the traditional English breakfast. The warmth and all the fuzzy feelings you get inside when you eat a great fry up!
I'll be back with the rest of my list on reasons why I miss London. There are alot of reasons but the breakfast is numero uno although the traditional American breakfast is KING! In the meantime, take a look at the pic!


YUMMY TO MY TUMMY!

25 July 2011

Sadness For Amy....


I am so absolutely sadden by Amy Winehouse's recent death. Although I'm not in London and won't be for awhile, I still have a deep connection with the city and where I lived.

I was fortunate enough to live in Camden where Amy lived and even sang about in her songs. Her flat was opposite mine on the other side of Camden Square. I knew she lived in the neighbourhood because she bought her flat in 2009 before I arrived in London, but was having some work done on it. Apparently from what I understood, the neighborhood was not looking forward to her moving in because of her reputation of being an abuser and the type of people that would be hanging around. Camden is very sketchy, eclectic, artsy and beautiful anyways so she and her friends fit right in.

I would look down that street everytime I would go to the convenience store, the Portuguese restaurant or the bus stop and I never saw any activity and I never saw her.

My point is not to say how I lived close to her but I wish I had met her or seen her walking in the neighbourhood. I read today that she would go into the same Portuguese restaurant that I use to frequent but I never saw her. She use to just walk around Camden like normal and no one would bother her. But being the fan that I am, I probably would've stopped and asked for an autograph and picture.

I feel so sad for her family. I wish I had met her. And no I didn't know her but if anyone suffered heartache like I had the year I bought her second album Back To Black, then you would understand why I feel this connection with her. I would play her album, with all the lights off in my apartment and drink wine and cry over a love that never materialised or one that had been broken. I understood what Amy was speaking of. I understood her heartache. I understood her struggle to be rid of something bad but too weak to stay away.

It's like the whole Back to Black album was written for me. Isn't that what every fan says? lol! But I felt an immense connection to her just from that album. Maybe if I had just seen her walking down the street, I would've encouraged her or given her some words to help her along in life. You just never know and now I'll never get the chance.

My friend Dawn came to visit me in May and I told her that we were going to go by Amy's house just to see if we could get a glimpse of her but we never did.

I'm also sadden by the amount of criticism she has been getting for her drug and alcohol use and that she brought this on herself. That maybe true but if anyone knows an addict or has an addiction of their own, they will understand that it's a demon that's hard to shake. And now it's claimed the life of a young and talented singer/songwriter along with countless others. I just hope her music continues to live on and that she will never be forgotten.


Ciao

10 July 2011

L is for LOSER, LOVE and LONDON!


I feel ashamed dear readers. I have been a loser! All 5 of you out there have been waiting patiently for me to update my blog. You have written, you have complained and I have listened to your pleas....I shall keep it updated regularly for you from now on...(well actually, no one has said a word about me updating my blog and all of that was generated in my tiny little brain).

At any rate, let me update you on my life right now.....I have left my beloved London but just temporarily! Very temporarily! London was becoming quite expensive, school was over and I was burnt out on that beautiful and great city. I was homesick for my family, friends, American food and American foolishness. So right now, I am home. Back in the Natural State of Arkansas! Wooooooopiiiiigsoooooooie!

Right now, dissertation work is to be completed. Please do not ask me about mine. It doesn't exist. When my classmates from Uni ask me, I go into a temporary shock or pretend I do not speak English. I know nothing about a dissertation at this time.  In fact, I feel a shock wave coming through my brain right now so let me divert. My focus is to move again and to find a job. Yes my dear and devoted readers...I am moving again. My love (my guy) is heading back to his homeland, the Tar Heel State (North Carolina for those who didn't know like I did) and I shall go where my love goes. But he understands that London is deeply embedded in my heart and that I will return to visit and he wants to see London and Edinburgh too.

I do not see myself living in London again unless I have some major money. How people make it there is beyond my understanding. But people do. I miss London so much. After being home for a couple of months, I wish I had appreciated that beautiful and glorious city more whilst there. But I can't regret the time I DIDN'T devote and just remember the time I DID devote to my beloved adopted home.

I forgot to mention that I went to the Royal Wedding festivities! That was fun! Met some cool Canadian chicks, some drunk English boys that were so freakin obnoxious that I got a MAJOR black girl attitude with one. Got into a heated argument with my friend Monica because I had the nerve to be late in meeting her, tried to sleep on the cold ground overnight in peace and was irritated that people couldn't hold their excitement for a few hours and shut the hell up! I drank, laughed, hallucinated a little and thought I saw Jennifer Aniston amongst us commoners but people kept telling me that wasn't her. I also didn't really think I was short (I'm 5"7) but being in that crowd and not seeing anything because everyone else was taller than me caused me to miss out on alot of stuff and made me feel very short. BUT I did see William and Kate walk on to the balcony of Buckingham Palace and kiss! It was dreamy!


This was at the Royal Wedding! I bought this for like 3 pounds. Brilliant!


Royal Wedding Madness


Royal Wedding Madness

My friend Dawn came to visit me my last week there and I fell in love with London all over again. I had to show her the typical sights and it made me appreciate how beautiful the city is!




I can't wait to visit again. I still have traveling to do. My next stop is Paris! Viva La Paris! But in the meantime, I will continue to hold close to my heart the beautiful memories of London and know that I shall see her again soon.







Cheers!

20 April 2011

Cheers To Spring In London And The End Of The Semester!


AHHH London!! How I love thee in the Springtime!

I am actually LOVING this city right now because it's so sunny, warm and beautiful. Not only that, school is out and I'm freeeeeeeeeeee!

The parks are filled with sunbathers, the girls are wearing short shorts, people are actually friendly and smiling. It's a great time to be in London. What I find amusing of my British friends is that they consider 22 degrees celsius as "scorching."  For my friends that have to convert celsius to farenheit, that's about 73 degrees. The British says that's summertime. I have to laugh because in Arkansas, 73 degrees is very cool to us!

I went to my favorite park in the whole world...Hyde Park and took a few pictures of the flowers blooming and some pigeons that were trying to be pornographic but I'll spare you that pic! Enjoy!




Happy Springtime London!

01 April 2011

School School and More School!!


I haven't updated my blog in awhile because I've been stressed out. Grad school stresses me, dissertation stresses me, lack of money stresses me, lack of sunshine in London stresses me! ARRRGGGHHHH!

School is kicking my ass in a major way. I think because I'm so unmotivated and don't really give a shit right now. I'm just ready for it to be over. Once I'm done with my essays, then I'm freeeeeeeeeeee! Right now, I'm overwhelmed. I did, however, sneak away to the United States to see my my future husband/baby daddy/ex husband/lover/stalkee for a week. THAT was a stress reliever...he he he.....

But now I'm back to reality with the fast pace of London, dreary weather, fish and chips and the royal wedding madness! I actually missed London while I was away but just for a brief moment. It was very temporary! Now I'm missing the U.S. again. But I shall press on and enjoy the city as much as I can before I leave here. Until then, I shall drink myself into oblivion, stress about school, club, and did I mention drink?

Ciao!