The last time I wrote in here - I was finishing up a Master's Degree, well into an internship I was hoping would take me somewhere, and still in that anxious uncertainty of wondering where I would be in 4 months time.

So - what happened? 

It was a few jobs through, a few more internships after that, one hell of a final paper, and a rejection or two from the UK government, but to be able to say this makes me prouder than anything I've ever done in my life.

WE DID IT.

Two crazy Americans with even crazier dreams, moved across the world together to accomplish something that not many folks can pull off. And not even one of us managed it - but we both did.

I've been with my company since July, and got my work visa in January. We're in a new flat in Fulham. We started a music events company and have put on some pretty wild gigs. I work 5 days a week and complain about how busy the tube is at rush hour. I grab a few pints at the local bars around for post-work happy hour. We spend weekends at the parks, or wandering around a market. Life is so normal - and I couldn't be happier.

I've always said I felt like I belonged here. But now, it's a reality. London is my home.

Damn that sounds good to say.

It's been almost a year since we've moved to London.

Wait .. a year??

Whoever said time flies, THEY MEANT IT.

As we're finishing up our degrees and things,

the real grit of why we moved here is surfacing more and more.

And that reason is to stay here for good.

It may be needless to say, but as an immigrant, it's pretty difficult to secure yourself here.

The next four months are crucial, and also completely up in the air.

I've had a plan and process of how I was to go about this,

and if anyone else is in, or will be in, the same situation in the future,

I'm hoping this may help a bit.

Finding Work - Any Work

With the visa that I am under right now, which is a Tier 4 Student,

there are guidelines about work.

You are allowed to work a certain amount of hours a week for a certain amount of pay.

It's not much, but it's enough to keep you afloat finance-wise.

In order to maintain a steady income, finding the right job that could be flexible around my studies was key.

I did a pretty big search for job vacancies on multiple different sites.

There are multiple different outlets you can use, and a great example to take a look at is City Calling.

This is one of my favorite, as it's both easy and convenient, and they are really great about matching you with the jobs that fit what you are looking for - check them out here!

Internships - Experience - ANYTHING

This has been the most important part of my time here.

Finding internships is incredible and beneficial for so many reasons.

Work experience builds up your CV, shows you've got some time in the UK business world behind you,

and on top of this, it's connections - and we all know the only thing that matters these days are who you know...

I've been doing this for both pay and voluntary - it's crucial to get out there and work around the areas that you want your career in.

And if you can make this happen interlinked with the first step of getting an income - GO YOU!

Two birds with one stone, more time for one job rather than less time balancing two.

There's not much more you can ask for.

Apply Apply Apply

This is where I am now.

I'm still working towards internships and work experience,

but I'm moving into needing to look and apply for full-time, salaried positions - which is both exciting and absolutely terrifying.

My advice - attack everything and everyone.

I know myself and what I'm capable of, and the confidence I have in what I can do is great.

In order to secure a job here as an expat, one guideline with a visa is that you have to be a better worker than a UK citizen.

And I am 110% percent sure that I would be the best addition to any company here - and I make that known.

It's tough, but knowing what you are working toward makes it more motivating than ever. 

Talk to everyone you meet, every company you find, every job you see open.

For the 250 ignored emails, rejected applications, and failed interviews,

you may just get 1 offer.

But that one job offer - that's exactly what I came for.

Moving abroad, getting your dream career, backpacking the world, whatever it may be;

ultimately doing what you want - it's hard work

It will be the hardest thing you ever do in your life.

But it's those things that seem near impossible that become not only a literal dream come true,

but the most amazing, thrilling, insane and unpredictable ride you could EVER imagine.

I've been very much in 'London-mode,' as I've been living here for almost ten months now.

But I wanted to back to the expat-topic a bit and talk about my time being here in regards to working.

While I'm still in London for university, it's been much different than my last time here.

I'm able to work now - let me rephrase that;

I NEED to work here now because I need to pay rent - also different from my previous stay.

I've had a few jobs here now; which I think has been good. I can broaden where my experiences lay and get more of a feel for what it is like to work in the city.

If you aren't going into university like I did,
there are still different ways you can still make these dreams happen.

Before I decided on getting my degree, I had looked into a program called BUNAC.

This company assists in finding internships and work in the UK & Ireland for a set period of time.

It's a great way to get over into the country, make some money while you are there, and connect with people that may be the ones to help you with your career in the long run.

From my experience and sharing it with local friends and others who want to go out and explore the world,
The US is a great place to work as well.  As an born and raised American, I know the benefits and impacts working within the country can have on students from outside countries.
And luckily, there are outlets that offer assistance for that too.

The International Student Company (The ISC) specializes in assisting qualified students & young professionals

from all over the world in finding work in the United States.

All of these positions are either paid internships or entry-level work, so no worries about making an income; you will be paid.
BREATHE!

Similar to the programs I considered, The ISC they help with visa paperwork, pre-departure & arrival orientations, as well as on-going support throughout your stay.

On top of this, they offer guidance and advice in your CV & resumes to make sure you land that dream role.

I can't tell you how grateful I was to have someone there for me on my first time abroad

when I had, to put it lightly, absolutely no idea what in the hell was going on.

I still had the freedom of feeling independent in the city, but if there was ever a problem

or something that I needed, I always had that there for me.

On top of it all, these programs are just a fantastic way to get abroad.

If you have never studied or traveled like I have, and found that love for exploring the world,

The ISC is a way to give you that insight and let you experience something that you never have before.

Get a taste of someone else's world, understand culture outside your own.

It's necessary. Believe me.

Check out The International Student Company on Facebook here, or at their website here!

*This post was sponsored by The International Student Company,

but I wouldn't write about anything I didn't feel dearly about.

And exploring the world is definitely something that I do! :D 

crisp, ripe, fruity, aromatic, even dessert!

A simple insert of your card and you're on to tasting whatever you'd like.

There was also a champagne bar, as well as a spirits lounge to taste liquors.

We stuck to wine and champagne.

"Yeah, yeah yeah. That's really cool and all, but you said FREE STUFF HERE"

OKAY OKAY.
On to the free things!

It's actually even better than just free stuff - it's CATH KIDSTON.
Social moguls such as baby Prince George have been recently photographed wearing this,
so you're only one of the cool kids if you're wearing it too.
 

That's right - another giveaway!
I told you this was the greatest post ever...

All your Christmas/Hanukkah shopping is done and you're ready to relax for the rest of the holidays. But how would you like to win one more present for yourself? 

I've teamed up with some fabulous bloggers to give away a fabulous Cath Kidston tote. You can choose either one, or any item on the Cath Kidston website of equal or lesser value (or any combination of items totally to £45).

 Get to know your hosts and how to enter after the jump!

December already?

I'm HALFWAY FINISHED with a Master's degree!
For how much of a school person I'm not, I should be proud enough to have gotten this far..

Anyways,
I've spent the last weekend wandering around London,
trying to make sense that I actually live here.
I was in Trafalgar Square yesterday texting Heather pictures with
"Just in case you forgot, we live here. Like I can look at this every day because we live here.
How cool is that?"

If you've read this blog before, you pretty much know the story.

Blah blah, study abroad, blah blah, life changed,

blah blah, work work work, blah blah moved back to London.

Moving back here though, I did it knowing that it was for and unforeseeable future.

And as much as I absolutely hate not knowing the outcome - with a passion.
A serious hate, I'll tell ya.
There is also something so thrilling about it too.

I'm making all of my dreams come true, but have no idea what's to come next.

Isn't that the beauty of it all though?
Four years ago, I didn't even know what London would mean to me,
Four years before that I didn't know how theatre would change me.
Who knows what the next four are going to show me...

I was actually asked this other week in an interview,

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

To which I gave the absolute worst answer for - 

not only was I completely taken back with the realization that I had NO idea where I would be in 5 years,

I then had to mumble up some type of an answer that would sound like I had a plan.
 Which I do - but the plan I had 5 years ago is no where near where I am now.

So I couldn't be anything but honest.

Never could I have predicted where I have been in these past years,

how do you expect me to know where I'll be in the next?

Life has taken so many twists and turns,

and I've learned more about myself and what I'm capable of - 

which is more than I could ever imagine.

So while I am completely and utterly terrified of the future,

I couldn't be more excited.

Because so far, life has been everything I've ever wanted.

 

1) As I'm writing this, I'm realizing how big of a week this was - so many great things have happened,
and I'm so excited about it.
The adjustment of being here was a lot more difficult than the last time I moved here,
and it was absolutely unexpected.
I don't know why I imaged rainbows and butterflies, but I thought it was going to be all hoity-toity dandy as everything.
This week finally gave me that turning point into 'this is really good,'
and I'm finally getting to the conclusion that in fact, this WAS everything I have ever wanted.

2) I started my university orientation this past Thursday,
met the group of students in my course, and everyone was so incredibly nice.
I am absolutely an 'I hate, HATE school' type of person.
As in, the day I graduated college was top greatest days of my life.
Being back, it's still unreal that I made the voluntary choice to do it,
but after this week, I really think it's a great thing, and I'm so excited for the year.

3) I finally moved into my official home on Friday!
Heather and I didn't live together in our short-term accommodation, and it sucked.
Our mile walk to the tube, stranger roommates, and no space has been upgraded to an incredible view of the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and the Shard, a spacious living room, our own bathrooms, and being roommates again,
and I'm still pinching myself that we actually found this place.
Seriously too good to be true.
I wish this photo did the view justice, but it is so much better.

4) I have finally stopped topping my ego and came to terms that I am the worst packer ever.
 I can't do it.
Moving to London - terrible. I left so many things at home that I wanted because I couldn't find a way to fit it.
Moving to our new place on Friday - TERRIBLE.
I mean, it's probably a terrible choice to have waited to pack the morning that we moved,
but besides the fact - I just can't do it. And I don't think I'll ever learn.
But I've passed my denial, have let my anger go and accepted the fact.
I will never win.
So while I know I'll never stop traveling, I've decided to let Heather take care of the packing, and I take care of the planning.
The perfect team we are.

5) Trying to blog as much as I did in Florida is so damn difficult.
I want to visit places and take photographs and just show everyone the LIFE IN LONDON IS AMAZING part,
but time is so slim right now - how are there so many things to do!?
Don't worry, I've got plenty of things up my sleeve to come,
so don't go running just yet.

And let me reassure you, life in London IS in fact, AMAZING.


So to round it out, some links I've been lovin' this week - for your reading pleasure:
- Sara's celebrating her one year expativersary over in Bristol!
- Sammy is (hypothetically) opening up a hostel - free breakfast? I'M THERE.
- This new mini-series about Cilla Black's life growing up in Liverpool - no explanation needed for why I love this.
- Courtney's life in Madrid. Plain and simple - who doesn't want to live in Spain?
- And this article - Staying is Settling - because life isn't about being comfortable;

"You must never settle, never give in to the idea that you can’t have another one. Because the world is full of things to throw your heart into, things to make you weep and realize (yet again) why you’re alive."