Yes, obviously we threw some Macca requests in there.

Do you know who I am?

But damn, it's good.

It was one of the best venues I've ever been able to check out in London,

and I can guarantee if there's ever a place I'd go back to a second time - this is it.

I would recommend anyone with a free night to get out 

and if for some reason, you are looking for more reasons to go,

GO FOR THE ALMOND HAZELNUT SOUR.

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 spent the last two weeks in the states visiting family in Florida and friends in Kentucky.
After a crazy travel debacle, I made it back to London on Monday morning,
and white the happiness I feel to be back in the UK is not at all shocking,
having a break home couldn't have came at a better time.

I had this terrible anxiety the weeks before my trip.
Every time I have left London in the past years, it had always been a one-way flight
and the future of when I would be back in the city was unknown.
I was having of a Pavlovian reaction,
feeling like I had to do everything in the world before I got on that plane.
Heather literally had to sit me down and tell me, 'Caity. YOU ARE COMING BACK.'

And, of course, I did come back.
It's a great problem to have, loving a place so much that you don't want to leave.
But going home at this particular time was the best thing I could have done.

I have lived in London for almost a year now.
And while I love it - absolutely, with all my heart, love it -
it is one of the most stressful and difficult things I've ever done in my life.
The stress and anxiety of taking that jump and making your life how you want it is terrifying,
and stressful - did I already mention that?

Two weeks away gave me that little break to clear my head,
and see the ones who love and support me most in this crazy ride.

To have these dreams that may seem irrational or impractical to some,
and have people that believe in me that I can make it happen?
And not only that - but allow me to go off and do the things I need,
then welcome me home, even if only temporary, with open arms as if I never left.
I'm a very, very lucky girl.

I'm all for making your dreams come true;
in fact, I annoyingly URGE you to go out and do that.

But don't forget about the ones you left behind.
Because they are the reason why you're able to do this.
Without my parents raising me to go for what I believe in,
or the friends who still manage to talk to me daily after not seeing me for months/years at a time,
without any of these folks who support what I do, who tell me how proud they are of what I am doing,
there is no way in hell I would be where I am.

So this post is a big thank you to them,
and a reminder to you;
don't forget about the ones that love you.

Whether things work out the way I've planned,
or take a completely different turn from this,
they are ALWAYS there to cheer me on.

I've been consistently in the air possibly as much as I've been on the ground in the past week.

Visiting family and old friends, but coming back to lovely London this weekend.

So while I'm gone, I'm giving you FREE STUFF!

....that is, if you win :D

 

 Good luck!

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