Well, well, well. Here we are, six months later. Holy crap. Where has the time gone!? I’m going to sound like a a broken record, but I honestly can’t believe I’m still here. I look back at my One Monthiversary post and I still laugh at how naive I was before I left home (I recommend giving it a read). It doesn't feel like a lot has happened since I left, but when I think about it, a lot has changed.
Here’s a quick rundown of the last 6 months:
1. I have had 2 jobs so far (my first job was just a temp role, but now I'm working in an area I'm actually interested in. YAAAS)
2. I have lived in 1 flat (I think I'm quite lucky... a lot of people tend to move around because they aren't too fussed on the place, the people or the area)
3. I’ve gone on 1 overseas trip: VIVA LA ROMA! A bit disappointed in my travel efforts, but I have a 3 week holiday in December with my parents which I'm super excited about. More travel is on the horizon for next year
4. I’ve tried to do regular day trips out of London (check out my YouTube channel for my travel vids)
5. My weight has fluctuated. There will be a blog post on this soon - free the piglet!
5. My weight has fluctuated. There will be a blog post on this soon - free the piglet!
6. I have cried a lot
7. I have met some great people and made some awesome friends
8. I have embraced the drinking and pub culture
9. I have constantly questioned myself about why I'm living here. Do I always feel 100% about living in London? No. But it's an adventure and I'm going with the flow
So, that's a pretty basic wrap up of the last 6 months. But there are a few key lessons I have learnt. Also, I'm going to throw in a few of my fav snaps thus far. 7. I have met some great people and made some awesome friends
8. I have embraced the drinking and pub culture
9. I have constantly questioned myself about why I'm living here. Do I always feel 100% about living in London? No. But it's an adventure and I'm going with the flow
Monitoring my moolah
I have never thought about money or
budgeting as much as I have since living in London, but it's a necessary thing to think about. It's common knowledge that London is one of the most expensive places to live. It's also known as one of the top cultural hubs of the world - so much to see, do, drink and eat. But to do that, a bit of cashola helps!
Me? I’m lucky enough to have a job as a contractor where I get paid
well. Working as a contractor definitely has its positives and negatives. While
it’s great to get paid more than permanent workers in a similar position (and
weekly!), I don’t get paid for holidays, public holidays or sick days. Although, I don’t necessarily have a restriction on how much time I can take
off (well obviously, it has to be within reason). I’m thankful for this because I will be travelling for 3 weeks over
Christmas. Something that permanent employees would not be allowed to do. What
this means though, is that I have to sacrifice 3 weeks of income. That’s where
a bit of budgeting comes into play.
With all of these factors in mind and me being an avid
shopper, I’ve had to reign myself in a tiny bit. It has always been my
intention to make sure I put money away for travel, and I have been very good
at that. But to be even more thorough, I now have an excel spreadsheet that helps me monitor my moolah. It's all very technical and mathematical...you know what excel is like...all those shortcut calculations. In a nutshell, I forecast my weekly/monthly income and outgoings (rent, bills etc), factor in a weekly savings amount and boom, I'm left with how much I can spend for the week. If I happen to overspend or if I don't work a day, that's all good. I just add it into my spreadsheet and it readjusts my predicted bank balance.
I've never had so much self control over my money. I'm usually the girl who just spends and doesn't think about the repercussions. So well done, London, you've made me a responsible adult.
I've never had so much self control over my money. I'm usually the girl who just spends and doesn't think about the repercussions. So well done, London, you've made me a responsible adult.
It will take at least 6 months to feel at home
Now I'm only just starting to feel like this is home. Note the word "starting". Six months in and starting to feel like London is my home. It’s a common thing to hear when you first move - give it six months. But there is so much you need to adjust to, of course it's going to take time. Did I mention I'm only starting to feel like this is home? Let's hear it one more time. I'm only starting to feel like London is my home. If I'm going to be completely honest, I'm constantly having ups and downs about living here. Right this second (it's Tuesday 17th October), the last place I feel like being is in London. I guess it's homesickness, the changing weather and I still feel a tad lost. As Derek Zoolander says, "Who Am I?"
Over a month ago, I wasn’t even sure I wanted London to be home. I even started looking for flights, jobs and places to live in Brisbane. I'm sure I've said this before, but I'm a family/homely person. It's the longest I've been away from my family and from my comfortable life. It really started to hit me that London is a hard place to live. So one emotional day, I just blurted it out. "I don't want to live here anymore!" Girrrrl, why are you saying that?
Did I mean it? How long had been bottling that up? I didn't know! But I went with it - I was set on it. So, what changed that? Why am I staying? Honestly, I think it was going on my recent trip to Italy. It’s a weird and wonderful feeling; popping over to another after work. I realised I won’t ever have an opportunity like this again - to just live in another country for 2 years and travel to a European country for the weekend. I have a small amount of time to make the most of it (unless I get sponsored or married…come on boys!), so why give it up!
Run your own race
Over a month ago, I wasn’t even sure I wanted London to be home. I even started looking for flights, jobs and places to live in Brisbane. I'm sure I've said this before, but I'm a family/homely person. It's the longest I've been away from my family and from my comfortable life. It really started to hit me that London is a hard place to live. So one emotional day, I just blurted it out. "I don't want to live here anymore!" Girrrrl, why are you saying that?
Did I mean it? How long had been bottling that up? I didn't know! But I went with it - I was set on it. So, what changed that? Why am I staying? Honestly, I think it was going on my recent trip to Italy. It’s a weird and wonderful feeling; popping over to another after work. I realised I won’t ever have an opportunity like this again - to just live in another country for 2 years and travel to a European country for the weekend. I have a small amount of time to make the most of it (unless I get sponsored or married…come on boys!), so why give it up!
Run your own race
For me, this is a big one. For my first few months, I kept comparing my journey to what others were experiencing and saying. Then, I kept questioning myself and my own decisions. Was I making stupid choices? Why did one thing work out for someone else and not me? Just some of the thoughts roaming my mind at the time. Not good! Yes, moving to London is an extremely common thing for Aussies, and yes, it's overwhelming for every single expat. But, it has to come to a point where you just do what you gotta do without worrying about others.
Everyone is going to have their own journey, their own opinions and experiences. From all of that, they will have their own advice. That's great! Listen. Ask questions, but take it all with a grain of salt. There are so many blogs out there that specialise in moving to London. There are people, like me, who are blogging about their experience. Great. Read these blogs, do your research, but take any "life" advice with a grain of salt. Expect this blog post. This is pretty accurate. Leave the salt.
Just embrace your journey, your story, your experience. What may suit me, may not suit another. Your life, your journey.
Well there you go. Some solid reflecting by this wise, old owl. Far out adulting is hard. Bottom line is, I'm here, I'm living my life and having adventures. Do I feel 100% about living in London? No way. I regularly think to myself, why am I here? But I just go with it. So, here's cheers to a year and a half left on my visa pending possible marriage proposal...seriously guys, I'm on Tinder and Bumble ;)
Catch ya soon!
Aya xx
Everyone is going to have their own journey, their own opinions and experiences. From all of that, they will have their own advice. That's great! Listen. Ask questions, but take it all with a grain of salt. There are so many blogs out there that specialise in moving to London. There are people, like me, who are blogging about their experience. Great. Read these blogs, do your research, but take any "life" advice with a grain of salt. Expect this blog post. This is pretty accurate. Leave the salt.
Just embrace your journey, your story, your experience. What may suit me, may not suit another. Your life, your journey.
Well there you go. Some solid reflecting by this wise, old owl. Far out adulting is hard. Bottom line is, I'm here, I'm living my life and having adventures. Do I feel 100% about living in London? No way. I regularly think to myself, why am I here? But I just go with it. So, here's cheers to a year and a half left on my visa pending possible marriage proposal...seriously guys, I'm on Tinder and Bumble ;)
Catch ya soon!
Aya xx
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