Turning point in my trip

Well I'm back in London now. After a good week and a half in a 17th century French Chateau I was told that I wasn't suitable for a summer job and was sent back to London later that day, in very much a reality TV show kind of way....

The weeks leading up to going away were pretty busy and stressful. Trying to find somebody for my room as well as worrying about the financial aspect of having to pay for a deposit for the trip and get any gear that I needed to go away with. But in the end it all worked out well, and the 5 weeks since my last post went by pretty quickly.

The training trip was an interesting experience, and certainly a learning one. I was pleased that my first French trip was in the heart land of France, and was very authentic. Exactly the kind of place that I had dreamed of every time I was sitting in my college French class! It was just a shame it was winter.

A couple of times I went up to the local village that consisted of a church, school, bar and bakery/ small store. On one occasion I managed to get some cookies using my best French. However I found out when I got back to the chateau via the chateau groundsman that the bakery girl actually spoke English! But it was still a good experience to try to speak French. It was the same in Lyon, I managed to get by with asking if people if they spoke English and a lot of pointing. And as usual for some reason when my French lacked my default foreign language of Spanish came out....

As for the rest of the training trip, I felt pretty early on that I might not get a job. I was on the back foot to begin with not having worked for the company or done a tour prior. I tried my best to get to know people in other ways (outside of company experiences) but evidently that wasn't enough as I just didn't click with the group... Early on I was talking to one of the managers who advised me to just be myself. And I was, so love me or hate me at least I was true to myself. If I don't fit the company thats fine. I know I'm not doctor material either!! So while I didn't get the job, I'm not angry or upset. Disappointed for sure, but I totally respect their decision as they would have seen plenty of people with different personalities and would know the out comes. They told me that I would probably get bored after a few weeks. Maybe, maybe not. But either way it doesn't matter.

Sitting on the plane on the way back to London, after being ejected from the training. The thought of coming back to London just wasn't as attractive. Esp after the dream of working in Europe for the summer. So I've been trying to decide whether I want to stay in London or head home. The more I think about it the more I think I'm ready to go. But its still a hard call.

I think the main reason I want to stay is to travel, but to be fair no matter how much one see's there's always more to see. And I feel that now that I'm set up here, if I ever want to come back it is literally just a flight. Also if home isn't as good as I remember or if things are too different then I can always go to Australia for a few months, which I think I might have to do mid winter anyway just to get some sun!!!

So stay tuned for my next post, for the 10th time in 1 year I could be putting my life back in my travel bag and heading to another location!.....

If a picture says 1000 words...

In light of the recent devastation of Peru, and especially Cusco. Where I stayed. I have been looking through my pics (and there must be well over 1000) to try and find my favorite pics that appealed to me.

This was a hard pick. Obviously Machu Picchu should be included, but out of the 280 photos that I kept this is one that reminds me that while the builders have long gone M.P is still a home to some.
I just like this, unfortunately i didn't keep the photo I was taking! it reminds me of Charlie Brown for some reason...

This one reminds me of the best long weekend away that I had. Awesome location and great friends. To me this sums up my time the most.

I have an issue with the minimum wage!

On stuff.co.nz today they have this article.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3267624/Minimum-wage-goes-up-by-25-cents-an-hour

Now I take strong issue with this constant quest by unions for the continual raise of the minimum wage.

Sure I'm no economist, but lets be fair. The wage increase isn't across the board. I worked for 4 years before achieving my trade cert to be paid $18 (in fairness recession didn't help this change). Yet the union quoted wants a minimum wage of $15! I don't see why the unions are trying to debilitate the work force by keeping them on the minimum wage.

It should be a steeping stone or in between, not a life long career path.

Perhaps the govt should put more effort into up skilling the work force and let the market decide their pay rate, should they need unskilled labor. Supply and demand...

New adventures await... in 5 weeks

I had an interview last Thursday, with Contiki. It was for a job that I applied for after being here for about 3 weeks. So way back in Sept.

When I walked in the other 2 guys (the other 8 were girls) were dressed as though they were going for a sales or accounting job. I was thinking "crap, either I've missed the mark coming in tidy casual or they have". When we eventually had to give our 5 minute presentation on some thing of interest to us in Europe, I ended up going first. From emails and from what was said prior to the presentations I felt that it wasn't so much what we said but how we said it.

I have to admit that when I got up I was more nervous than I would have liked, but gave my ad lib talk on where I have been, what I'm doing and where I hope to go. I tried to be jovial as well as include the other interviewees who were stone faced. (I guess they didn't want to laugh and support me) I don't think I hit 5 mins, but I felt I gave a fair representation of me. Once every one was done, we had to leave and call back at 1.15 to see if we had an interview. As I left I shook hands with one of the interviewers who said "we'll see you this afternoon" which made me think, either thats a generic throw away comment or I'm trough to the next stage....

So I had lunch with 6 others. 2 didn't get an interview which was awkward! but unsurprising, one girl was so nervous she had massive troubles thinking on the spot let alone talking.

So I went back for my one to one interview, I thought it went well.

And that was confirmed when I got home to find that I had been 'invited on the training trip'.

If successful then they offer you a job after, I'm sure this is just to cover them in case you leave every thing here (job, flat etc) then they find out that your crap and dont want you. You have no come back on them. Considering they have 30 positions and they take 30 people. Further more, there wouldn't be much time to retrain more people. So as long as I can do the required I think I'll be fine. Which thanks to camp and my work history shouldn't be hard to achieve.

So on the 26th of Feb (which is 3 months earlier than I thought it would be!) I'll go on the training trip to France for 2 weeks. Then come back to London for 10 days before taking placement in either France, Italy or Switzerland. ( I think) until Sept or Oct. When on return to London and budget pending I plan to do any more trips to see things in Europe. And hopefully a trip to Morocco. Before coming home!

So exciting times ahead, no doubt hard and challenging times. But I'm sure a learning experience all the same. Now I have only 5 weeks left in London (as a resident), so much to do and so little time!

Christmas and New Years re-cap

Well, my first Christmas and new years overseas is now behind me. And what great times they were.

Christmas got off to a good start on Christmas eve. I went to a friends c'mas party at a bar in the city. But due to the trains being shut down and fear of falling asleep on the tube again I had to leave while the hours were large.

C'mas day was started by a friend (1 of 4) coming over for breakfast. We had a good ol' English breakfast, but it turned more into a brunch. So by the time we switched to his place for lunch it was after 12. But a late lunch of NZ roast lamb with roasties and the classic cauliflower cheese was well received. Topped off with a late afternoon / early evening C'mas pudding and custard.

We moved onto a house party in the area, that had we not known each other possibly would have ended up at in different ways anyway. So more celebrations were in order with fellow expats. But before we became too lethargic it was off to a bar/ dingy club/ common Kiwi and Aussie hot spot. To dance the night away. So all in all a very fun night.

The days in between c'mas and leaving for my New Years trip seemed to pass fairly quickly and uneventfully. My goals of continuing running were dashed by the icy weather, or maybe that was just an excuse!

After a long 10 hour bus trip I arrived with 30 other fresh faces to see 2010 in with. Ironically 95% were either Kiwi or Aussie. On the 31st we braved the cold and at times snow to cycle around the area. Which while it wasn't too bad I'm sure must be more enjoyable in the summer! also a bit more scenic. But we were all relieved to make it to the covered boat for a canal cruise, which revealed some good views of the strange angles of the buildings!. Which have sunk in different directions due to the pile foundations rotting.

The new years party in one of Amsterdam's many squares was a blast. I don't know what the singers were saying but the music was great!

My mother has always told me that 'what ever you do on the first day of the year, you will do for the rest'. Well I hope that's true as I spent time exploring a new city and taking photos. It was planned for the group to visit the Anne Frank house, but because this was one of 2 museums open on new years day the line was massive. The guide gave an estimate of 1.5 hours wait. So I decided to check out the city. However my trip was a little longer and the wait was shorter so I didn't get to go to Annes house this time. But that meant time for another museum, of which Amsterdam has many. I'm surprised there isn't a museum for museums there.

Our last evening in Amsterdam was spent watching an improv show, which I felt was fairly average slow and dry compared to the shows that I have seen in Wellington.

But before to long it was back on the bus for London. Another trip to Europe and another city ticked off the list. Hopefully 2010 brings many more opportunity's to see more!!!

But for now its back into the working world tomorrow. Which will be a bit of a shock after over 3 weeks of the relaxed life!! But also good to get money again!

Winter Chills and German Thrills

Well, Christmas is almost upon us. I find this to be a bit odd, due to the differences in seasons. This year feels like it has gone exceptionally fast. Considering that I left home in a summer, Peru was very much like an early NZ summer. And then into an American summer. So when I was in America because it was hot my body was telling me it was February even though I knew it was July. Now that its snowy and cold everyone is talking about C'mas, but to me it feels like mid year. Certainly not the end of it!

I have managed to get out of the city a few times now. The first time was to visit some family up north. Which was a great trip, and esp good to meet the family of my mothers cousin - who visited us when I was very young. It was also great to get out of the city and into the country for a weekend.


The following weekend which was at the end of Nov, a friend and I went on a day trip with the local bus company to some Christmas markets in a northern town. It was quite funny because the average age of every one else must have been about 50. And that is only so low because of us two youngins! otherwise it would have well been easily 60.


But the most interesting trip so far was my recent travels to Munich. It started as most of my trips do with me underestimating travel times and becoming concerned that I might miss my flight. But as it turned out the plane was late this time. As we came to land through the low cloud my first impression of Munich was seeing the snow dusted pine trees. Coming into land on an old air force base (easily WW2) I was instantly reminded of just how much history there is in this part of the world. I know its the same with London, but I guess after living here for only a few months the gloss wears off.


There were lots of great things about my Munich trip, but I guess the best thing would be spending time with friends again. One from Peru and one from home. I chuckled to myself at the time because for the second time in a new city I arrived on one of the Smith brothers front door step. Although this time much more organised! and due to the -4 temperature, I'm glad I wasn't waiting for hours on the street!
But the weekend was fairly busy sight seeing, we managed to see some Christmas markets, parts of the city, go ice skating in the snow! which was extra cool for me. As well as the BMW museum and BMW world which is basically a huge car shop but both were really cool.
We also visited a Bavarian Beer Hall, which was extra special because it was only on arrival that I noticed the logo. It was the same logo that I have seen for years on a beer mug (that has always had pens in it), I always thought the said mug was from England. So I thought it was cool that someone form my family had been to the same beer hall. Only to find out later that my parents brought that mug in Arther's Pass! However my mother had been to the beer hall many years ago.
Monday and half of Tuesday was spent catching up with a friend (the oldest Smith brother) that I haven't seen in years. So time went by very quickly indeed. And before I knew it, it was time to get back on the bus and go to the airport.

So now I am out of work for the time being, and have been since I got back mid last week. But I'm trying to make the most of the opportunity by seeing as much of London as I can. And possibly fit in a day trip somewhere up north perhaps to Oxford. But given its so close to C'mas short notice trips seem to be quite expensive.
I do have work lined up in Jan, working for an expat Kiwi. Who does some pretty interesting work for the best kind of clientele -the ones with money. One of the jobs I should be on is by the Tower Bridge. So hopefully I will start in the second weekend of Jan. But until then I'm just chillin, both literally and figuratively!

I will spend C'mas with my friend down the road who is also an expat and who has been here a little longer than me. I think we will have a good ol NZ lamb, it seems only right!
And then shortly after I will be making my way to Amsterdam for New Years!

So I hope you all have a great C'mas and New Years.

London - where a common can still wear a 70,000 pound watch

Wow, I have now been in London for almost 3 months! and it was 2 months since my last post. Its truly amazing how quick the time goes.

I always knew being in London would be the hardest part of my trip. From day one when I decided to leave NZ, I knew I would have no set plans on arrival. I had no job lined up, a small amount of American $ and I knew 2 people. There have been times when it has been harder (than it would be if I was at home) or stressful. And the constant uncertainties are not always helpful. But I have made it this far, so I'm sure the hard part is over,(fingers crossed) hopefully I leave in a very different way to arriving!

I had asked a friend if I could stay with him for the first night on arrival. Which he was OK with, however there was a communication error. And when it occurred to me to write down his cell I couldn't get on line to do so. (You'd think I would have learnt after my Peru panic attack when on arrival I had no idea if anyone was picking me up or a ph number or an address. Now that was stress!!) After waiting for hours outside what I hoped was Jonnys apartment stressing that I had the wrong address, because I couldn't remember if it was a 3 or 5. He eventually showed up and was surprised to see me. The funny thing was that his sister was in the flat, we had seen each other. But it didn't occur to me that she'd be there (even though I knew the whole family was over for a wedding), and I'm pretty sure I'm the last person she would expect to see outside her brothers London flat! Which is why neither of us clicked in the 3 hours I was waiting on the street.
I was very fortunate that the brothers (Phill and Jonny) helped me out by letting me dos at their perspective flats while I started to get things sorted. I had prearranged an interview (with a temp agency) for the day after arrival, and had work offered on Thursday. But had underestimated how tired I would be so started working on the first Monday after arrival. The work was fairly average, but at least it was start! For the first month work was fairly sporadic. But it kept me off the streets.

After 2 weeks of dosing and then two weeks at a backpackers, I went back to dosing with the Jonny and Phill who had just moved into a new place. So I went from a crumby backpackers to the luxury of a leather couch (thanks immensely boys). Where I stayed for a month until I had the money to get into a flat. Which as it turns out, isn't easy. Theres a lot of competition so I was fortunate to get the place I'm in now. Its in the north (Dollis Hill tube station) about 15 -20 mins from Oxford circus. With a great big park behind us. I like to think of it as our back yard- the Queen has a big one why cant we?

For the last 7 weeks or so I have been working with a guy whom I met in America, predominantly decorating.Which has been really good. An hour on the tube each way has caused me to have an odd sleep pattern now. As I snooze in both directions, I seem to be going to bed later and later.
But I'm about to be on the search for a new job soon. So hopefully I will be fortunate once again and find a job closer to home.

There have been times over the last couple of months that for what ever reason I have been disheartened, or momentarily depressed (?). But I have found the remedy to be going for a walk around the city and seeing things or being in places that I have always heard of or that are icons of London. Like the Tower Bridge , Westminster or even just Piccadilly Circus. On one Saturday afternoon adventure I stumbled into Harrods Knightsbridge, where I tried on a £70,000 watch (almost $200,000 NZ). I saw one there for £170000!!!! (almost half a million NZD). I was impressed at the friendlessness and unpretentious of the assistant. Clearly I was not the type of person to be buying such a watch, but I wasn't made to feel like I shouldn't be there.

I have started going to a church so hopefully will meet some more people. This weekend just gone was the first out side of the city. Which was a very nice change to head up into the country and see more trees than people for a change! And I am slowly starting to explore the city and surrounding area. I'm trying to make the most of my time here. I am going to Amsterdam for New Years and hopefully will be able to go to Germany before Christmas. As well as a few day trips out of the city along the way.

So for now things are going well. I'll try to update a bit more regularly now!

Hope your all well out there in blog land.