~my email about short time survival in Manchester and London, summer 2008
Manchester
Generally after end of college term the Manchester areas around schools appear bit quieter. This situation also reveals true feelings of Brits. On other day I was sitting on bus and wore my jacket in which Ferrari and Vodafone logos marked over chest and back parts. A middle aged man, who looked a former sportsman, stood front of me and began saying something. As his accent sounds nonsense and tension, I pretended to ignore him looking over window. He said out loud, "What you are wearing is a show off. Those companies are exploiting your country. But you are advertising them. Look me. I have nothing in my shirt". He made me nervous. I defended myself saying, "my clothes are none of your business", agreeing inside with what he said. But, I felt mad for that he attached me only. Later I thought it is typical feelings for British as many foreigners work and study in Britain. But, he was not aware of how hard I worked to come in his country. Though it was in a few minutes discussion on bus, it really left me thoughtful impression about British people. Indeed I know there are lot better British friends for me in this country.
Gradually weather came so bad in Manchester . We, I and my flat-mates, had to turn on heating to warm up our house. It poured showers all day and continued days. Cold and rainy. Good condition for me to decide moving to other places. So I visited Liverpool and Preston . These cities looked much like Manchester with similar buildings and people. Compared to sunny and beautiful Budapest, these English cities look ugly and cold. Then I started going out for clubs. Not to mention details, all seemed hell expensive and not so interesting. Uneasy situations in Northwest of Britain made me to think about moving to different cities. As unemployed foreigner, it may all be the same. Suddenly London came in my mind and also I had to try my tourist visa application to U.S embassy in London in later July. So I made a decision to challenge myself in London.
London
Two weeks have already passed in London since when I moved here. First I stayed with a Mongolian friend whom I met online. I am thankful for his generosity offering me his small room for a few days. During the day, I sought flats actively and we went out in evenings. London club scenes were so entertaining that they actually kicked out the stress of total chaos.
London flats rated too expensive. A flat in zone 1 or 2 cost about 150pound per week plus a month deposit. Zone 3 or further areas also cost the similar rent, but these zones are too far to reach the city centre which includes metro stations. Targeting in zone 1, 2, I laboriously dig Gumtree.com for three days in row. The utmost limitation was my budget which allowed 70pounds per week for a month. My option definitely falls in roomshare. The cheapest offer was 50pounds per week, I went to see it. For this, a room is shared by 4 people with 2 layer bunks and a toilet is for 10 people. Another roomshare was to share a room with another person, a toilet with 8, and rent would be 90 pounds plus I had to travel both tubes and buses. All these unacceptable offers even made me to think back moving to Manchester . But I remained for my luck. Gladly my old friend phoned me up for a flatshare, he suddenly moved to London as well for God's sake and knew that I was talking of this a month ago. I happily accepted his offer so we took rent of a room in the Southern London area called Southwark. Although it falls in zone 2, it involves tube ride till Elephant and Castle station then four stops of bus. We pay 140 pounds per week for a room, which costs me 70pounds per week. We have four other flatmates. Two guys rent a room in upstairs, although none of us seen them for two weeks and only heard footsteps at night. A guy from Congo resides in a room in upstairs. A beautiful Nigerian girl lives a door next to us. She said she is an artist, but we suspect something different. She only walks out for work at night with excessive perfumes and dress of tiny skirt. Just downstairs of us does a African –Continental restaurant which begin its service in the evenings and lots of people emerge and talk out loud all night. We are sort of annoyed their too loud noise and movements everyday.
My new home is not far from a main street, which roughly looks like Third and Fourth district of Ulaanbaatar. Many 'cheap' shops and kiosks of key copying, hair dressers etc line along a main road. It gets very busy during the day and bit dirtier than other parts of London. I barely meet English people in this street. I know Internet cafes together with Kebab shops are owned by Turkish, shops are mostly by Indians or Chinese, Library workers speak with Russian accent, and us, Mongolians. It is apparently low quality of living, but is equally questionable to that in Ulaanbaatar .
Financially I can support myself for two more weeks then I am broke, but I hope I can find a shit job in two weeks before reporting a failure notice:). I started looking for waiter or kitchen staff positions, walking around handing my CV, no success came at the moment. Every places tells that they are full and not interested in student. But, I know even no English speakers find jobs in this bloody city, so I ask where the heck jobs hide?:)
As a result of job searching, I walked and travelled around London bit longer than my visits before, more and more I discover this city amazing! I was astonished at Hyde and Kensington parks in London . These parks were created with massive wealth and amazing structure! What great areas to enjoy sunny weekends! Central streets are crowded with tourists and really confuse me all the time. So far, I am unable to tell you that I know London . It will take me months to get to know whereabouts in London. Still I am hopeful for good things here!
In fact, this city often scares me. Everyday, the news report crime committed stabbing and shooting. I often witness mortal combat of crazy people at my bus stops. I am literally lost in my mind. I came here thinking all opportunities; however, reality only sucks money out of my pocket. Day by day I realize damn metro and buses cots about 10 pounds in a day and the longer I walk the more I get hungry and thirsty which in turn cost me for drinks and food. Should I give up or should I keep chasing pavements even it leads to nowhere? I decisively remain here for a bit longer than a month, then I might say happy news or unsound decision to return home.
