A Princess Diary Comeback in London

 This might be an all-narrative entry for now because I don’t have a PC/laptop to edit my stuff :( I hope I get to buy one soon—when ze budget comes!Hehe. Anyway, I flew to London last March for career purposes.It’s supposed to be ecstatic for me but the thought of being away from my family is utter sadness.Though on a lighter note, all is currently well! It just takes a mindset of being in a long solo travel alongside work and that I have to live independently in which adulting strikes. Truly, the struggle is real! I never thought that half of my life here would be very domesticated.
In this entry, I’ll be sharing my own “British Starter Pack” and how I cope over the past few months. ;)

 ⭐️London,London...how lovely it is to hear! I’ve toured Great Britain 3 years ago and I’m beyond grateful that I’m able to come back as a working resident! :”D It even feels nostalgic to see the places that I’ve visited before. Havingsaid that, London is still the classy vintage city I know—if you are in the central part.Pak!
You can read my previous visit to London HERE 

Apparently, I’m residing in southeastern region of the capital which is known to be the country’s black community.The environment is quite similar to Quezon City or Cubao minus the curfew (most establishments except pubs close at 5 or 6PM.And it can get earlier during Sundays!). One thing that I like there the most is living nearby the hospital that I work on and it’s accessible to all sorts of PUV’s. Apart from that, the town is simply chaotic.It takes about 20minutes train ride going to C.London.Though there are several good places to see in the SE too (which I’ll mention in another blog entry^^).
Moving on,what are the must-haves for staying in London?

 *MONEY(as of August 2019,£1=PHP61): they say not to compute frequently or else you’ll end up not buying anything! Yet sometimes, we do need to consider the rate in order to manage our income.Lets face it, the britain lifestyle is very costly.One would be paying enormous bills for rent,electricity,water,etc.And behind every priority budget lies the temptation of shopping.Especially now that it’s sale everywhere!So bring a bunch of pocket money with ya.
 *GADGETS: Having a tablet or laptop is a must as these will be your main source for entertainment.The use of TV (‘telly’ as they call it.lol) here has it’s own fee even in hospitals! And of course,mobile phones but make sure it’s not locked down to your server in the Philippines. I use “3” as my service provider which costs me £20/month for unlimited wifi/calls/texts.
*OYSTER CARD: transportation in England is either on foot or by train/tube/bus unless you’re wealthy enough to ride a cab or book in Über.This card is available in most convenience stores and when it comes to putting load in it, I suggest downloading the Oyster app so you could track your transpo expenses. With regards to navigation,I use CityMapper to aid me on what bus/train to take when going to various places. It is very useful as bus stops/train stations can be confusing.Though I got say, your sense of direction will put in to test once you use this.Haha!
*CLOTHES- Many people would certainly advise you to bring less then buy here in the UK instead which is somewhat true especially during the cold season. The winter outfits here are very affordable (Primark is the go-to place for first time shoppers to be exact or even Marks and Spencer). Moreover, there’s a seasonal sale every quarter which is worth a penny!
*LOCAL DELICASIES.It’s absolutely better to bring canned goods,seasonings and instant noodles (“Lucky Me!” is a saviour if you want something easy to cook) beforehand! Such items and other Asian products can be pricey in London (est.a can of Milo costs £3.99—as in wtf,right?!) .
*ECO-BAG: Most shops charge a fee for shopping bags so this is where foldable bags come in handy. There are no bag porters in supermarkets as well so ya gotta pack fast! *note: I usually do my grocers at Tesco,Poundland or Aldi. Most of their items are in packs that cost £1 ;)


 -Whether for touring or not,it takes a lot of walking when going around London especially in Central. Fret not,but most shops and attractions are well-accessible on foot ;)
..and when homesickness attacks you,go out and EXPLORE. There’s a lot to see in London even if you travel solo (I believe many people do it here) so don’t miss that opportunity!Thus as what I often say, ”Travel alone,but never lonely”! ;) The British are very nice and polite,they can also be chatty once they’ve put on a conversation. But some of their expressions/lingos are different to comprehend especially in the hospital (i.e octopussy=“2-way heplock” or fruit squash=juice).

Lastly, here’s my advice to those aspiring UK applicants: Complete the requirements at your own pace! Let it not be a rush and above all,spend more time with your loved ones if you think of leaving the country. Yes, the UK is a living fantasy but reality will still get in its way—there’ll be a sense of convenience by means of a work-life balance however, there will always be mishaps in the workplace (understaffed,inadequate supplies/rooms,etc).Though, the pay is very worth it with a matter of budgetting. So yeah, “KEEP CALM—and trust the process”!

Pass the OSCE and the rest will come through.

Feel free to follow me on any of my social media accounts if you need further info about the UK :)
‘til then!