My friend, Riane, recently moved to London for work. I have a personal interest in what it takes to move to another country temporarily, so I asked her a few questions about her experience. If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, keep reading…

Why London? Did your work give you a choice?

I didn't have any intentions to move to London. A position opened up in our London office, and it was a good fit for my skills. It wasn't until I was made aware of this opening that I even considered an international move.

How much time had you spent in London before moving there?

I had only been to London once before, and it was 4 days total. My entire London experience was completely from the eyes of a tourist. Before my actual move, I came to London to look at different neighborhoods and get an idea of which area I wanted to live in.

What other travel experience do you have?

I have very little international travel experience. Apart from my one trip to London where I also went to Ireland, I've only done tropical vacations in Jamaica and Mexico. In addition, Seattle is the biggest city I've ever lived in the United States. So moving to a foreign country and to one of the world's largest city were both huge decisions for me. Luckily I speak the language in my new home (Well... I mostly speak the language).

Do you know how long you will be in London?

I've made a commitment to be in London for 2-3 years. At that point, I'll reassess how things are going to see if I want to stay.

Did you get a bank account and cell phone service set up yet?

Yes! My company set me up with a mobile, so I don't have any information to give on setting up an account with a local company, but it sounds fairly easy. Most of the major cell companies have services overseas, so I could just transfer my account after I arrived in the UK. Since my company is providing me with a corporate mobile, I'm keeping my US cell for now as well. I basically only use my US cell to text my grandparents who don't really understand WhatsApp and Google Hangouts. Getting a local number as soon as possible was really helpful, since I was trying to coordinate furniture deliveries. Also, when signing up for various accounts online (grocery delivery for example) they ask for a local number. So it's nice to actually have one. 

I chose to set up an international banking account. It takes a little extra paperwork to get an international account, but it let me set up an account when I didn't yet have proof I lived in the UK. It's sort of the old chicken or the egg saying, you'll want a local bank account to avoid international fees when spending money on getting a flat but you also need proof you live locally for quick bank account set up. I went around in circles trying to get a bank account set up. But there are some international friendly banks in the UK which even let you start the set up process before you move. I didn't start the process until I actually landed in London, and I regretted not already having that set up. 

Luckily, my work has been amazing and did all the heavy lifting. I just get the easy jobs like signing a form and mailing it off. So then I'll have to google how the mail works in the UK. I've spent a lot of time on Google recently trying to learn how things work…

Did your work also take care of all of your visa requirements?

Yes, I worked with an immigration firm that my company set me up with. The firm helped submit the paperwork and explained the process, but I was responsible for filling out the forms, providing the appropriate documentation and getting my biometrics taken.The biometrics process was easy, I went to the Department of Homeland Security and got fingerprinted and pictures taken. Sometimes this can include an iris scan as well. I felt like I was getting booked to spend a night in jail!

Did you go through a rental service to find your apartment?

I did have assistance, which was amazing! I lived in temp housing in Soho for a month while I looked for my own flat. Soho was once famous for being a major part of the sex industry in London. You can still see some of that now, but those kinds of stores/venues are only dotted through the area. The neighborhood has a lot going on and it was fun to live in a place with so much to do right out the front door.

I spent one day looking at neighborhoods to see what areas I wanted to live in vs my budget. Then I spent one day looking at specific flats in the neighborhoods I like and was really lucky to find a great flat that day on the east side of London.  It's near the Old Spitalfields Market.  It's a great location and walking distance from work.

Renting in London is a negotiation, not like in the US where the advertised rent it set. So I made an offer on the flat and went back and forth a little but settled on terms that evening. It took two weeks to get the contract drafted and signed, and then I was ready to move in!  Oh, and by the way, WTF is rental tax? Apparently something you have to pay in addition to your rent!

The move in was a breeze since I only had some clothes, an air mattress and two camping chairs. Unfortunately my furniture was delayed arriving so I had to put up with the temporary furniture for a month! The air mattress was great, but not having my kitchen supplies meant I was eating out a lot more than I'd like. 

I did make a very British purchase and got myself an electric kettle. Before I moved here, I thought it was strange that more people didn’t use kettles on the stove, but now I know why. The kettles produce boiling water in minutes, but the stove ranges over here are not as powerful, so it takes quite a while to get boiling water from the stove. In general, appliances are lot less powerful including the washer/dryer which I like to call the washer/sorta–dryer. And they are much more concerned with wasting electricity and shutting off outlets that are not in use. Since London’s had a pretty bad history of destruction via fire, I get it. 

Rental tax? How much is the rental tax?

It's called a council tax and the price depends on the value of the property and how many people are living in the flat. The average is around £1400 per year from what I can tell. You can pay the tax monthly which adds over £100 to your rental costs. It's something to consider when you are setting your housing budget. 

I was also surprised that in the UK you need to buy a TV License to watch anything live. You need a license even if you are streaming live TV digitally. And it is in addition to any cable costs. From what I can tell, it pays for the BBC.

How do you like your new office?

The job is great! I like all my coworkers, and my clients are very eager for me to get some things done for them. So I feel like I belong to the team and that I can contribute right away. The team has been very helpful with explaining things to me and telling me when I say funny things. For example, in the UK "randy" isn't a name, it's only an adjective. My boss told me randy is really only something you call your dog when he's humping your leg. Good thing my name isn't Randy. 

I've very lucky that I live about a mile from my office so I walk to work and home everyday. It's very common to commute an hour or more each way via train in London. 

My office is right in the heart of the City of London, so it's very easy to catch a London Underground tube to almost anywhere from that location. There are also little markets and shops all over, so it's fun to go exploring at lunch or after work. The financial companies are also located in the City of London so there are lots of dark suits and shiny shoes everywhere. I feel very out of place in my jeans, but I'm getting used to it. After work there are tons of "suits" standing outside of pubs drinking a pint. The drinking starts even earlier on Thursdays and Fridays. 

What do you miss most from home?

I miss my family and friends the most. I'm very thankful for the ability to have video chats. This kind of communication keeps me sane as I learn a new city and make new friends.

I also miss crispy bacon, Altoids, gigantic washer/dryers, and Thanksgiving.

What is the best part of your new home?

London is a very old city with lots of history to discover. I love being surrounded by all that history. The museums, parks, and tiny twisting side streets provide ample exploring opportunities!

London is also a gateway to European travel, so I hope to take advantage of that while I'm here!

What final tips can you give to someone moving to Europe?

Don't bring your own house stuff, there are so many furnished apartments that finding an unfurnished one is difficult. And why pay to have your stuff shipped??

Most American furniture is bigger than the apartments, so even if you do bring your stuff (like I did) you have to pay for a bigger place!

Thank you Riane, for taking the time to answer questions about your recent move!

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