57 posts tagged “glasgow”

As my European adventure comes to a close, I've been met with many a random question about how I made my move abroad. When I was applying to grad schools overseas two years ago (I can't believe it's been two years!) and doing some research on how to do so, I found online resources surprisingly slim. That is why I've constructed a list of helpful advice to potential expatriates. After all, only 18% of Americans have active passports, according to a Central Intelligence Agency report. Expats are among the few and the proud!

University of Glasgow West Quadrangle. Photo courtesy of ZenCollegeLife.com

From the outside, making the move to the United Kingdom may seem a lot harder than it actually is. Logistically, it really is very simple — score a job or university placement, a visa, and some money. Psychologically and emotionally, it may be a bit more challenging. What it really boils down to, however, is one question: How bad do you want it?

Personally, I left long-term employment, a four-year relationship, my family, my friends, and my dogs (with my mom). I'd be lying if I said these hurdles were easy — they weren't — and I'm aware that some people are just not prepared to do such. However, the lessons it taught me were priceless: I can accomplish anything through hard work and sacrifice, the only bounds are those which we impose on ourselves. This excludes walking through walls, telepathy, and making myself invisible, of course.

My point is, if you put in the effort — that is, if you jump through all the necessary hoops, incur the debt, and make all the sacrifices — the dream will most likely happen. Honestly, even though I'm $35K in the hole after a year-and-a-half of studying abroad, I wouldn't trade my experiences (or my master's degree) for the world. 

Now that all the Tony Robbins-esque musings are out of the way, let's get down to the practicalities. The following is a list of helpful tidbits I've collected since moving to the United Kingdom and thus entering the expatriate lifestyle.

"Uni."
Most master's degrees in the United Kingdom and Europe only take a year to complete. This little-known fact, along with a high standard of educational excellence, is what draws thousands of Americans to UK universities yearly.  

Take time with your application. There will be some simple and fairly obvious scholastic equivalents to note. For example, elementary, junior, and high schools are called primary and secondary schools in the UK. Another helpful thing to note is that UK schools and university do not utilize the same GPA system as the United States does. Often times marking systems vary between schools, universities, and even within academic departments. The University of Glasgow operates on a marking scale from A to H, with degrees that vary from 22 to zero. Usually, the admissions office will make your transcript conversions for you, though some applications will ask for you to do it yourself.        

After you've completed your application, the next big step is the cover letter. I truly believe that my cover letter, along with my portfolio are what got me into so many UK universities. I wasn't exactly a bad undergrad but I did have a few instances where I kind of effed up — a semester of snoozing through Chemistry or a summer of boozing through Biology. If you're like me, your cover letter can help clear up these blemishes and set you apart from the rest of the application masses. Get a trusted friend or coworker to proofread your final copy and thank them with a small gift when you get accepted.

Housing.
Once you're accepted to university, then you must next consider accommodation. If you're a prospective student, chances are, your university will promptly offer housing following your placement confirmation. Don't live in student housing if you can help it. Even though my anxious mother begged me to "play it safe" and even though it really did seem like a good idea at the time, in the end it was a mistake. Sure, I met my future flatmate Alissa through dorm life and, through Alissa, my wonderful boyfriend Nick, but all and all the experience was expensive, intrusive, and I felt like I had regressed a decade.

Trust me, you'll save a lot money by merely staying in a hostel for the week after you arrive (you only need a couple of days, really), going on Gumtree (look under the "Flats to Share" section), and shooting off some e-mails. Nick did this and found a flat within a day. Anything is possible as long as you put forth the effort.

Afraid of psychos and maniacs? I understand the inborn American paranoia that tells us that meeting roommates online is just asking to get hacked to bits but it's safe, I promise. Really, almost everyone does it like that in the UK. Just make sure you live with other students, as cities charge an exorbitant Council Tax for non-students.

Visas.
They're expensive and you can't apply for them until three months before you actually move. They're a real pain in the rear — time-consuming, confusing, and mountains of paperwork. In order to get a UK Visa, you must provide proof of an offer from a UK university, proof of accommodation or the funds to get an accommodation, and proof of funding.

Funding.
This one is a doozy. I went through Sallie Mae for my Stafford and Grad PLUS loans. I wouldn't recommend getting the Grad PLUS because the interest is very high. It does however give you some added cushion and reduce the stress of finding a job immediately after you arrive. It also increases your level of debt-related stress upon arriving back home.

Stuff.
Conveniently, most accommodations in the UK are furnished, unlike many places in the States. That means all you really need is a bag of clothes and some toiletries. Or not. After all it is Europe.

Jokes aside, sell or give away unnecessary junk before leaving the States. You'd be surprised how much you don't actually need. Honestly, I put a lot of my irreplaceable stuff in a climate-controlled storage unit in Texas but, in retrospect, I could've tossed a lot of it.

A printer, desk lamp, blankets, pillows, and towels? Don't bring 'em. You can buy everything you need once you're overseas.    

Clothing
The most important item you could bring with you abroad, aside from the obviously legal and monetary necessities, is clothing. Especially in the UK, where meteorologists are always wrong and the weather varies by the minute, proper clothing is key.

You need four quality things: a rain jacket, an umbrella, and a good pair of rain boots. Do not skimp on these items, trust me, you'll thank yourself later. Here are some of my personal suggestions:

• Marmot Precip - This jacket has been my best friend. I got mine for $60 on eBay new, but they typicallly go for $99.
  
• ShedRain WindPro stick umbrella - This durable umbrella goes for $40 and can withstand up to 30 mph winds without inverting.
  
• Sperry Top-sider Wellies - I love these boots. They've gotten me through the wettest, deepest, and muckiest Scottish puddles.
  

Jobs.
Jobs are great ways to learn about the culture, language, and idiosynchrasies of a city. If you're a student, your visa will most likely stipulate that you cannot work more than 20 hours a week during academic sessions and, believe me, you wouldn't want to work any more. Most places of employment will not offer a standard application form and will, instead, ask for a "CV," or Curriculum Vitae, in place of a resume. A CV is a bit more comprehensive than a resume, with a special focus on education.

Once you've acquired a job, your employer will require that you supply a National Insurance Number (NIN). The NIN is comparable to a Social Security Number and supports the National Health Service (NHS) scheme, which provides "free" or low-cost health care to every resident and visitor of the UK. A NIN isn't difficult to acquire but you will have to undergo a phone interview.

A phone.
A "mobile," as it is called in the UK. Avoid pay-as-you-go. Some people may tell you that it is a good option, and it technically would be if you were only staying for a three-month spell, but in all likelihood you're not. Get on a one year plan. It'll save you loads of time and money. Some popular UK service providers are: Orange, Vodafone, and Talk Mobile.

Money.
The dollar is weak. We know this. That means you basically have to save double stateside before your move. When you first arrive you'll only think in Dollars, which can transform even the most generous person into cheapskate. "I'm not paying £2 for a carton of milk – that's almost $5!"

Once you get in the pound frame of mind and stop using your greenbacks, you'll see that everything is relative. Getting a job helps with this.

Travel.
Do as much as you can. You'd be surprised how prison-like UK towns can become when you don't have a car. (insert inter-UK travel) That's why it's important to get out every once in a while, catch a Ryanair (Europe's discount airline) flight, and go somewhere cool. Only thing about Ryanair is that the deals seem really good, save the fact that they always fly into commuter airports outside major cities and you always end up spending about what you would've spent if you flew EasyJet. Doh.

Supermarket
Believe it or not,

Taxis
Avoid Black Cab and, rather, call a private hire.

The week before Halloween was a mad dash to finish our costumes, buy decorations for the party, decide on spooky-themed treats, and actually pull the whole thing off. Well, we did it and we've got pictures to prove that people actually showed up. In fact, quite a few people showed up and the last one didn't leave until 5 o'clock in the morning.

Thanks to Alissa and Chris Fyvie for the photo documentation.

I was the national drink of Scotland: IRN BRU.



This is Chris Fyvie.
He's... "the 70's"



My flatmate Chris was the Mad Hatter.



John, Robin, and Robin's boyfriend Brad hover near the snack table.



Nick dressed as Scotland's favorite treat: A Cadbury Freddo.
People ADORED this costume.



Our friend Nick Green didn't have a costume so we gave him the sandwich board cards in our closet.



Alissa was a dinosaur and even sewed the tail and spikes on herself!



Nick was so dedicated to his costume, even though it inhibited many of his senses.



Someone was playing my song.

After slaving over my costume for the past week-and-a-half, tonight I will see my vision realized!

Stay tuned for photos from what is sure to be the best Halloween ever! Yes, even better than last year's Halloween under the same prelude...
 

A couple Saturdays ago, while on the lawn bowling courts at Kelvingrove Park, I had the odd and utterly awesome privilege of playing beside Belle & Sebastian front man Stuart Murdoch and his wife. Although I recognized him, I was unable to place his face, even after one of their balls rolled into our court, it was not until I went home and Googled who I thought he was that I indeed discovered it was Stuart Murdoch.

Two weeks later, that's yesterday, I was working the regular Saturday night shift at my job and guess who sits down at a table in the back? None other than Stuart Murdoch and his wife. We ended up chatting about Glasgow for a while, my master's degree, and the state of the journalism industry! He even suggested that I write a novel to curb the economical impact of the recession!

Star-worship aside, the music nerd in me thinks that this is probably one of the coolest Glasgow experiences that I've have. After all, we are talking about the genius behind Dog On Wheels, Tigermilk, If You're Feeling Sinister, and The Boy With the Arab Strap!

Stuart Murdoch, lead singer of Belle and Sebastian

I've lived in Scotland for just over a year and I've seen only a small fraction of the dramatic mountains, crumbling castles, crystalline lochs, and mythic biology that attracts so many to this ancient land. For this reason (and for someone's approaching 29th birthday), Nick and I are renting a car and setting off into the Scottish countryside for a four-day tour that will take us along the eastern seaboard, swinging left to Loch Ness, over the Eilean Ban, and onto a surely idyllic hike on the Isle of Skye.

Here's a map of our route, along with some of the anticipated highlights. Are you jealous yet?
 

Now that I'm FINALLY done with my dissertation (praise to Allah), I am free to update the blog! And by "update" I mean, like, actually post more than one sentence every four weeks.

Tomorrow I'm headed to the States for a three-week odyssey of mammoth proportions. First stop: New York, to catch up with old friends and hopefully make some new ones. After that, Nick and I drive to Pittsburgh for his sister's wedding! This will be the first time I meet his family, save my new best friend (aka his brother Mike) who visited last month. Once our Pittsburgh adventure comes to a close next Monday, we fly to Texas so that Nick can meet my family. My lovely, crazy, and very loud family. Hopefully he survives.

Until I can update with photos from the coming weeks, here are some photos from the Glasgow summer weeks prior. As you can tell, it's not quite "summery." At least not by States standards.

From out my window I see a lot of interesting people.
On the Fourth of July, I found a banjo player, leading a rogue group of children down the street.
It was kind of magical.



We had a last-minute get-together at our flat in honor of our nation's independence.
Here I am repping Texas with a pin.



Our good old Kiwi friend Anna even showed up all the from Wellington via Skype.
I think it was 2 a.m. in New Zealand.



In preparing our Fourth of July feast, we ran into some trouble with the can opener.
Here, Nick Green tries his hand at opening some corn.



Tennents Lager is to Scotland what Lone Star is to Texas.
Here Nick Green and Jamie pose.



Do my eyes deceive me?
The Brits actually outnumber the Americans!



Our friend Chris Grant from Dundee looking rather, well, drunk in the late night hours.



But he wasn't the only one!
Look into Alissa's eyes.



Now look into my eyes: they're very, very sober.



Some days later, Nick's brother Mike came to visit and we had a barbecue in his honor.
Here, Alissa plays superman with me in the alley behind our flat.



Alissa, looking like a saint... or a demon!



But she's not the only one!



Nick and Mike around the barbecue pit.



As you can tell, I'm not impressed by their antics.



Why does it always have to be "us" and "them," huh?



Mike posing in the alley behind our flat.
Yes, it's really that filthy.
No, he's not pooing.



But he is peek-a-booing!

I've been knee-deep in work on my final dissertation, a collection of approximately 600 lines of verse, of which I've written approximately 450 thus far, and I have until August 11 to finish.

After that, I'm on my way to the States for a three-week odyssey that will take me from Newark to Brooklyn to Yardley to Pittsburgh and on to San Antonio to see my family. I'm very excited about the upcoming trip, as it will be the first time that I meet Nick's family and the first time that he meets mine (at least my mother's half).

Photos from the past month to come shortly, I promise.

After returning from our trip to Edinburgh, for the super-secret Mogwai performance courtesy of All Tomorrow's Parties and the EIFF, Nick and I hit up the John Lewis department store to look for the Trivial Pursuit box set. As you can see from the photo below, I got a bit distracted in the hat department.

I've officially schlepped all of my belongings, not counting a few bottles of lotion and my favorite Calathea plant, to my new flat on Park Road and finally settled into Glasgow tenement living. The girls that lived in the flat before us were slobs. We moved into a dustbin, a trash-pit with mold on the walls, rubbish under the beds, and a year's worth of dirt on an surface flat enough to collect such. Slowly but surely, Chris, one of my flatmates, and I are sorting through the mess and making this foreign place a little less foreign.

On the upside, the location is ideal, the view from my bedroom is amazing, and the size of my closet is enough to make any clothes collector drool. Everything else will be sorted in due time — and plenty of cleaning, antifungal, and disinfectant products.