So, this summer I got a job (above board) in London as a driver for some Cleaning Service.
I'm from "eastern europe" and speak a couple of languages.
I guess what I want is for some brits to tell me what to look forward to as an immigrant and a few helpful tips on how to socialise would be appreciated.
some general info
> male
> 25
> Military Academy grad
> speak English , Russian
> have a EU recognised diploma in Nationa Security aswell
> looking to settle in England if possible otherwise just there for a summer job to make some bucks
>>16753502
This is England m8 Socialising is a doddle if you can speak the language. However people like anywhere else don't like it when you're to forward with them. Just be in a good mood and have a sense of humor.
You can strike up conversation anywhere bus stop, restaurant, pub, chip shop, clubs, gyms so.
>>16753541
Yeah, I noticed that people are pretty relaxed there, when I visited relatives in December. So I probably won't have to worry about not finding friends when I get settled. Thx anon
>>16753571
also how is the dating game for foreigners? What I mean to ask is, are british girls racist about who they date or is this just the mudslime meme thing going on?
>>16753596
It really depends, though (as is usually the case in any non-racist country), you'll probably find that your foreign accent is popular with women.
>>16753624
Ok thx anon for all your answers!
One last thing. How much is the difference between living in London and the rest ot the country? Is it just the megapolis vs. countryside or is there a general cultural and/or social difference?
>>16753665
Lived in London for nigh on 25 years. From Bosnia. Can tell you truthfully that though the country is actually quite nice, London is a shit heap. Costs more than it should to even exist in London, but unlike the countryside and other rural towns, you will at least find that people are non-discriminatory (for the most part anyway) to people from other countries.
The countryside can be a little bit wary of foreigners and there are some places (like fucking Bognor Regis) that you steer clear of.
>>16753665
It's generally a case throughout the country that the closer you get to an urban centre, the more expensive everything gets.
This is just amplified in London to the point where the living wage there is significantly higher than anywhere outside.
>>16753698
>>16753699
Pretty much a consensus on that one then. I observed more or less the same on my visit plus what I was told by relatives.
Living in London shouldn't be that much of a bother tough, considering that I would be staying at my aunts house in Surbiton. The work will take me everywhere in the Metro area tough as I understand it.
>>16753725
Culturally, you'll find that London is just like a scaled up version of every other big British city. The further from a metropolitan area you are, the less non-whites you will see, and the more likely you are to come across some racist man in a flat cap telling you to "stop taking our jobs and our benefits".
>>16753745
Well I guess that is unavoidable at some point but in general I have come to hear mostly good things about living in England, provided you work hard and pay your taxes. That is all I really want to do anyway, I don't plan on living off the government.
>>16753725
Bosnia here. Surbiton is such a lovely area. You will have a direct connection to Londom Waterloo with frequent direct trains that will get you more or less to central London in 20 minutes.
Downside is that you'll be seeing your money spent mainly on the ridiculous transport costs if you're working in central. Youre better off finding a job / clients in Kingston or Richmond because you will lose your mind having to commute to central.
>>16753791
Yeah, first part is absolutely correct.
Second part, yes I suppose on my down time it will be a bit expensive to live so far away and having to travel to London for everything but the thing is I don't have a say in the working order. I would just drive the cleaning ladies from point A to B and that is all. The firm is based in Kingston tough as i understand it. So not that much in the way of traveling expenses during workdays.
>>16753791
also forgot to ask
Whats the deal with Bognor Regis? Care to explain why places like it should be avoided?
>>16753502
What area of London are you thinking of moving to? I live in the north west and see Eastern europeans, blacks, asians etc we all get along and mix it's good because no one group of immigrants is so large that it causes trouble
>>16753766
London is seriously expensive. Property is the second most expensive in the world so be preparred to search around for a cheaper place/flatshare/whatever. Also London driving is aggressive. If you see a gap go for it. This is not appropriate outside of London.
>>16753824
see >>16753725
Not sure what area it fall into exactely but I spent a few weeks there last month and it was truly a lovely place to live in.
My job would be driving around the whole of London so I imagine it would take most of my downtime to just visit places I routinely go past while at work. I loved walking around London all day when I went there but two weeks just weren't enough for me to see everything. Fell in love with it all tough, ain't going to lie.
>>16753833
Yeah, I heard much to that effect aswell. The house my aunt is renting with another lady and her daughter is big enough for me to live there and not get in their way. So I imagine it won't be necessary for me to look for another place until later when I have the means to do so.
Regarding the driving, since I would be doing so much of it, how are londoners regarding traffic laws? Do they routinely ignore them or are they stickers for the rules, just aggresive?
I am genuinely a good and experienced driver, it's something I have always enjoyed and the whole big city traffic and right hand driving thing doesnt really faze me.
>>16753895
Stick to most the rules. You'll have to dart ahead of people or it'll take hours.
Speeding happens all the time but there are speed cameras so get a gps before you do that.
Bicycles are common and ride on the road and are arseholes - they'll jump red lights.
Parking is infamous for how aggressive the traffic wardens are.
>>16753932
ok so its your typical big city mentality, everybody's in a hurry and everyone wants to get there first, got it.
a gps would be a standard issue since I can't memmorize a multitude of adresses and every possible route I have to take so the speed traps won't be that hard to notice, also I have observed for myself that the cameras are generaly well marked on the road, it would be hard to miss them even when speeding if paying attention.
Удaчи, aнoн!
>>16753975
cпacибo дpyг!
