I'd like to ask about your opinion

Well, nice to read your story.

I'm a Brit and lived in France for 7 years, initially in Paris for a year and then 6 years in Biarritz. But I ran a business, import, wholesale and retail. I do love France, it's amazing, and when you takeaway the functionnaire attitude of many government workers, then there are some really nice French people around.  They are very kind and loving people, but they normally have some international experience, but not all of them. Which also reminds me that many of the nicest french people that I know I meet when living overseas. Seems that they are less francophile and more open minded people. I also have four French children living in France, three in Paris and one in the Alpes. My life in France was surfing, skiiing, business and  travels to Asia to buy merchandise.

My brother is retired and moved from London down to Weymouth. He was a IT consultant working for big international companies and owns a flat in Islington which he rents out, but about 12 years ago he retired and now lives a simple life, in a rented house in the old part of town. He takes care of his vegetable garden and goes to the pub every evening.

Me, I left England shortly after I graduated and have never looked back. I'm a Brit so probably for that reason I feel bored in England and like to live overseas. Perhaps the same feelings you have about France. Except I spent most of my life in Asia.

Yes we all heard about the "yellow jackets". I also know that France is a socialist state where so many people work for the government, and when any group is unhappy be it ambulance workers, SNCF staff or whatever, the whole country grinds to a halt as one after another union or group goes on strike.

A beautiful country where every political leader is basically the same.

Well maybe now is the time to move to England in light of Brexit. Don't worry about friends, they are easy to find. If you want to work in London, don't necessary limit yourself to Norwich or Surrey. Many people also live in East Sussex, and a lot of celebrities live there too.

Thank you for your story and your feedback. That was very interesting.

I agree to say that the words I choose, some sentences I made was a bit tough and can fully understand why someone can disagree with me. This was just my point of view, pictured. France is not hell as it is described above. (A French guy who is complaining ? How rare it is ! I am not by the way.)

Also, you are exactly right. Most of peoples with whom I had best feelings was internationals ones. (Or at least have made a summer part-time job in another country. Hope I will not offending anyone with that, This may be a clumsy way to say that)

And yes every politicals leaders are the same. People are voting for someone because they want to make thing to change. And they are hoping that this leader will do all the job for them in their own life. (Even though there is bigs problems who can be solved by politics. But I'm not a politic leader and maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.) Still, the actual leader looks like a clumsy one. When I'm quoting him : "It is difficult for you to find a job ? I can cross the road and find one for you, just right now". Yes, I'm very sure, when you have Mr. President just before your name, you actually can. I didn't wanted to talks about politics, however, it is the biggest paragraph...

Even in culture. If you ask me to read Sir Arthur Conan Doyles versus Victor Hugo, my choice would be made very fast. On a side, we have a beautifull story with a poor child who inspires sadness for the reader, to the other side you have a badass detective which is considered as the archetype about that kind of literature, and the cleverest man ever made.

I consider of course every part of England, not only Surrey nor London. I have heard about before, that's why I mentionned it. I'm just looking for a place who matches with me.

Glad to read that your business looks working  well and I wish you keeping that way for a long time again.

Well, I will be in London on 28th of November, and I have two weeks to find a job and a flat. I hope that 36 years old is not a problem haha

At the very least, you can visit one of the great cities in the work. Take care at night especially if you are in East London.

Don't worry about your English its better than most Brits

As Shill88 says, I would be extra careful while out and about in London, knife crime has beeen on the rise in recent months.

Like most major cities rental prices are very high, London prices are some of the highest in Europe so I would advise living outside of the capital.

Wish you all the best, don't forget to come back to us and let us know how you get on.

Wish you all the beyst on your travels.

SimCityAT
Expat Team

Knife crime ? Phew... I didn't expect that ! I just saw a list of crime report around my airbnb in N16 thoses last month. Most of them are "anti-social behavior", though.

I'm used to walk a lot in a new city in order to spot the bus stations on my way. Looks like a terrible idea in London, especially if I will find a job such as cooker, waiter or so.

Many thanks to both of you for the adverts

I will come back to tell you how i'm getting on

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

If Crime is an issue for you, then you may wish to check out the Metropolitan Police crime map for London: this link will take you there.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thank you Cynic for that link. I have already check out the Metropolitan Police crime map before, I can see that the average has risen recently.

May I ask about some examples about "safe places", well-connected outside of London, please ? Just in case... I will eventually depend on transports to go to work.
I can make this research on Internet, but what I'll found is just theory, which is less valuable than your own experience.

Hi again.

Taking into account your stated job choices "cooker, waiter", perhaps you should consider looking elsewhere.  London is very expensive and most people on normal salaries just can't afford to live there.  Perhaps Northern England (Manchester, Leeds) would be a more suitable place for you to begin the UK chapter of your life.

To answer your specific question; safe-places; nowhere is absolutely safe, it will depend on your lifestyle, by which I mean, if you are someone that likes to party, go out to clubs and bars till all hours of the morning, is not averse to associating with people who indulge in substance abuse, then you are raising the chances of yourself getting involved in the things that seem to happen in that social arena, that happens everywhere in the world and the UK is no different in that respect to anywhere else.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

I considered to live in cities like Manchester, Newcastle who seems to be really lovely places to me. Friend of mine gave me that advice too, but after making my airbnb booking. And, for now, cancelling it would be terrible for my budget.

Even if i'm 36, I don't mind to make sacrifices such as sharing a flat with flatmates. I know that I can't rent a flat by myself for now. As you can read, my english is not so great (and moreover, I am tough on myself). Plus, I am not used to hear english people speaks ^^ That's just why I was talking about cooker, or waiter. Improving, then make a better job. Maybe I am underestimating my abilities, I know a few people who can tell me if i'm wrong or not. I'm playing the dice on it. But I have to be in London especially for that.

About my lifestyle, i'm not really an extrovert. I can basically resume it by : work hard, improve, go home, repeat. For now, of course. (and in order to give you further details about me, I'm working in customer relationship)

I don't want to object what you said, I just want to give details about my situation. The advices you've just gave to me are priceless to me.

Hi again.

Then I wish you all the best of luck in your journey.

Cynic
Expat Team

Knife crime is well known in London, random stabbings and many people killed actually. But it is not just in London. I read about there being stabbings in other cities including Manchester.

I lived much of my life in Plymouth in southwest England, it used to be a dump and quite a violent place in the 70's due to the naval dockyard and an excess of skinheads in that period, but I heard it's more pleasant these days. It's about 200 miles from London, lots of lovely countryside and coastal towns in the area and on the border with Cornwall which is a nice holiday destination with many surfing beaches, clotted cream and Cornish pasties.

Hey there,

As promised, I give some feedback about my London experience.
Here since 28th of November, I have found a job as a Commis Waiter in a gastronomic restaurant in 7 days. That position can easily evolve into something more interesting.
Now I have just found a room with flatmates. I move in very soon.

London is astounding (except, my actual flatmate gave me the flu) and I never now what surprise I'll find if I turn that corner. As expected, people here are very kind.

The hardest thing is that my ear is not trained to hear real context conversation. I have to improve with that but so far so good

Cheers

Le_Professeur wrote:

I'm 36, and I lived in all the hexagon, literally. Marseille (south), Bordeaux (southwestern), Annecy (Southeast), Paris (pretty sure you know where Paris is ^^), and none of theses places made me think "This is the place where I belong".

After having lived in so many different places already like you did,,
Just keep-on following your own instinct,
London isn't much different than any other big-capitals-cities in the world.
36 y.o. You are still young,, Live to the fullest, but ALWAYS cautious.