So, we've arrived at the agency. Two women and one man were going on about their business. One of the woman asked us how could she help us but there was no work available at the moment. We could register anyway and wait for something to come in. They were getting vacancies called in every hour. To register we had to have a mobile and photographs. We didn't have neither. We were told to go and come back once this was sorted.
Panic attack! How are we going to do this?! We know nothing about London..
Friend's Dad (that was now waiting for us outside) told us to go and find a mobile shop and purchase a cheap one on pay as you go. We only had a limited amount of money and it was supposed to last us until we find work. And so we've bought a very cheap Nokia (one that looked like a brick) and sim card with £10 top up.
There were no photo booths in the area and we had to go back to Earl's Court or maybe it was Hammersmith? I don't remember where it was that we did find it in the end.
We were ready to go back and register with the agency. Once we've done it we were again told that there was no work and come back in an hour. Where were we suppose to go? There was a chicken shop next door and so we went there and had something to eat and worm up a bit as it was very cold outside and it was lunch time already.
There was no work for us that day.
We had to stay somewhere overnight and Kensal Green was to far away plus we had to pay for tickets. We saw some adverts for the cheap hotels in Earl's Court and went there. We've chosen one out of 10 on the street and had a room for £35 per night. What a bargain!
Well, it wasn't. Bathroom was on the corridor for everyone to use and there were (it looked like blood) stains on the sheets. We've put our own towels on the bed and that's what we've slept like. Second night in the Great Britain... So far not looking very good...
On the second day there was work! Only, it was in Ireland!!!
We've told them that we need to think about it and were told to do it quick as they have lots of other people waiting.
Again, panic! What should we do?! Friend's Dad didn't help much, he said he did what he could and it's up to us.
We have then been approached by a Polish bloke that knew Friend's Dad. He'd told us to go with him and he'll help us find cheap accommodation in East London - Barking to be precise. Double room in a flat owned by Gypsies. Oh my god! We've heard so many stories about Gypsies and none of them good. What should we do? We've already spent a third of our money and it was only day 2. Darek as it was his name told us that he's been leaving there with his wife for months and that this was a good family. Simple people and ok. Not like others. Room was £50 per week. And that's what sold it to us. We had to save money.
Darek also told us not to go to Ireland. He and his wife worked for this agency in a hotel in Macclesfield and they stilled owed him money. It took them months to gather enough cash so they could come back to London. They were earning very little once accommodation and food costs were deducted.
We went back upstairs and told agency that we're not going to take this job. At hell broke loose!
Screaming and shouting etc, etc. We were going on their black list including our photo's so we will never be able to get job through them. OMG!
We've left and had few cigarettes one after the other. Did we make a good decision?
Ok, decision has been made. To late for the remorse now.
We are going to Barking!
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Decisions, decisions...
PART 1
So, my boyfriend then, has decided to come to the UK to earn some money for us. We were then 20 years old...
It was suppose to be only for 3 to 6 months. But, I couldn't let him go on his own... I just couldn't!
So, decision was made - we're going together!
I have at the time been studying Low & Administration at one of Poland's most respected universities. Well, some things were more important and I gave up.
We've set a date, shortly after Christmas and so we've left on the 6th January 2001.
As it was then there were no" no frill" flights in Poland and we had to take a coach. It was the worst travel ever. 26 hours long, sitting on your butt. But we've made it.
(I'll write about going through Border Control separately)
We've arrived in Victoria Coach Station early afternoon on the 7th January. It was cold, windy and miserable.
We had no accommodation and no clue how to find it. My English was fairly basic although I had privet tutor for about 6 years. It's just so different in the class room then in real life. My boyfriend didn't speak any.
We were scared to death but believed that we could do it.
Oh, and one more thing. One of our friends Dad was in London and supposedly going to help us.
We were waiting for him at Victoria for couple of hours but he never showed up. We've finally managed to get hold of him and he told us to take a mini van to a hostel somewhere in Kensal Green. We did get a shared room there, it was suppose to be for 6 people. Luckily we were there alone. First night on the English soil.... far away from home with no clue what to do next. Relying on friend's Dad, it was so scary!!!
He came to see us next morning. Explained to us how to go search for work and where to find cheap accommodation. The, we've started panicking! HE WAS SUPPOSE TO FIND WORK FOR US!!!
He's given us some documents and told us where to find this agency that was employing Eastern Europeans.
It was based in West Kensington, right outside station. At the time, we didn't know how to use underground. He took us to the station and showed us the map. It looked fairly easy.
We've bought daily travel cards and went to West Kensington.
It felt so weird travelling underground and there was such a mixture of different people. We were so not use to it. Poland was 99.99 percent white and probably still is, well maybe 99% now.
We took Bakerloo Line and had to change at Paddington and then Earl's Court. But how to do it? How to recognise which train goes in the right direction? Hmmm, we've asked fellow passengers and some friendly person did explain to us that at every platform you have a direction and map of stops displayed. Ok, that's easy enough.
We've finally arrived at West Kensington, shared a cigarette and went in. Agency was on the first floor. You had to take a stairs and they've looked like they've seen better days.
We've entered a room and were a bit disappointed but then again what were we expecting?
SEE PART 2
So, my boyfriend then, has decided to come to the UK to earn some money for us. We were then 20 years old...
It was suppose to be only for 3 to 6 months. But, I couldn't let him go on his own... I just couldn't!
So, decision was made - we're going together!
I have at the time been studying Low & Administration at one of Poland's most respected universities. Well, some things were more important and I gave up.
We've set a date, shortly after Christmas and so we've left on the 6th January 2001.
As it was then there were no" no frill" flights in Poland and we had to take a coach. It was the worst travel ever. 26 hours long, sitting on your butt. But we've made it.
(I'll write about going through Border Control separately)
We've arrived in Victoria Coach Station early afternoon on the 7th January. It was cold, windy and miserable.
We had no accommodation and no clue how to find it. My English was fairly basic although I had privet tutor for about 6 years. It's just so different in the class room then in real life. My boyfriend didn't speak any.
We were scared to death but believed that we could do it.
Oh, and one more thing. One of our friends Dad was in London and supposedly going to help us.
We were waiting for him at Victoria for couple of hours but he never showed up. We've finally managed to get hold of him and he told us to take a mini van to a hostel somewhere in Kensal Green. We did get a shared room there, it was suppose to be for 6 people. Luckily we were there alone. First night on the English soil.... far away from home with no clue what to do next. Relying on friend's Dad, it was so scary!!!
He came to see us next morning. Explained to us how to go search for work and where to find cheap accommodation. The, we've started panicking! HE WAS SUPPOSE TO FIND WORK FOR US!!!
He's given us some documents and told us where to find this agency that was employing Eastern Europeans.
It was based in West Kensington, right outside station. At the time, we didn't know how to use underground. He took us to the station and showed us the map. It looked fairly easy.
We've bought daily travel cards and went to West Kensington.
It felt so weird travelling underground and there was such a mixture of different people. We were so not use to it. Poland was 99.99 percent white and probably still is, well maybe 99% now.
We took Bakerloo Line and had to change at Paddington and then Earl's Court. But how to do it? How to recognise which train goes in the right direction? Hmmm, we've asked fellow passengers and some friendly person did explain to us that at every platform you have a direction and map of stops displayed. Ok, that's easy enough.
We've finally arrived at West Kensington, shared a cigarette and went in. Agency was on the first floor. You had to take a stairs and they've looked like they've seen better days.
We've entered a room and were a bit disappointed but then again what were we expecting?
SEE PART 2
First blog
Hello
This is just to let you know that I've set up this blog and will be writing about my life in the UK for the past 10 years.
All about our arrival, search for work, accommodation and so on, and all this before Poland joined EU.
How we've settled here and started out family.
Have a good time reading!
All the best,
Bellsonka
This is just to let you know that I've set up this blog and will be writing about my life in the UK for the past 10 years.
All about our arrival, search for work, accommodation and so on, and all this before Poland joined EU.
How we've settled here and started out family.
Have a good time reading!
All the best,
Bellsonka
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