I had a few days off last week, which allowed me to explore London a bit by bit. I used these days to visit several musea. I went to the British Museum, Science Museum, Tate Museum and the Nature Museum. All were quite interesting and will be visited by me again in the near future.
The first museum I went to was the Tate Museum. It contains a very big gallery with paintings of many several artists over the last few centuries. I don't remember which
artists it were, but I can say that some paintings were very beautiful and some will not receive any appreciation from me. The paintings I like are the ones with much
detail. I cannot really tell much about it, but what I can say is that there were many arts students who were copying the paintings in their drawingbooks.
The next visit was to the British Museum. There is no admission, so I didn't really spend that much money that day. I got a map and read about the exhibitions that
are open to the public. I started to roam through the first floor, then the second and at last the third floor. Every floor contains the history of many different
cultures of the past. The first floor contains items of the Aztec civilization, the medival Islamic civilization and the Chinese civilizations.
The second floor was also interesting. It contains mummies from Ancient Egypt, Roman sculptures, Greek items and some stuff from other cultures as well.
Most things that are shown in the Egyptian exhibition are accesiores and mummies of a few millenia ago. It was very interesting to see new mummies again. I have seen
the ones in Egypt many times before and these were very different. The Italian and Greek exhibitions were also interesting to see. It contained statues of famous Roman
rulers and Ancient Greek Gods such as Zeus, Aphrodites and many others.
The Chinese exhibition was also very interesting since it contained many items that expressed their arts and culture. It contained many stones, weapons and statues
of many different kinds.
The only bad thing that happened that day is that I did not bring my camera along. That is why I will visit this museum again in order to take some pictures of the most
impressing items of the past.
The Nature and Science museum were also very fun to visit. They show many different kinds of stuff that shaped our current world.
The Nature museum shows us how our planet was formed and what was here thousands of years ago. The Science museum showed the same,
but instead of God's contribution to Earth, it showed us mankind's contribution to Earth. Machineries of many different era are to
be found in the museum.
I will visit these places again to take more pictures of things I haven't photographed yet. I will do this in the upcoming few weeks.
I cannot upload the pictures though.. The reason for this is my weak and unstable internet connection. The reason why I wasn't in touch
with you is because of the lack of internet.
maandag 25 oktober 2010
Work in Progress.
The process of finding a job was not easy. I have applied at many websites and got no response back. I went to several places and couldn't find many suitable jobs.
I have looked around in many places and at many different stores. I have looked from launderies to hotels and from hotels to restaurants. Many required experienced people and also have a long waiting time to be accepted to the job. (Criminal record check etc) There are also thousands of advertises on the internet, but it is very odd if the employer response back to the applications I have sent.
The internet is a useful place to look for a job, but it is not useful to get a job. Many employers don't send back replies. This is frustrating and wastes much time.
I have applied to many available callcentre positions and also to many other different jobs. None replied back to me, thus making me jobless for a long period of time. When I found out that replying to "We-seek-employees" advertises is useless, I started to go to the websites of famous stores such as HMV, Blockbusters, Harrods and supermarket websites. I sent my CV and if required my application letters to these websites.
While waiting for any responses, I did not waste my time. I went outside and looked up vacancies at many differenet stores in many different places. I found a few vacancies in bars and restaurants, but these places required experienced people, which I am not part of. I also looked up some reception work, (thinking about communication) and have applied at some hotels and a sport centre. The only place that was interested in my skills and services was the sport centre, its name is "Queen Mother Sports Centre" in Victoria, London. They had an interview with me
and it lasted for about 10 minutes. They asked me about what I will do in certain situations and what my experiences are. They also asked for my references and if I would mind if they performed a CBR-check on me. This was all okay by me, but the only problem was the fact that I did not have any time to wait for the results of these checks since I had to start within a week or less. I told them that I would do my best and that they will hear soon from me with the complete details of myself.
Luckily enough, when I got home, I found out that I received an email from Harrods containing the invitation for me to have an interview with them. The date was set two days after my interview with the sport centre. I waited for that day and haven't done anything else to find myself another potential job. I went to the interview on a Wednesday it lasted for a few minutes. Afterwards, I entered the store for the first time in my life (I find it actually funny that I first had an interview to work in a famous place and that I went to the location for the first time afterwards.) and found it pretty amazing. Some salesmen tried to sell me some expensive stuff, but unfortunately they didn't manage to. I went back home and they
called me once I arrived at home. They told me that I could start next monday and that I should be there at 9 AM. I considered myself to be very lucky and as of right now I am still employed at Harrods.
My role at Harrods is to prepare the ordered items for the customers. I have to organize, pick up and pack the items to make it ready for delivery. The department I work for is the Harrods home shopping department, also called Harrods Direct. It is a fulltime job in Knightsbridge, London.
I have looked around in many places and at many different stores. I have looked from launderies to hotels and from hotels to restaurants. Many required experienced people and also have a long waiting time to be accepted to the job. (Criminal record check etc) There are also thousands of advertises on the internet, but it is very odd if the employer response back to the applications I have sent.
The internet is a useful place to look for a job, but it is not useful to get a job. Many employers don't send back replies. This is frustrating and wastes much time.
I have applied to many available callcentre positions and also to many other different jobs. None replied back to me, thus making me jobless for a long period of time. When I found out that replying to "We-seek-employees" advertises is useless, I started to go to the websites of famous stores such as HMV, Blockbusters, Harrods and supermarket websites. I sent my CV and if required my application letters to these websites.
While waiting for any responses, I did not waste my time. I went outside and looked up vacancies at many differenet stores in many different places. I found a few vacancies in bars and restaurants, but these places required experienced people, which I am not part of. I also looked up some reception work, (thinking about communication) and have applied at some hotels and a sport centre. The only place that was interested in my skills and services was the sport centre, its name is "Queen Mother Sports Centre" in Victoria, London. They had an interview with me
and it lasted for about 10 minutes. They asked me about what I will do in certain situations and what my experiences are. They also asked for my references and if I would mind if they performed a CBR-check on me. This was all okay by me, but the only problem was the fact that I did not have any time to wait for the results of these checks since I had to start within a week or less. I told them that I would do my best and that they will hear soon from me with the complete details of myself.
Luckily enough, when I got home, I found out that I received an email from Harrods containing the invitation for me to have an interview with them. The date was set two days after my interview with the sport centre. I waited for that day and haven't done anything else to find myself another potential job. I went to the interview on a Wednesday it lasted for a few minutes. Afterwards, I entered the store for the first time in my life (I find it actually funny that I first had an interview to work in a famous place and that I went to the location for the first time afterwards.) and found it pretty amazing. Some salesmen tried to sell me some expensive stuff, but unfortunately they didn't manage to. I went back home and they
called me once I arrived at home. They told me that I could start next monday and that I should be there at 9 AM. I considered myself to be very lucky and as of right now I am still employed at Harrods.
My role at Harrods is to prepare the ordered items for the customers. I have to organize, pick up and pack the items to make it ready for delivery. The department I work for is the Harrods home shopping department, also called Harrods Direct. It is a fulltime job in Knightsbridge, London.
zondag 10 oktober 2010
The adventure of finding accommodation.
My journey started on the 13th September 2010. I went to London by airplane and spent the first two nights in a hotel room. I was very naive and thought I will find a place to rent quite quickly, but apparantly that was not the case. I spent about 3 other nights in a hostel. The ladies of the hotel could not book a room for us since
everything was fully booked because of the fashion week in London. The only thing they could do for us, is to keep our luggage safe in their hotel. We only spent the
nights in the hostels and the afternoons on the street in order to find accommodation.
We found an agency which took 60 Pounds from us to look for a place. (This agency has a database of landlords) I used their services for one day, but soon I found out that their offers are not good enough. I soon decided to go back to an agency in Pimlico and take the bedsit that was available. At first, I did not want the room because the contract is valid for 6 months, while I am only staying here till half January. My friend and I decided to sign the 6 month contract and rent the remaining two months to tourists or other students, we thought this is a great plan since the accommodation is located in a very ideal location. We paid the 180 deposit and signed the contract, all we had to wait for were the confirmation of the landlord and the council tax papers. After everything was accepted, I had to pay another 1500 pounds deposit. (This is the first month rent + 3 months rent deposit). After I had signed the papers, I decided not to go back to the hostel where we were. The people were very nice and I am still in touch with them, but when it comes to hygiene... Then it is sure a bad place to be. (Mice in the bedrooms etc. I also don't like to stay in such places, because I am a person that gets disgusted by things very quickly).
Luckily enough, my father had some sort of a friend here in London which I didn't know about. I called this person and he told me that I could stay at his place with his family as long as I wanted. I went to his place and stayed there from Thursday till Monday. He's around the age of 40/45 and is happily married. He has 4 children. A boy of 13, twin daughters of 6 and a young son of 5 years old. Since we don't speak the same language, I had to speak English all the time with the children. I managed to create a great bond with the family and they did their best (and are still doing it) to let me feel as if I am part of their family.
As soon as I got out on monday, I went to the real estate agency in order to get my keys for my room. When I arrived there, they told me that the papers are still NOT
ready and that I had to wait for their phonecall, which could wait for another few days. He gave us the options to either wait for the availability of the room or to get our deposit of 180 pounds back. It took me an hour to decide wether I will take my money back or not. I chose to get my money back and made him aware of my decision. As soon as I told him about my decision, he told me it is not possible to get it back, because the landlord doesn't agree with that and apparantly, the room was ready when I told him about my decision. That was according to his collegeau which we spoke to in private. According to him, it wasn't ready. That made me more furios and because of that I decided not to take the room anymore, since I did not want to deal with them anymore.
I got in touch with my father's friend and on the same day he told me about a place where I could stay. It was at his friend's place and the rent is 50 pounds a week in
Finsbury Park (Zone 2). I went to that place and found out that the persons I have to live with are Italian and an Iraqi. Both are friendly men, somewhere in their thirties and they are almost never at home, which gives me much of my privacy when I am at home.
In order to get this great deal, I had to spend 240 pounds which I lost to agencies.
Tomorrow evening, you will witness another post. Its subject will be about how I found my job and what my experiences are up until now.
everything was fully booked because of the fashion week in London. The only thing they could do for us, is to keep our luggage safe in their hotel. We only spent the
nights in the hostels and the afternoons on the street in order to find accommodation.
We found an agency which took 60 Pounds from us to look for a place. (This agency has a database of landlords) I used their services for one day, but soon I found out that their offers are not good enough. I soon decided to go back to an agency in Pimlico and take the bedsit that was available. At first, I did not want the room because the contract is valid for 6 months, while I am only staying here till half January. My friend and I decided to sign the 6 month contract and rent the remaining two months to tourists or other students, we thought this is a great plan since the accommodation is located in a very ideal location. We paid the 180 deposit and signed the contract, all we had to wait for were the confirmation of the landlord and the council tax papers. After everything was accepted, I had to pay another 1500 pounds deposit. (This is the first month rent + 3 months rent deposit). After I had signed the papers, I decided not to go back to the hostel where we were. The people were very nice and I am still in touch with them, but when it comes to hygiene... Then it is sure a bad place to be. (Mice in the bedrooms etc. I also don't like to stay in such places, because I am a person that gets disgusted by things very quickly).
Luckily enough, my father had some sort of a friend here in London which I didn't know about. I called this person and he told me that I could stay at his place with his family as long as I wanted. I went to his place and stayed there from Thursday till Monday. He's around the age of 40/45 and is happily married. He has 4 children. A boy of 13, twin daughters of 6 and a young son of 5 years old. Since we don't speak the same language, I had to speak English all the time with the children. I managed to create a great bond with the family and they did their best (and are still doing it) to let me feel as if I am part of their family.
As soon as I got out on monday, I went to the real estate agency in order to get my keys for my room. When I arrived there, they told me that the papers are still NOT
ready and that I had to wait for their phonecall, which could wait for another few days. He gave us the options to either wait for the availability of the room or to get our deposit of 180 pounds back. It took me an hour to decide wether I will take my money back or not. I chose to get my money back and made him aware of my decision. As soon as I told him about my decision, he told me it is not possible to get it back, because the landlord doesn't agree with that and apparantly, the room was ready when I told him about my decision. That was according to his collegeau which we spoke to in private. According to him, it wasn't ready. That made me more furios and because of that I decided not to take the room anymore, since I did not want to deal with them anymore.
I got in touch with my father's friend and on the same day he told me about a place where I could stay. It was at his friend's place and the rent is 50 pounds a week in
Finsbury Park (Zone 2). I went to that place and found out that the persons I have to live with are Italian and an Iraqi. Both are friendly men, somewhere in their thirties and they are almost never at home, which gives me much of my privacy when I am at home.
In order to get this great deal, I had to spend 240 pounds which I lost to agencies.
Tomorrow evening, you will witness another post. Its subject will be about how I found my job and what my experiences are up until now.
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