If I don't save the world or universe in the next 60 years or so, surviving 3 Ottawa winters would definitely be one of my greatest feats.
That was what I had in mind as I speed-walked my way down Bank street after work today. One day, I will reminisce about bracing the face-breaking cold during Ottawa winters like the prince from Sleeping Beauty may recall his epic battle with the evil dragon. Just for the record, I am sure, when that day comes, I will still not take any pleasure in being exposed to such frigid inhumane weather.
That being said, Ottawa had also introduced me to more than my fair share of awesome people.
KN said it had been very useful to him when he was apartment hunting or job hunting, and told me that I should be really careful to take note of the section of town it was in. London may have 6 different streets with the same street name in 6 different parts of town, he warned. In my head, I was thinking I will most likely fare better if I just use Google map, but couldn't bring myself to voice that out under such kindness.
After 5, he also gave me more tips on job searching and banking in the UK. Apparently, there are a lot more to getting a job than just applying. There is something in the UK called the National Insurance Number, which is something like the Social Insurance Number in Canada. You cannot get a job without a number, and cannot get a number without a job. The way to get around it, he said, was to get a job telling them you are eligible to work in the UK, and once you're hired, ask them for a letter of employment. Once you have the letter, go and get the NIN immediately, because your employer won't be able to pay you unless you have the number. This was definitely something that the UK border service agency failed to tell me.
Opening a banking account in the UK can also be problematic for a foreigner. That was something that I definitely did not foresee. He said that he knows there is this specific Barclays bank branch in Angel-Islington that has an agreement in place and caters to temporary residents such as him, while other Barclays will refuse any foreigners. He also said that foreign visitors can also open an account at one of the bank branches located on the semi-private islands off the coast or in the channel. His girl friend at the time had an account opened at a Lloyds branch located on the Isle of Man, and she had no problems doing her everyday banking in any Lloyds located in London. Definitely not something I had ever heard of or something I would search up on.
He also said he will put me in touch with his friends that are still in London too.
Two years ago, I would probably have declined his offer and come up with a million excuse to stay as far away from strangers as possible. Today, even though I still feel a little queasy inside, I cheerfully accepted his offer. My queasiness, I realize, come from my fear of not being able to live up to the expectation of a friend's friend. I am nice, but I am also quite boring and uninteresting.
But if Ottawa was a crash course in making friends out of strangers, maybe London can be a course on making friends out of friends' friends.
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