A Trip to Windsor

Windsor, Berkshire 

In January Sam and I took a little trip to Windsor. It was the first of what we thought was going to be part of our one trip per month resolution we made. But as Sam and I know all too well, life sometimes just has a different plan. But any who, our trip to Windsor was spontaneous and we had the best time. Windsor is a small town that is about an hour and a half drive away from where we live in East London. I had bought the trip for Sam and I as part of his Christmas present. We stayed in a hotel/spa called The Harte & Garter. It was the perfect spot for our two night stay because it was directly across the street from Windsor Castle (the biggest tourist spot of well duh Windsor). It was also conveniently located in the middle of the town, so we were able to walk to bars, restaurants, and shops. 

Windsor is really known for its historic architecture, streets, and castle. More recently it was famously shown around the world during the wedding of Harry & Meghan. On the first night in town Sam and I walked all over Windsor and through Eaton (neighbouring town) getting to know the area a bit better. In the town centre there is loads of shopping you can do, with a plethora of tourist souvenirs (like masks of the royals). Since it was a Thursday night when we arrived, we thought it would be a good time to do a pub dinner. We ended up grabbing food at The Windsor Castle (Samuel Smith bar). This pub looked like a great place to get some traditional pub food (aka I was really in the mood for fish and chips). It was also one of the more popular bars in the area (more than 5 people inside). It turns out Windsor in the winter and during half term is not their busy time of year. The food situation was a bit of a disaster because they did not have much left because we also didn’t realise that places were closing early. The mulled wine there saved the dinner. While we were venturing around after, we stumbled upon a beer tasting room called A Hoppy Place. They had loads of beer from all over and it is always nice when the owners are extremely friendly and happy to let you sample whatever beer you’re thinking of getting. On the way home we stopped at the Horse and Groom pub for one last drink. This pub is perfectly situated across the street from the Castle entrance and in diagonal view of our hotel. Again the staff was so friendly and it seemed like the locals were just as nice. Walking around at night was great because since it was early January all the Christmas lights were still up. 

On the second day of being in Windsor, Sam and I decided to go to Windsor Castle and go on the full tour of the grounds. Before that we had breakfast at Côte Brasserie, a gorgeous cafe/ restaurant right on the riverside. We made a reservation because we thought it might be packed on a Friday morning, but again we were surprised to be one of the only people there (plus it was about 8 am). We had seen from the day before that the line can get ridiculously long for the castle so we wanted to get there as soon as it opened to avoid being online all day. It turned out we accidentally timed it perfectly. By the time we finished breakfast we walked right up to the front of the line and got our tickets in minutes. **Disclaimer** if you do visit during the spring or summer I recommend buying tickets online to save you time. 

 

The castle is really worth every penny (or pence) to get in. It is stunning and the views from the top of the grounds that overlooks the whole town is breathtaking. We were able to see where past royals were buried, the church where Meghan and Harry got married, and the dining hall of the Queen. From the outside the castle really doesn’t look that big, but after walking more than 8 miles that day I was very mistaken. We opted for the audio tour (very attractive headphones come with it) to help us learn more about the castle because there is just way too much to read as you go through. I should also mention that this was free so it was really worth having. At the end of the tour we were able to get our tickets stamped so that if we came back to Windsor within a year (which we definitely will do) we won’t have to pay again. 

We finished the tour around midday and decided it was the perfect time to get afternoon tea. We were able to get a Groupon voucher for it at Cafè Rogue. Apparently everyone had the same idea because this place was packed out. This place was located in the shopping centre/ train station so it is an easy place to stop for a quick bite before leaving town. What really surprised me while we were  there was all the Americans walking around! It almost felt like I was back home being surrounded by my own accent. 

Since the day was young and we were on vacation after all, we decided our next stop would be to the local brewery Windsor & Eaton. This was by far the best local stop of our trip. The beer was delicious, the tap room was very laid back, and there were DOGS!! Fun fact I learned while I was there was that their beer was served at the royal wedding of Meghan & Harry and Kate & William. They even had a cute mural on the wall outside for Meghan & Harry. We could have easily spent the rest of the day there but since we had dinner reservations to a nicer restaurant that night we thought it was best we quit while we were still able to walk back to the hotel.That night we ate at a really nice seafood restaurant on the water called The Boatman. This place had great servers and incredible food. They even gave us a coupon for the next time we go back to Windsor. Since we were beyond stuffed after dinner we decided to walk it off and take a stroll by the water. This led us to the winter fair that was going on in the local park. They had ice skating, outdoor movies, and a food market. On the morning that we left Windsor we were lucky enough to catch the changing of the guards. It looked like a mini parade as people lined the entire street for about a half mile. It was the perfect end to our mini trip. 

I highly recommend a mini trip to Windsor if you are in/ visiting London. It is such an easy trip to take on the final day you are staying in London, since it is only a 20 minute cab journey to Heathrow airport. From central London it is about an hour by train to get to. It is a perfect day trip for couples or families since there is plenty to see and do. I was very much looking forward to going there again this month with my parents and in-laws but obviously that plan had to change. But even though we had to cancel we are definitely planning on going back to this magical place this year. We have found so many great places to stay on Airbnb that will save us a lot next time we go. 

                                              

Life in London: an update on being a Londoner

All over London

Since the last time I wrote a post a lot has gone on (as it should since it has been months!). I have been asked by a good number of people what exactly I am up to now and why I haven’t been writing. There is a lot of explanation for that. For starters I have this really annoying habit of putting doubt in my mind about what people actually want to hear about in my posts, and how relevant I am in anyone else’s life. But after a lot of thinking and conversations with others I’ve decided ultimately my writing is for me. It is a passion I’ve had since I was young and I need to be more confident in the fact that people enjoy what I am writing about. If that number of people is ten or a hundred I am writing for that number of the masses, and as a release for myself. The fact that I have even helped people with my writing is also what is motivating me now. Finding the time to do it is another story. 

August feels like it was so long ago and since then I have really settled into my life in London. Sam and I had made the decision to hold off on traveling back to New York after Thanksgiving since we were back and forth so much over the year. When we went back in November for my dad’s birthday, thanksgiving, and my best friend’s wedding. We were busy every single day, but this was the perfect send off before fully diving in to life as a Londoner. 

In September I was finally able to start working after months and months of getting references and fingerprints done. Oh and also sending fingerprints to the FBI, then having said fingerprints lost by the FBI for 2 months. I’m not exaggerating either when I say I had to send my fingerprints off to the FBI. I basically had to prove I am who I say I am for the UK government EVEN THOUGH I had just been through 6 MONTHS of hell with the immigration system, proving I was in a legitimate marriage. 

As a teacher coming over to the UK there isn’t any type of test you have to take to transfer certificates over to be able to teach. I had to fill out what is called a qualified teachers form, which consists of sending in my New York State teaching certificates, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and approved fingerprints from the FBI. 

When I was able to finally start looking for jobs I had decided on being a substitute again. This way I could figure out what school I wanted to work at without making a full commitment to and potentially be miserable at (aka repeat of my life as a first year teacher in the DOE). When I was searching the online websites I had applied to a school in Greenwich (very rich area so figured the kids would be slightly better behaved) but not necessarily close to where I lived. I also wanted to teach in central London so that I could be fully submerged in learning my way around my new city. When I applied to that school I quickly received a call from the company Smart Teachers. They are a large company of agents that help you search for jobs specifically in London. 

I was sceptic at first since the little information that I knew about agencies is that you have to pay an arm and a leg to be a part of and they could take money off your daily rate of work. After spending over an hour on the phone with a guy named Dan (who is the nicest human), I quickly learned that this company was very different from the rest, and actually care about teachers. Dan and I spent time talking about what I was looking for in a school and where I saw my career going. Before I even had a day in a school as a sub, he offered me an interview with TfL (Transport for London). For those who still are not sure what this is, it is the equivalent of working for the MTA  in New York. The job with TfL was with their Safety and Citizenship department. When I nervously went into my interview I had doubt in my mind (why am I always doing this to myself!). I thought, why would this company want to hire a New Yorker freshly landed in the UK, that had ZERO clue of how to get around without following that small blue dot on google maps. In my interview I met my manager Francis, who I very quickly got along with and ended up telling my life story to. He offered me the gig on the spot and I am currently still working for them hoping to go full time very soon (fingers crossed). 

Basically what my roll is at my job is to travel all over London to different primary (elementary) schools and give hour long safety presentations to students. I teach them where to get their special student travel cards, how the underground (subway) system works, and how to get around on busses. If this sounds boring just think of a room full of 30-150 ten and eleven year olds listening to me talk about all of this stuff. It is practically my stand up comedy routine at this point. There is a good chance that this could become a permanent role for me. Sometimes I struggle with giving up teaching, because I really did adore it, even though this is still somewhat education.  What I don’t miss was the horribly behaved students, the ridiculous amount of irrelevant paperwork and the politics of it. And to be honest this job has been fun every single day, and I get to explore London and travel around for FREE. So really taking the opportunity to make this my new career is very much possible. It is also important that I go full time since I am not entitled to public funding through the UK government, i.e sick pay or maternity leave (when the time comes).  It is a great gig and I feel very lucky. Not to mention that when I do have to go into the office my team is a great group of people. I’m also a few blocks away from Buckingham Palace, so always the possibility of tea with the Queen! And just recently it gave me the opportunity to attend a Royal visit from Prince Charles and Camilla at the Transport museum. If that wasn’t cool enough I was even able to meet them because of Sam’s uncle Ronnie!

I have also started to teach English to students in China via FaceTime with a company called VIP Kid. This is my side gig that I now do every weekend and on school holiday time. I have the option to make my own schedule so it is very flexible to what I need. The wonderful thing is even though I do not get paid during school holidays with TfL because I am only temping there, I can work online and still make a good amount. It is also the reason why I don’t really miss teaching because I haven’t given it up. The other reason why I have picked up this job is to pay off my student loans. When I was back in New York last year and wasn’t working, I had to put all of my loans on hold because I wasn’t able to work. To be honest I have no idea how it works since I now live in another country but I assume it still has to be paid (if you know anything about it please let me know). When I get my monthly payment from that job it is put into my American bank account and the money is automatically withdrawn monthly to my loans. I still have to pay taxes and file them yearly since I am still an American citizen. 

Sam and I are finally feeling as though we are back to normal. And if the thought has crossed your mind, no I still don’t have a dog, and yes I’m still working on it! Since Sam and I are finally acting like a married couple again we have been taking advantage of going on trips together. We started the year off strong and wanted to visit a new place every month, but with the obvious current events that has been put on hold. We are also holding off on getting a puppy because we will be moving by the end of the year (no clue where yet but TBD). We want to move further out of London so it is less expensive but still close enough to get into the city easily since we both work there. 

I think with my new career choice it has made me even more outgoing than I was before (I know what you’re thinking “how on earth is that possible?!”) I will talk to anyone without a care and this is also my attempt at making friends here. Honestly I didn’t realise how good I had it as a kid, you could literally walk up to other kids and ask if they want to be friends and BOOM new bestie. Now as an adult trying to make friends I feel creepy asking another adult if they want to hang out after work. Luckily, I have had a good amount of friends visiting and reconnecting with people who I haven’t spoken to in years when they come to London for the first time. I will also add that I LOVE doing this. So if you’re reading this and are thinking of coming to London, you now have a free tour guide. I am still enjoying doing things on my own (when Sam is at work on the weekends), and I have even been on a couple of auditions for game shows! Also puppy yoga is my new obsession and it may be my new favourite thing ever. I have even started volunteering as a dog walker. Basically all my extracurricular activities include dogs. I just feel like the opportunities are endless here and it has been fun “starting over”. 

So there it is the very quick version to what life has been like since starting working in London. I do still absolutely love living here and exploring my new home town. It is fun to be the American of the group and notice people listening to me more often just because they love listening to my accent. I’m still learning so much about how things work in this country on a day to day basis (don’t even get me started on getting my National Insurance number). Unfortunately there is no manual about what to do when moving countries (unless I make one of course!). Once travel plans can be picked up again I’m sure I will have loads more to write about in the next few months. 

I would also be very interested to hear from anyone who is reading this. I get a lot of questions about what life is like moving to another country, what some of my biggest struggles have been, credit cards, and even the names of objects. So since this blog is just as much for me as it is for you I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. I look forward to writing more and hearing back from people following along with my journey. Lots of love always people, and lets not forget to COUGH INTO YOUR ELBOWS! :)