Moving is Admin!

Moving countries is an exciting but nerve-wracking process. But no one can prepare you for the amount of PURE ADMINISTRATION involved! From Visas to job applications to accommodation hunting and flights! It just never ends.

The process started out with the beginning of our Visa applications. My grandparents were born in the UK and this means that I qualify for an Ancestry Visa. Since Frans is my husband, he qualifies for a dependent visa. This means we need to source: my grandfathers original birth certificate, my mothers birth certificate, my parents marriage certificate, my birth certificate, my marriage certificate, proof of our finances, proof that we will work when we get there, a TB free certificate each... there is more but this is boring you! We need to fill in a really, really long online form and pay a lot of money too! We have spoken to everyone we know who has even thought of applying for a UK Visa, and people have been so kind and helpful. We are so grateful.

But it doesn't end there. When a teacher applies for jobs in the UK, you need to get a police clearance certificate, three letters of reference from contactable referees, fill out countless forms. All of this to prove your reliability when working around children. We still haven't officially applied for our visas, and haven't booked our flights yet! We need to sort out all of our things this side too. Rent our flat out, pack up all our special things, throw a lot away, prepare for Christmas!

We're doing it!

The decision is made! We are doing it. Frans and I are going to begin an adventure in the ancient and exciting city of London, UK.

Both of us have been living in new cities our whole adult lives. For most of that time, we have been doing it together. Frans and I met at university in a city far from both of our respective hometowns. When I moved to Rustenburg, our relationship had to survive the 1200km distance. After getting his Masters degree, Frans migrated to the Big City of Johannesburg to make his fortune. I joined him there after a year and we decided to get married. Far from our hometowns and parents, we started our lives together in Jozi. Our wedding was the most beautiful day, an honouring of our families, friends and our love. We took a long overdue trip to England and that formed our honeymoon. The trip ignited a love for England that I had had ever since my first trip to the land of my ancestors at age 10.

With job opportunities for Frans calling, and my long term yearning to live and work in a foreign country saying LETS GO, it was only a matter of time before we went to try our luck in London!
London is considered by many as one of the greatest banking cities. It is Frans's specialty as a Risk Regulation Finance Consultant that has job opportunities in London growing by the day. South Africa has very strict and well-followed regulation legislation, one of the best in the world, and this set South African risk consultants up well for similar roles in the UK.

For me, who knows! My experience as a teacher seems to make the transition a smooth, if not easy, one. I am told by MANY sources that teaching in London is really, REALLY tough. Every day I oscillate between being downright scared stiff of the prospect, and telling myself that I am tougher than that and that yes, it'll likely be hard, but I'll survive. I have toyed with the idea of applying for various education-related jobs as well, and only time will tell. It has had to become my decision that "what will be will be" and to go with the flow of my river-life! Bring it on!