Live and Work in London
By: Sarah Manners
London is an amazing city from the cosmopolitan vibrancy of Soho and the magnificent views from the millennium eye to the historic gems of Big Ben and the Tower of London.
You encounter Irish people inhabiting one London area next to Jewish and Muslim people. In certain parts you will meet Greeks, Americans, New Zealanders, Australians, Germans, and Africans. It is definitely one of the most multi-ethnic cities in the world.
Considering beauty, fame and the size of London it is no wonder that so many people choose to stay, work and live there.
Live and Work in London
Many school leavers and university graduates leave South Africa to live and work in London once their studies are complete. Some come for a few months and other stay the full two years their working visas permit. The two year working visa is the most common amongst South Africans who wish to come and work in the UK. There is however the option of obtaining a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa which has no restrictions on employment or length of time allowed in the UK. This is an extremely attractive option for South Africans who are looking to live and work in the UK for an extended period of time. Most people don't actually know about this visa and therefore don't even consider working in the UK an option - because they think they are ineligible (when this is not necessarily the case at all).
During their time in London, South Africans are afforded with the opportunities of exploring a world foreign to their own, embracing new cultures and experiences that will stay with them long after they have returned to South Africa.
Many South Africans go to London to earn money while they travel in order to bring the money back home and begin their lives independently and on a good financial footing. The invaluable international experience they accumulate working in London makes them far more employable once they have returned home. As there are such unbelievable work opportunities in the UK for qualified and experienced candidates from South Africa it is actually easier to find jobs in the UK than many people think. Though this is a popular option being in a foreign country for long periods of time away from your friends and family is not easy. Many South Africans have only truly realised how blessed they are to live in such a warm and friendly country once they have left. They return to South Africa enriched and with a new passion for their own country.
South Africans in London
Making the transition to London from South Africa is not as difficult as it used to be. Any South African who has been to London will tell you that when you walk around the city South African accents fill your ears with the comfort of home. Afrikaans is also widely spread so don't gossip about anyone on the tube in Afrikaans - they may just speak it too.
There are social clubs, braai clubs and even dating services for South Africans. A trip to the South African shop will delight and never disappoint those who are feeling a little home sick and in dire need of the culinary comforts of home. Biltong, Nik-Naks, Ms Balls and Marmite are but some of the treasures that adorn this trove in the middle of London 9027 kilometres from home. Any South African who has lived and worked in London will tell you that a trip to the Springbok Pub is an absolute essential when you are craving a night out SA style. South Africans congregate here to watch the Springboks take on opponents on the rugby fields of the world and when it comes to a match against the British Lions the supporters don their green and gold jerseys and come together to celebrate their home country and allegiance even though they are living in lion territory.
South Africans have access to newspapers, magazines, television programs and radio stations from all over South Africa which enable them to keep in touch with what's going on at home.
Feeling a little homesick is only natural when you arrive in this fast paced city. The people you will meet whether they are Kiwis, British or other South Africans will enrich your life dramatically. Learning to live outside of your comfort zone in a different country, with different cultures and traditions is not always easy. It is however an extremely enriching and wonderful experience which is why so many South Africans leave home each year and travel to London.
Author Bio
Many South Africans make the decision to live and work in the UK, for some it's just a dream as when the hassles of visas, travel arrangements and job hunting arise many abandon this dream. Whether you're exploring the world, your career or your finances, 1st Contact offers a range of services to make getting to, living and working in London easier. www.1stcontact.co.uk/live/index.php?CountryIn=ZA 1st Contact's services are open to candidates from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia who wish to live and work in the UK.
