Comments | americanintheuk: Any and all guidance...

ladyariande in americanintheuk

Any and all guidance...

Apr 25, 2011 02:04

Okay, here it goes. I have just plundered LJ for all it's worth on communities and I hope this one can offer me wisdom, guidance, a little sanity (or helpful insanity - I'll take that, at this point ( Read more... )

Comments 31

elleigh April 25 2011, 18:51:08 UTC

I moved to London in 2006 to do my master's at UCL, and moved back to the U.S. about 2 months ago, so hopefully I can answer a lot of questions for you (plus I'm just in Baltimore now myself). London most likely has access to a lot more familiar products, but I'm sure Edinburgh is not too far off. I've always found pumpkin pie filling at Whole Foods, American/Canadian/Australian shops, and Waitrose, and other items are becoming more and more readily available - in the past 6 months I've found black beans in every supermarket, where as 4/5 years ago they were nearly impossible to find, and only ever dried. There are tons of good resources online for substitute items for cooking and baking, so just be prepared before you go shopping (plus you'll pick it up in time). I'm amazed at how expensive food is in America now - I think I romanticized how cheap it would be when I moved back, but so much, especially fresh food, is the same price, if nto more expensive. Plus, the exchange rate is really in your favor right now - take advantage of ( ... )

ladyariande April 25 2011, 20:09:27 UTC

Thanks for the info!

I do look forward with both anticipation and trepidation to the food issue. I am notoriously picky (ask my mother and my friends) but I do love to bake things so I can usually please myself if I can just find the proper ingredients. I will muddle through somehow, I suspect, but the first few weeks...months... well, I do expect some trial and error, at any rate!

I am trying to stay on top of the loans and visa. Since I can't apply for the visa until the loans are taken care of and I'm within three months of leaving, I'm not stressing about it just quite yet (I'm trying to relegate stress). Right now, it's all about the loans. I'm pestering Edinburgh for more info so I can get those straightened out ASAP!

Someone else mentioned Gumtree. Hopefully I can find something reasonable. Any idea what sort of price range would be reasonable for somewhere safe, clean, but not extravagant? I need to figure out where everything is so I have an idea of WHERE flats are when I look them up!

elleigh April 25 2011, 20:43:24 UTC

Great! As for rent, I was living in London, which is going to be higher, but I paid between £450 and £525 all inclusive for a room in a shared house or flat. I'm sure you'll be able to find cheaper in Edinburgh!

sismith42 April 28 2011, 22:45:30 UTC

Hi, I did a postgraduate course with the University of Edinburgh in 2002-03. Be careful, this city has a habit of sucking people in and never letting us go ( ... )

ladyariande May 2 2011, 18:27:15 UTC

I am now currently waiting to hear back from the university about accommodations. I looked on some great websites recommended for private flats, but a few things bothered me: A) not being able to look at them myself until I got there because I know I'll be bewildered and busy and not in any disposition for dealing with flat complications and B) the possibility of being stuck on a lease with people I don't know for a year in what might not be a great situation ( ... )

ladyariande May 2 2011, 18:30:15 UTC

Oh, and everything I've read indicates 20 hours a week of work for students seems to be the limit. I have a job for an online tutoring site that I can take with me when I go, so I already have a job (which is comforting, although the exchange rate makes the wages rather slim). I hope to use the extra money for travel!