Job

Okay, so I moved here without a job. Quit the firm, maybe a little prematurely. But I tend to be a little hotheaded. No promotion? No, thank you to you. Good bye.

I've been talking to people. It's tough, trying to be nonchalant when you're desperate to start earning some moolah, more for general sanity than for anything else. Thank God the husband earns big bucks. Yes, women's empowerment took a big step back there. And coming from me! Hah! But really, I'm sure he would've felt the same, had he been in my position.

Gosh, sometimes we're just so oversensitive and overoffended by innocent remarks. Give it a break.

I've been thinking about the profession I want to pursue.

I love Development work. Even within Accenture, I was always looking for pro bono initiatives to work on. I worked on 3 in 3 years. More than any one else has.

But I want to do something that is more fast-paced. Something that is the bloodline of London. And that is Finance. (This is going to be my story for my interview soon and it is true.)
A Strategy role in Finance would be best. I love Strategy, I know Strategy and nothing better than doing it in an industry that runs London, other than Real Estate of course.

I have a few interviews lined up. Will be interesting to see what the future holds for me. :)

How to get a job -

Contacts - Family, Alumni networks, Friends of friends. Just meet everyone you know or you think you know.
Headhunters - I haven't had any luck with them yet.
efinancialcareers.com - Got a couple of callbacks. Seems to be quite an active network.

I also made a list of companies that seem interesting to work with - It's a super long list of Banks, Consulting firms and Consumer companies. Trying to find people in these.

I can share the lists with anyone interested. I am also open to connecting you with people, if that will help.

First month in London

We moved on February 27, a not so warm Thursday morning.

We were in a serviced apartment in St. James' Park. SW1E 6AR. I loved it. It was close to the tube. Lots of offices, smartly dressed people. I am so biased towards men in suits, men drinking coffee, men reading books.

I signed up to go to the gym - LA Fitness in Victoria. Absolutely love the classes there. Soriah (I am sure that's not how you spell her name) was so helpful. Plus one.

The neighbourhood was nice, had a small food market on most days.

Flat hunt - rightmove.co.uk was very helpful but so was Justine Jay of JJrelocations. She helped us look at 23 flats along the Jubilee line (from London Bridge all the way up to St. John's Wood). That was one of our constraints. Good access to Jubilee Line, you know, to be able to travel to Canary Wharf easily. The other one was that it should be sufficiently busy. And below GBP 2,000 p.c.m (per month, I don't know what that c is for).

Other expenses -
Council tax - Differs for each borough.
Electricity
Water
Heating
TV
Broadband
Maid
Cook

Others -
Travel
Eating out
Groceries

More -
Entertainment! London has a ton of options.

I signed up to:
London Daily Secret
To Do List
Time Out London (of course!)
Wowcher
Living Social
Groupon
Rooftop Film Club
Southbank Centre (I live opposite this, so of course!)
Twenty Something London
Londonist
Secret London
Culture Trip
Brokeinlondon

I got the TasteCard. There is also Gourmet Society, both of which give you restaurant discounts.

I am going to become a member of Southbank Centre. I think it's worth it, I am a fan of exclusivity and Members Only fanciness.

I am so excited to be living in the cultural centre of London. Happy days are here.

Also, weather's been a dream. Sunny. Beautiful. Summer is going to be so bright. So much sunshine.

Before London

Oh, I love spreadsheets.

Who doesn't? :)

Luckily, MS made our move so easy. Smooth. And we traveled Business Class on Jet. Ah the flat bed and someone making it for you. Someone asking you to change into the complimentary night suit. No, thank you but thanks for asking. :)

I do have a long list though and if you need it, I'm happy to share it!

Why London

It didn't have to be London really but my God, am I glad it is. :)

Mumbai lost it's charm for me. I was frustrated with the infrastructure. Yes, they have "spirit". Yes, they are fundamentally lovely. But they are way too many. Every where. All the time.
Not that London solves the people problem.

I never had a problem with the people, it was the lack of people management. Lack of infrastructure. Lack of accountability for my tax money.

And I needed a change. The inertia was killing me and I don't think I fully realised how much.

I wanted to move West. New York or London really. No other option.

London is closer to home, "a flight away", I tell myself and my family (mine and Arjun's).
London is cosmopolitan. London has so many Indians, wealthy, professional Indians. I won't have to battle that prejudice, though there is some romanticism in doing that too, isn't there?
London has all this European cultural hangover, the British sense of humour, the art, the free museums. I always considered myself or at least want to consider myself a connoisseur of the arts. And where better to do so than here.

London it is.

Excited. Anxious. Apprehensive. Jump!