My trips to ENGLAND My trips to England - Peterborough If you are in England and you want to make a good trip and

have a good time, dont go to Peterborough! Well, they have an amasing cathedral here, thats true. But Ok, lets start from the beginning. I decided to go to England for couple of months to find some job and to gain some money in October 2004. I found a very good looking advertisment something like: Do you want to work at England? Come to Peterborough!We gonna arrange comfortable and cheep accomodation and help you to get a job! So, one day I came to Peterborough! Oh God! Horrible town. Industrial (somethiing like Ostrava or Most in Czech Republic thats for I call it Black Bridge) grey town full of poor workers from all over the world, East Europe as Slovakia, Poland etc., drinking and smoking joints all the time The City itself is quite small and long, there

is one main long street leading to the City Centre There are lots of various shops, hypermarkets, pubs and casinoes , drug stores, vegetable shops When I went to drugstores to buy some newspaper, there were working old men with a dark brown face and with long grey beard, wearing such a strange cloth First I was afraid of them and was not able to enter that shopNever mind, there are many other shops nearby, I told to myself. But there were the same men in another shop, in a next shop as welleverywhereSo I had to get used Later some people staying there explained me that Peterborough is one of few cities where inhabitants of Pakistan have got a right to stay there in the 19th century, so they are settled there now and they are something like bosses of the town. They own all the shops, bars, offices, agenciesIt was something new and strange for me and I didnt feel fine there. But the main square of the city was nice, full of various funny decorations before Christmas. I was working nearby the square

in the afternoon, so every day I was sitting there, drinking a very nice coffee, watching people and once i was listening to some drunk country group with a lovely exsingerthat was quite funny but sad as well A huge and amazing cathedral in a gothic style is a few steps from the main square.I was going there very often, I was feeling there very fine and atmosphere was lovely and it helped me to survive under that horrible conditions. Beside the beautiful interrior and atmosphere inside. I have seen lots of advertisments concerning various services how to help to poor, homeless and sick people. It was making me pleasure and giving me assurance that Im not gonna die there without help. One night when a drunk land lady knocked me out from her house I had to find some accomodation. That was not easy, (I was really scared) but finally I succeeded . In the morning a nice land lord took me to the bus station and I escaped to London. First I had to find some cheap acommodation not far from the

Victoria Coach Station. Somebody recommended Elizabeth House. I found it in few minutes, I paied some 25 pounds and was looking forward to a nice warm roomBut!!!I am telling you I have never seen a worse one! That was small, dirty room with broken old and dirty bed(everything was very dirty there) and broken window, so there was really cold So I left all my heavy stuff there and when out to buy some food and to orientate myself arround. Next day I spent with buying newspaper looking for a job and accommodation. Finally I have found an interesting advertisment concerning quite good job in Southport: Ive made a call and next day I went to Southport, a small seaport located between Manchester and Liverpool. The journey was quite horrible, beacause that way took 6 hours without any stop! I was not ready into it and after 4 hours journey I allowed to ask the driver if any stop is planned. He didnt understand whats the problem if toilette is on the busI tries to explain that Im missing some oxygene and need some movement In one hour there was a small break at Liverpool.Thanks to God! I did not know

that I have some clithorophobia ! As I could see I probably have some! One Czech guy working for that Work Agency picked me up at the bus stop in Southport and took me home.My place was very well located, just a few steps from the sea! As I recognized later, there was living a Polish community. However I was quite shocked at the beginning cause there was nobody speaking English, but Polish only! So if you wanna work in England, learn Polish language first,! told to myself. Anyway, later I found some English speaking friends (including very sweet and young Polish guy speaking very good English and much more) My first steps led me to the sea, or to the small bay with plenty of beatiful swans. To get to the sea I had to cross a huge and modern pier. But even than I came to the beach only, cause the sea itself was very far. I loved that place very much , I went there almost every night just to take a seat on the stairs, smoking and watching sea and starsThat was really lovely and romantic for me. I have collected and brought home lots of lovely shells. But from time to time there was such a strong wind, that we couldn t get

out of the house! Really! I tried several times feeling strong enough but there was no chance Especially on Christmas the winds were really strong and even fo 4 days we almost couldnt go out. By the way, Christmas in 2004 was quite fine there, cause Polish guys made a lovely Christmas lunch and invited all the people of that house. I was feeling quite sad first -I dont like Christmas too much, but finally it was really friendly and warm Christian lunch. That I really enjoyed. ( Maybe cause I had no expectations on Christmas) The town itself is really beautiful, a touristic port with plenty of hotels and B&B, pubs, restaurants, shopsThere is a theatre at the piers and at the opposite side of a piers there is a large and modern cinema. At the main square at the centre there are lots of old historical buildings , one of them is a library that was very important for me cause there was an internet free of charge. But on Christmas and New Year there was no work at the agency I was working for, I sent a message to my friend to Maidstone and in the beginning of January I left lovely

Southport to Maidstone. I stayed at my freindss house for couple weeks.l That was fine, I ve got quite a good job and enjyoed my stay in Maidstone , a small but nice and historical town. London My trip to London In March 2005 I decided to go to London to get a good job and to gain some money. I was almost sure there will be work enough for me and I will ghet clever and rich.But reality was a little bit different I was informed that accommodation in London is expensive and not easy to arrange if you dont have money enough, so all that things I managed through the Agency Avalon Prague.I had to pay some fee, I did, I belived them, but that was a great falt, which I recognized very soon Anyway, I stayed in London for 2 months and it was a great experience for me.It was

my dream to see London and at that times in 70s it was absolutely unreachable to get to LondonSo finally at the age of 42 I came to London! However London is really amasing its really different from my dreams at my age of 15 London is very huge for me, everything there is huge and big And the river of Thems is very large and heavy and powerful as well.And all buildings are tall It means London is very big and strong city But what was getting me really creasy where the narrow streets and pavements, there was no space for cars neither for people running to the work or walking through London and shoppingFirst day recognizing the centre of London I was very tired after few hours and wanted to turn out of busy streets to have some little rest , but there was no space for having a rest: I turned somewhere and there started another street, narrow but busy, I tried to get to the end of that street and turn somewhere but there was another street leading nowhereFinally I got (I really dont know how) to the China Town which became later my favourite place.I love Chinese shops, Chinese tea, food, candles, aroma sticks and the atmosphere there made me

calm and ballanced .Oxford Street I have visited many times and I liked all shops there, I wanted to see all fashion stuff and everything there, however it was very busy for me and in 2 hours I was very tired from that shopping street. What I really enjyoed there where the veget markets. The most favourite markets we were going to where At the Tourkish and At the Arabian. At the Arabian was better and cheaper and in the morning there where 3pc of mango for 99 p available! I love mango so much! And my favourite breakfast was looking as follows: schottish oats and soya milk and pieces of dead ripe mango. Oh! That was really great! Every Saturday morning there were many young people at the main Square with some leaflets inviting all the people to various cultural events.As I recognized later most of the events were Christian and free of charge taking part at the churches nearby. I was there once and it was really amasing action. I have never seen anything like that!.Instead of Christian service there was a

music concert and theatre performance. And almost all of the visitors and players too where Carribeans, sexy guys and good looking girls with lovely hair with tails.That night I have decided I want to look like a Carribean women! Well, it was really interesting to see something like that for me. I remember I could see in US movies it TV anything like that. I could feel lots of love, help and positive atmosphere among all the people there. However life in London is hard and difficult the people there are able to sing to dance and to laugh! To tell the truth I was not laughing in London too much. London is beautifu, ancient and powerfull but the life there is really hard for me.To get a job there without any recommendations and certificates was almost impossible. And me, I didnt have anything like that Anyway, it was a great and useful experience for me to stay in London for couple of weeks.But to tell the truth I am really happy I am back at home! Life in Prague compairing to life in London is peaceful and easy! For me its important to know that fact and from that time I love my beloved Prague much more then before!

by Eva (2005)

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