Moving over to London I had no friends or family in the United Kingdom. I had graduated my teaching degree in December, and made the move in January, so came here with very little teaching experience and a whole lot of anxiety about how this whole move would go.
But 5 months in I can honestly say it is the best thing I ever did.
Prior to moving over here I had been to a couple of the anzuk events and chatted to a few people, so I knew there would be a couple of friendly faces when I got here. My biggest fear was being months into my trip and having no friends, so this really pushed me to get myself out there. At this point I’ve made the most amazing group of friends, and will likely be friends with them my whole life. It’s really true that the people you become friends with over here become your instant family.
When I came over here I had just graduated, so I was incredibly nervous to begin work. I initially planned to start out with supply, but ended up taking a contract at a school. While this wouldn’t be the best option for everyone, I found it much easier to know where I was going every day, and know who my students would be. I teach reception, which is equivalent to grade prep back home, in a school in the West of London. The students I work with are very diverse, and their lives are so different to the children I’ve worked with back home. I won’t lie and say it’s been easy, because schools here are renowned for being tough. But just like any teaching job, the good days have outweighed the bad, and the experience I’ve gained from working here has been invaluable.
Before leaving Australia, I posted in the anzuk Facebook group and organised a group of 12 of us to head over to Dublin for St Paddy’s Day, which was an amazing experience. On top of this, I’ve travelled to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Morocco since arriving in January. I thought I would be doing most of my travel solo, but there’s always someone in the group who wants to do the same trip, so I’m never short of a travel buddy! Everywhere is so accessible from London, so take advantage of every travel opportunity you get.
Most importantly, everyone coming over here is in the same boat as you, so they’re all feeling just as overwhelmed and anxious in the lead. The best thing you can do is reach out to those around you and start forming connections before you come over here. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there by posting in the Facebook group or messaging someone that you spoke to for 5 minutes at one of the drinks. The people you meet will be your biggest support when you’re feeling homesick, and the best people to call for Friday night drinks after a long week!
If you are looking to head to the UK to teach, find out for info here: https://www.anzuk.education/au/work-abroad/United-Kingdom
