It's been a month since I updated my blog. Really a lot of things happened and I didn't had the time to write it down all nor a little of it.
So let's start from the end.Yesterday I watched the Italy vs Ireland match. I went to Mattia's house with his colleagues. I took with me the champagne I won singing at Roadhouse, so now it's gone and I need to go there again to win another one! The evening was amazing: we had some real Italian typical food from Naples and Rome. Just to name one we had some original "taralli".
Sunday, the 17th, I went to Lovebox. It is a concert in Victoria park with a lot of artists and three or four different stages. I went there to see Mika. He was amazing as usual but he just played for half an hour. So bad! I saw also Grace Jones closing the event and some other more or less known artists. I stood up for ten hours and now after two days I don't feel really good yet.
Friday I went to Guanabara! When they told me the name I was thinking it was a joke. In Italy with my friend we usually do word games like this just to name a place that we don't remember the name or doesn't exists at all. But trust me, this is the real name of this place and it exists! It's a Brazilian club near convent garden. It's a really nice place and I went there with some cs friends. There where a Brazilian band performing at the beginning and after 11.30pm they started with the disco music. I enjoyed it and had some fun. After the disco we went to Mc Donalds just to get back some energy. It was 3am and really cold. When I managed to get back to Acton it was 5pm but there where so much light that it did look like a 9am in Italy.
I'm really starting to get busy and it' just two month that I'm here. It's good of course but it's a little stressing.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a bike and now it's more than a week that I'm going to work riding my bike. They call it commuting, but don't ask me the meaning of this word. I'm lucky because it's really just a few miles but it's all uphill. I always thought that London was plain but again I was wrong. Of course when I go back home it's all downhill so it gets really relaxing.
The job is going pretty much good. After the initial couple of boring weeks now it's getting more interesting and I'm starting to work on something I'm more used to. I'm also starting to better understand people, even if I still have some difficulties when they speak fast or have strange or unknown accents.
I was thinking about going back to Italy on September for an holiday to see my friends but I got intrigued by a colleague proposal to go to a really interesting place... I need the passport!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
First new job day
Today I had my new job's first day.
I got out of the house 45 minutes before entry time. I thought that was enough to cover less than 4km (2.3mi). I was wrong: the traffic was so jammed that the bus was crawling between cars.
I managed to get just few minutes late. Not bad as a first day!
Someone was so kind to take me to my office and then my new manager introduced me to at least half of the stuff. I could be damn if I remember a name!
I watched a DVD about security. Really interesting... ok really boring! And after that I started to setup my new box with all the stuff I need to do my job. The most interesting part is that they gave me a brand new 24inch LED display. It's amazing to finally work with a screen that can hold all the windows you need at the same time! I never understood why companies in Italy keep on supplying 17inch screens to their developers: it's so stupid!
I had launch with my new Italian colleague: I was so hungry! I ate a lot so during the afternoon, considering also that the setup of all the stuff was taking a lifetime, I risked to fall asleep. Luckily the exit time came to rescue me! For me was really strange to get home at 6 o'clock. I was used to get back far later. And I was hungry again!
With so spare time in the evening I definitely need to find something like a gym. But let's wait for the first earnings to come in before spending more money: it's so weird and painful to pay pounds with euros! For example yesterday I bought some shirts for a total of 100£ that are 125€! To discover that now I will need to buy also the cuff links!
I got out of the house 45 minutes before entry time. I thought that was enough to cover less than 4km (2.3mi). I was wrong: the traffic was so jammed that the bus was crawling between cars.
I managed to get just few minutes late. Not bad as a first day!
Someone was so kind to take me to my office and then my new manager introduced me to at least half of the stuff. I could be damn if I remember a name!
I watched a DVD about security. Really interesting... ok really boring! And after that I started to setup my new box with all the stuff I need to do my job. The most interesting part is that they gave me a brand new 24inch LED display. It's amazing to finally work with a screen that can hold all the windows you need at the same time! I never understood why companies in Italy keep on supplying 17inch screens to their developers: it's so stupid!
I had launch with my new Italian colleague: I was so hungry! I ate a lot so during the afternoon, considering also that the setup of all the stuff was taking a lifetime, I risked to fall asleep. Luckily the exit time came to rescue me! For me was really strange to get home at 6 o'clock. I was used to get back far later. And I was hungry again!
With so spare time in the evening I definitely need to find something like a gym. But let's wait for the first earnings to come in before spending more money: it's so weird and painful to pay pounds with euros! For example yesterday I bought some shirts for a total of 100£ that are 125€! To discover that now I will need to buy also the cuff links!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
We are the italian mob
Yesterday I received my uk debit card! Now I feel more comfortable: I don't clearly understand way but uk people don't like money if it's not coming from an uk account... I really don't get it! But you know, they are strange people and you need to adapt to some of their weirdness. It's fair, I mean: it's their country here!
So I could finally had my mobile contract sim card with three. It was really ugly to have an iphone without a data connection because it really becomes helpful when you need to take a bus to go home and you don't know where the hell you are.
So after having my brand new sim I finally met Mattia. He is a guy from Italy. I never actually met him in person. We have a friend in common who gave me his number before moving to London. He helped me in the first days giving me some advices about how to find a room and a job.
So we went out with some of his colleagues and I had my first after work friday here in London! There were an English guy, another Swedish one, two French guys and then five italians! Actually there were more poeple but I didn't had a chance to speak with them so much to understand where they came from.
We went of course to a pub and tried to get drunk with the discounted drinks but after three of them I was still far from getting drunk. The place was really nice and big. They suggested there could some girls because near this place there is the Lorèal UK office. No luck as usual! There were of course some girls actually but not as many as the huge Lorèal building suggests to be inside it.
We staid there a couple of hours speaking about... you could say about life. Then we took a bus and we went to an italin pizzeria. The pizza wasn't bad, even if I'm not a big fun of the neapolitan one.
After that we went to a pub with a 5£ entry fee. Here in London seems to be common to pay to enter a pub on a friday night. The place was nice and not so crowded so we were also able to speak. I was tired so after an hour or so I decied to quit.
I really met a lot of new people in just one night, more than in the last three weeks I think. But I didn't know what expect me the day after...
So I could finally had my mobile contract sim card with three. It was really ugly to have an iphone without a data connection because it really becomes helpful when you need to take a bus to go home and you don't know where the hell you are.
So after having my brand new sim I finally met Mattia. He is a guy from Italy. I never actually met him in person. We have a friend in common who gave me his number before moving to London. He helped me in the first days giving me some advices about how to find a room and a job.
So we went out with some of his colleagues and I had my first after work friday here in London! There were an English guy, another Swedish one, two French guys and then five italians! Actually there were more poeple but I didn't had a chance to speak with them so much to understand where they came from.
We went of course to a pub and tried to get drunk with the discounted drinks but after three of them I was still far from getting drunk. The place was really nice and big. They suggested there could some girls because near this place there is the Lorèal UK office. No luck as usual! There were of course some girls actually but not as many as the huge Lorèal building suggests to be inside it.
We staid there a couple of hours speaking about... you could say about life. Then we took a bus and we went to an italin pizzeria. The pizza wasn't bad, even if I'm not a big fun of the neapolitan one.
After that we went to a pub with a 5£ entry fee. Here in London seems to be common to pay to enter a pub on a friday night. The place was nice and not so crowded so we were also able to speak. I was tired so after an hour or so I decied to quit.
I really met a lot of new people in just one night, more than in the last three weeks I think. But I didn't know what expect me the day after...
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
London Socialising
After these 3 weeks that I was so busy finding first a room and than a job, during the last few days I was a little bit bored. Considering that Monday was holiday here in London it went even worst because all the shops were closed!
So nowhere interesting to go, no people to go out and have a drink. You start thinking: I need to make some new friends! So I googled around and found a website, citysocialising.co.uk. This website is full of people with my same problem: big city, lot of things and places to go but no one to go with. So I registered and the day after I went to my first city socialising event. I've been in the past to something similar so I found myself quite comfortable. Instead most of the other people were some kind worried at least in the first couple of minutes. But after that couple of minutes everybody start talking with each other without any limitation or problem even the most shy ones. I tried to speak with everybody even if some people formed closed groups where it was difficult to enter the conversation if not jumping in the middle of the group screaming: "please talk to me!!!". In the end I can say I found two or three people that really interested me. Is something that you don't actually decide: is just something that happens or not.
Anyway you meet these people and than what? This is a good question! Hope to find an answer and post it here soon!
So nowhere interesting to go, no people to go out and have a drink. You start thinking: I need to make some new friends! So I googled around and found a website, citysocialising.co.uk. This website is full of people with my same problem: big city, lot of things and places to go but no one to go with. So I registered and the day after I went to my first city socialising event. I've been in the past to something similar so I found myself quite comfortable. Instead most of the other people were some kind worried at least in the first couple of minutes. But after that couple of minutes everybody start talking with each other without any limitation or problem even the most shy ones. I tried to speak with everybody even if some people formed closed groups where it was difficult to enter the conversation if not jumping in the middle of the group screaming: "please talk to me!!!". In the end I can say I found two or three people that really interested me. Is something that you don't actually decide: is just something that happens or not.
Anyway you meet these people and than what? This is a good question! Hope to find an answer and post it here soon!
Friday, May 04, 2012
Looking for a Job in London
This week I started my search for a job.
On Monday I had my first interview. It was a really really long interview lasting 3 hours! I had 2 programming tests and after that a chat with 2 guys, an Italian and an English guy.
I was worried about my English because it's not perfect. But I managed to speak and understand almost everything they asked me. I was quite successful on the interview because the day after the agent called me back because they wanted to see me again for a second interview. So we scheduled a meeting for Thursday.
Meanwhile I kept receiving this calls from other agents. I also had to cancel an application because of the distance.
So yesterday I had this second interview: so another test! Really! I don't like tests! Luckily this was a shorter one even if a question or two put me on a little trouble. Anyway I answered all of them. The manager read the test and without asking me anything he started to call all the other developers. So I met almost the entire development team. They asked few questions about my skills and experience.
Then they started talking to me about the company rules. Here in UK you work 7.5 hours per day and 7 on Friday. They have a dress code from Monday to Thursday but Fridays are casual. Work starts at 9am and ends at 5.30pm. One hour launch break: there are a few places where you can eat hamburgers or some indian or japanese food if you feel brave. I like the company: it's not far from home, there is also an italian guy to have launch together and they have a pool on the rest room: amazing!
I think I made a good impression and they will likely.... no, they will! made me an offer. Let's see what will happen.
This week I also met few people. Actually friends of friends. It feels wierd to have a contact list on your phone of people you do not really know. Anyway you start talking to people and speak about everything and it feels like you have been friends since ages. So I discovered that monday here will be off cause of the bank holiday. And that there will be other two bank holidays at the end of may and in june. I need to start planning holidays!
On Monday I had my first interview. It was a really really long interview lasting 3 hours! I had 2 programming tests and after that a chat with 2 guys, an Italian and an English guy.
I was worried about my English because it's not perfect. But I managed to speak and understand almost everything they asked me. I was quite successful on the interview because the day after the agent called me back because they wanted to see me again for a second interview. So we scheduled a meeting for Thursday.
Meanwhile I kept receiving this calls from other agents. I also had to cancel an application because of the distance.
So yesterday I had this second interview: so another test! Really! I don't like tests! Luckily this was a shorter one even if a question or two put me on a little trouble. Anyway I answered all of them. The manager read the test and without asking me anything he started to call all the other developers. So I met almost the entire development team. They asked few questions about my skills and experience.
Then they started talking to me about the company rules. Here in UK you work 7.5 hours per day and 7 on Friday. They have a dress code from Monday to Thursday but Fridays are casual. Work starts at 9am and ends at 5.30pm. One hour launch break: there are a few places where you can eat hamburgers or some indian or japanese food if you feel brave. I like the company: it's not far from home, there is also an italian guy to have launch together and they have a pool on the rest room: amazing!
I think I made a good impression and they will likely.... no, they will! made me an offer. Let's see what will happen.
This week I also met few people. Actually friends of friends. It feels wierd to have a contact list on your phone of people you do not really know. Anyway you start talking to people and speak about everything and it feels like you have been friends since ages. So I discovered that monday here will be off cause of the bank holiday. And that there will be other two bank holidays at the end of may and in june. I need to start planning holidays!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Home sweet home
Today I finally entered my brand new room. It's in Acton town. The room is not bad. It is quite spacious with a really fast Internet connection, really fast! The guy who manage the house is smart and really helpful: you call him and he fixes things!
These days have been a real nightmare. I travelled with all kind of public transports London can offer, from the underground of course to the buses to the DLR and finally also with the overground! Is there an overground there in London??? Yes there is! I saw most of the areas of London in this research. I think that I found one not so central and not so amazingly well connected with the transports but it's a nice area and on the opposite side of the Olympics games: I think that on that days it will be impossible to travel here. Anyway you see different places and things and you end up adapting your initial perspective to the real world.
So this afternoon I went buy all the dishes, pillows, duvet and all the staff for the house. Because they really don't give you nothing. Now I'm really tired and I just want to sleep. Yawn yawn
These days have been a real nightmare. I travelled with all kind of public transports London can offer, from the underground of course to the buses to the DLR and finally also with the overground! Is there an overground there in London??? Yes there is! I saw most of the areas of London in this research. I think that I found one not so central and not so amazingly well connected with the transports but it's a nice area and on the opposite side of the Olympics games: I think that on that days it will be impossible to travel here. Anyway you see different places and things and you end up adapting your initial perspective to the real world.
So this afternoon I went buy all the dishes, pillows, duvet and all the staff for the house. Because they really don't give you nothing. Now I'm really tired and I just want to sleep. Yawn yawn
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Baby on board
You see a lot of funny strange things on the tube. For example someone like me sitting alone and laughing. I was looking at my name on the receipt and thinking: this guy has really strange way to write the "i". It's more like an "e". Than suddenly I understood: I spelled my name in Italian!!!! But only the vocals! Stupid boy! It was so funny and I was so tired so I laugh to cry.
Anyway the best for today was this woman sitting in front of me. She had a pin with the underground logo and a notice you usually find beside cars: "Baby on board". I staid a little bit astonished in the first place. Than I understood: she was pregnant! Oh she was so amazing :-)
My research for a room is hopefully coming to an end. I won't say anything until I have the house keys but I hope for best, always expecting the worst of course. Tonight I will sleep in this 12 beds shared room. I already met some interesting people but it won't be a pleasant and quiet night...
Anyway the best for today was this woman sitting in front of me. She had a pin with the underground logo and a notice you usually find beside cars: "Baby on board". I staid a little bit astonished in the first place. Than I understood: she was pregnant! Oh she was so amazing :-)
My research for a room is hopefully coming to an end. I won't say anything until I have the house keys but I hope for best, always expecting the worst of course. Tonight I will sleep in this 12 beds shared room. I already met some interesting people but it won't be a pleasant and quiet night...
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