ABOUT
Sarah is originally from a small town near Hamburg in Germany. She lived there until she was 18 and then moved to Hamburg, lived there for 5 years and then she moved to London.
She speaks English and German fluently. She learnt Spanish and French in school but unfortunately she doesn’t speak those anymore. She never got to practice it outside of school, and so she forgot most of the vocabulary.
Tell us about yourself
I am a friendship coach for internationals – I help people who live abroad to make friends and build meaningful connections to help them settle in and make their new country their home. I have been doing this for about 2 years now. Before that I have always worked in job roles where I supported and empowered people with different backgrounds, e.g. people with mental health challenges, physical disabilities or refugees. I love helping people and supporting them to create and live a happier life is what fuels me.
Moving to London
When and why did you move to London?
I went on holiday to visit a friend here in London on 08/18, that’s when I met my partner. After 4 months of a long distance relationship I decided to move to London. Originally I wanted to test it out and stay only for 8 months, I kept my apartment and job back in Hamburg as a backup plan. But I found a job shortly after moving as well as an apartment and that was it – I stayed ever since.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
No, luckily it wasn’t. I was automatically eligible for medical insurance through England’s NHS once I received my national insurance number.
How did you get set up? (phone plan, bank ..)
The setting up part was a little challenging, mainly because I didn’t do any research beforehand. I would definitely change that if I was to ever move abroad again.
Once I moved to the UK, I had to apply for a national insurance number. That was done online (England has a super easy and user-friendly gov.uk website where you can find all the information you need and apply for things you need). Then I had to apply for the pre-settled status, again that was done online too and very straight forward. That was all I had to do (as far as I remember) to get set up. Once I received my national insurance number and the pre-settled status, I was allowed to work etc.
Regarding the bank, that was more difficult, again because I didn’t do any research. I had to find a bank that allowed me to open a bank account without any proof of address, as I didn’t have that at the time. That was a little complicated, but I ended up finding an online bank (Monzo) that allowed me to open a bank account.
Luckily I was able to use my phone contract in London once I moved, as it was still in the EU. After a while I then researched local phone contracts and plans, found the cheapest one, ordered a SIM card online and ended my German phone contract.
Once I moved to the UK, I had to apply for a national insurance number. That was done online (England has a super easy and user-friendly gov.uk website where you can find all the information you need and apply for things you need). Then I had to apply for the pre-settled status, again that was done online too and very straight forward. That was all I had to do (as far as I remember) to get set up. Once I received my national insurance number and the pre-settled status, I was allowed to work etc.
Regarding the bank, that was more difficult, again because I didn’t do any research. I had to find a bank that allowed me to open a bank account without any proof of address, as I didn’t have that at the time. That was a little complicated, but I ended up finding an online bank (Monzo) that allowed me to open a bank account.
Luckily I was able to use my phone contract in London once I moved, as it was still in the EU. After a while I then researched local phone contracts and plans, found the cheapest one, ordered a SIM card online and ended my German phone contract.
What did you bring with you?
I literally only had one suitcase and a bag. I brought clothes, my phone etc chargers (stupidly as the UK has different sockets), my documents and important paperwork, some memories from home, as many nail polishes as I could bring (I have a huge collection and am slightly addicted haha) and that was about it. I was able to store my other belongings at my mum’s place, initially thinking that I might need them again. Over the years we have sorted all of the stuff out and thrown many things away, with just a few bits remaining now.
How did you find an apartment in London?
We found an apartment through online websites, such as Zoopla and Rightmove. I enjoy researching things like apartments online, comparing them and arranging viewings. I am also very focused and efficient and when I want to do something I am set to do it until I have it – so that was the same with an apartment too haha.
At first we lived with my partner’s parents but it was clear to me that I wanted to have my own place together with my partner before I even moved. So I started looking for apartments after a few weeks of living here, we went to 2 viewings and luckily got one of them. Rent in London is extraordinarily expensive, it has gotten worse since living here. It depends where you want to live, but even on the outskirts of London (which is where we live) you easily pay £1200 for a 1 bedroom apartment (that is just rent, without any additional fees).
What should people consider before deciding to move to London?
I am a bit biased – it’s not my favourite place to live I have to admit but here’s what I think: The city is HUGE, bigger than I ever imagined it to be. It usually takes at least an hour to travel to places, unless it’s just a short journey of course. People who live on the outskirts and work in central London are spending quite a lot of time and money commuting to work. Another thing is that rent is super expensive. Make sure to calculate your budget before moving to make sure you have enough income to cover all the bills. It can also get quite lonely, many people in London feel lonely despite all the opportunities and communities at their doorstep.
Living in London
What languages do you need to speak to live in London?
English 🙂 You might also get away with other languages as it’s a very international city but of course the main language is English. I learnt English in school for 9 years, that’s where I learnt most of it. Living here helped to freshen my knowledge up a bit and also add words to my vocabulary that I have never learnt in school.
What are your favorite places in London?
We live on the outskirts of London and I’m barely in central London itself. My favorite places are my local parks and river walks. I’m a nature girl loving green and blue spaces – and there are plenty where we live 🙂
How much money do you need to live comfortably in London?
I can only say what I see to be true for a household of 2 people – If you just want to pay the bills, probably £2k – £2.5k a month. If you want to live comfortably, do stuff, travel, visit places then probably £3+k. To add to this: The wages in London are higher than in the rest of England.
Do you feel safe as a woman in London?
Yes I totally do for the most part, apart from at night but that has nothing to do with London itself.
Did you feel safe as a woman?
ABSOLUTELY! It was incredibly safe for women. I had to re-adjust my sense of safety when I returned home each summer.
What are some things to keep in mind as a woman living there?
As with anywhere, just be aware of your surroundings and don’t put yourself in compromising positions.
Can you tell us something else about London that we might not know?
Pubs actually close at 11:30pm / midnight, I never knew that before moving here. I was used to staying out until 5 am in the morning when I went out and was surprised to see how early the pubs close. Of course there are some clubs etc. in central London that are probably open for longer, but even there everything shuts fairly early compared to other cities.
Did you see any wildlife in London?
There is some wildlife in a local park here in London, Richmond Park. It’s beautiful, my advice would be to go and check it out! 🙂
Final Thoughts
What surprised you about life in London?
How easy going everything is. Coming from Germany, I’m used to structure, bureaucracy, efficiency, reliability, etc. This is a little different here. It’s pretty easy to apply for things like settled status, etc but it’s not always very reliable. Some things are being forgotten about, or you have to wait for ages or chase it up several times – especially for medically related topics such as appointments, test results, etc. That was a bit of a surprise/ shock for me in the beginning but now I am used to it and don’t expect anything different.
How do English people compare to German people?
English people are more open minded, easy going and friendly. They ‘let you in’ quicker, they open up, have a chat with you and a laugh. The barrier of entry is lower but the depth can be missing because the connections can be superficial.
German people are more reserved, quiet and they hold back a bit. The bar of entry is higher and it takes time for them to let you in but when they do they do 100%. They go deep and they are there for you.
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of?
I am particularly proud of my personal and professional development since living in London. I have grown SO much as a person, I am so much more confident in myself, able to connect with people, committed to my future. I’m a business owner working full time doing something that helps people and makes the world a better place. I’m so proud of that.
What are some disadvantages to living in London?
It’s a great city, beautiful and buzzing in central London. But living here is also expensive. The rent is so high it’s difficult to save money to buy a property which is equally as expensive. Due to its size, it takes a while to commute to work or meet up with friends somewhere, leaving less time for everything else on your to do list. Driving during rush hour (7- 10 and 3-6pm) basically increases your travel time a lot, meaning it can easily take you an hour to drive a usually 20 min long journey, even on the outskirts of London. The biggest disadvantages to me are time and money.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
No it wasn’t easy for me to make friends, which is why I am now a friendship coach. I found it incredibly difficult to find the right friends and build deep connections with them. Mainly because I had to do a lot of work on myself, but despite the fact that it is a huge city with lots of people, I found it difficult.
I mainly socialized with locals and not with other expats, I had one good friend who was also an expat and now moved back home. To me there was no difference between expats and locals – I found it equally as hard to connect with either one of them.
Once I overcame my own personal issues, got clear on who the right friends are for me, where to find them and how to connect with them – it suddenly clicked for me and became easy. Now I teach other expats and immigrants my process of making friends, so they don’t have to suffer the way I did.
I mainly socialized with locals and not with other expats, I had one good friend who was also an expat and now moved back home. To me there was no difference between expats and locals – I found it equally as hard to connect with either one of them.
Once I overcame my own personal issues, got clear on who the right friends are for me, where to find them and how to connect with them – it suddenly clicked for me and became easy. Now I teach other expats and immigrants my process of making friends, so they don’t have to suffer the way I did.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to reach as many lonely internationals and expats as possible. The world needs deep and meaningful connection, now more than ever before. People are and feel lonely, they are suffering, compromising their physical and mental health because of it and it has to stop. And I have the solution to make it stop. So my one and only goal is to help as many people as possible. So if you know anyone who is living abroad and who feels lonely, please tell them that there is help available out there and signpost them to my IG or my website. Thank you so much for helping me to make the world a better place, I appreciate that!
Thank you Sarah for sharing your move to London, England with us! I liked reading your honest opinion about the city and how to make the best of your experience there. I wish you luck and courage for your endeavor as a friendship coach! 🙂
