I’ve always been a Mumbai girl (Navi-Mumbai really, but I think you get my point). A fast-paced life was something I was brought up with. Overcrowded public transport, rushing everywhere and carefree late-night commutes back home was my thing for 24 years of my life. Cut to the slow-paced life of Nottingham where I pursued my Master’s degree. Watching people drink gallons of beer with friends on a Wednesday afternoon, malls shutting down at 5 pm and restaurants at 11 pm was just what a typical day looked like in this English town. You must have reckoned how culturally shocked I was upon witnessing this. But with time, I blended into the culture and Nottingham ended up being my home away from home in the UK.
London is for the UK just as Mumbai is for India. A place of ambition and glamour. Most International students aspired to live in this city someday. The dream of being a ‘Londoner’ one day was very fresh and lively, making me apply for jobs there. Soon enough I got an opportunity and shifted to London. I remember I was on Cloud 9 when this happened. I was so delighted to pack my bags and run off to be a city girl again. Little did I know that living in a global hub comes at a cost.
I was prepared for the city’s financial demands but it was a little more serious than I thought. I was prepared to spend on rent and travel. But the ‘expensive’ side of the city reflected in things as small as the cost of my favorite Brownies at a grocery store. They cost 50p (approx 50 rupees) outside London while they cost GBP 2.95 (approx 295 rupees) in London. This wide gap in grocery costs was a surprise element of this new chapter. My brand new iPhone getting stolen in London Victoria added to the stress. – the one thing I had saved my student salary for. Finding apartments wasn’t easy either as London sells/rents out apartments by the minute. Two months into London, I experienced the dark side that no one talks about. Today after staying in 3 diverse parts of England, I can firmly say that London is not just about Lavish Tower Bridge views, expensive brands and skyline aesthetics. It has many of the same, or probably even worse difficulties than Mumbai.
My love for London is never-ending, but not blind like before. My time there helped me bring the city down from the pedestal and love it for what it was and not for what it could be. It’s still a place of ambition I would like to be a part of again one day, but this time, I’ll know what I’m signing up for!