“There’s nowhere else like London. Nothing at all, anywhere.” – Vivienne
Westwood
As long as I remember, I always had
the idea to move to a big city. It started with New York, when I was 7 years
old, and my dream lasted through all the years of elementary school. This phase
was probably a consequence of me watching too many movies happening in The Big
Apple. Have any of you heard of "Confessions of a Teenage Drama
Queen"? It used to be my number one pick, and I was dreaming that maybe
one day I could be living this fabulous New York cliché life; living in a penthouse on Fifth Avenue, having
breakfast at Tiffany’s, and scattering my ashes at Bergdorf Goodman #delusional.
After visiting the city a couple of times, I thought that it was maybe a bit too
touristic for me, but I still enjoy NYC classics such as Sex and The City, the
New Year’s Eve special on television, and of course the semi-annual MBFW. A
while after, I said to my parents that I would like to move to Paris one day,
and work in fashion. I clearly remember them saying that the flats were
pretty expensive in Paris, and that I had plenty of time to change my mind.
This "Paris" stage was the shortest.
At the beginning of my high school
years, I announced to my parents that at the age of 16, I was going to
spend a summer or maybe a year in London to improve my English. Five days after
my 16th birthday, it happened… but only for a summer, and I felt in
love with the city. Being there by myself was the most wonderful experience. I
learned so many things from every aspects of life, and also got to build some
awesome friendships. When I got back to my hometown, it really felt like
something was missing... I did not feel like myself here. Unfortunately, going
back to London for college was just unimaginable for many reasons, one of them
being this fierce competition between students, and obviously my grades were
not allowing me to stand out. After that, I started to think that maybe it was a
sign that I should just try another city, and a few Australian cities came to
my mind, but... my heart was and is still in London.
After two years I am still
experiencing the withdrawal symptoms of leaving a place I love. The thing is,
when I was there, I lived as a true local while still doing some touristic
stuff. I was waking up everyday in the same bed, taking the tube, going to
school, and enjoying what the city had to offer.
A few weeks ago, I announced to my
family that as soon as I would graduate from University, I would be moving to
London, whatever it would take, even if it were just for a few years. I looked
at possible visas, and my mom even caught me looking at spare rooms and flats
to rent (but of course it was just to give me a general idea, I am not moving
in the next few weeks). I envisioned myself living in some of the neighbourhoods that caught my attention during my previous visit like Notting Hill, South Kensington, Knightsbridge or Sloane Square. Being in London would also give me more opportunities in the
work area that I am targeting for the future. I made so many researches and the
possibilities would be endless compare to what is offered here for this kind of
job. But it is not only for the job, this is my home away from home, and my
heart belongs there.
Explaining my motives for wanting to move is almost impossible, it feels like it is an intense pulse, and that I need to do it. Love. S.