29 July, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I will be able to move into my new accommodation on 10th September. And from then on, I will not have to pay rent. What a relief! I wish I could move in sooner, but that’s not possible. So I have six more weeks of being bled dry by the rent mafia, six weeks that will cost me £810/$1620. Gulp.
If you saw where I was living for that price, you’d laugh. Did I mention that I still don’t have a kitchen? On the plus side, I can see the London Eye from my place and if it’s really quiet outside, I can hear Big Ben strike the hour. I’ll likely never find myself living in such a location again, so I’ll make the most of it. But I’m sick of being poor. Though I’ve started teaching at the university already, I won’t get my first check until the end of August. What do they think I can live on till then — air?
Do you know what I could do with that £810 that’s going to rent? I could buy much-needed clothes and shoes and go to the dentist. It literally hurts to watch that money [in dollars, no less] go out of my bank account each week. This morning I got a knot in my stomach when I noticed that I’m nearly out of toothpaste and shampoo. Nooooooo! I’ve been grateful for the cool summer weather because I don’t really have any summery clothes, but since it isn’t hot, I haven’t needed to buy any. [When you move around as much as I do, it's impossible to build up a wardrobe. I don't have a ton of clothes and I tend to buy new ones each season.]
I hate living like this. The fact that this lifestyle will soon come to an end — in just six weeks — is hard to imagine. I really hope that I won’t find myself in this position again, that once I turn this corner I won’t go back. This kind of poverty — especially when I work so much and so hard — is demoralizing and degrading and dehumanizing. At least my hobbies involve walking around for hours, taking photographs, and hanging out with other poor people. That doesn’t really cost much. Though London is one of the most expensive places on the planet, there are lots of amazing things to do here for free. And I’ve really been on the go lately. I have the exploration bug again, which is fun. And then I’ve received PayPal donations recently from little angels who have treated me to brilliant German cinema and Virginia Woolf books. [All my books are in storage!] One can live through poverty. One cannot live without art.
Speaking of art, do you know what I’m going to do with my first university paycheck? I’m going to buy a ticket to see Mary Poppins in the West End. I want to see that so bad! There are plenty of other more high-brow choices, but I have my heart set on Mary.
Soon. Soon…
Anglofille said @ 2:51 pm | personal |
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There’s tons of free stuff to do and see in London, particularly good for little festival-type concerts, museums and art galleries. The only problem is actually finding about all the events, there’s something just about every day…
We’ll stand you to some chocolate or cakes if your pocket gets too emptied
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Thanks Mr. X. A girl cannot live without chocolate. [Or at least I can't.]
