Week 1 (18.10. - 24.10.)

After boarding the plane in quiet provincial Dresden, your are in no way prepared to arrive in busy London Heathrow Airport.
Then to drive through London “wrong” going traffic in a mini-cab and finally to be placed in a typical suburbian flat.

The first thing you notice is the kindness of the people in london, who, allthough always in a rush, act friendly. The second thing is of course the traffic. The left going traffic is really strange and the traffic situation is really chaotic, so that you, especially as a pedestrian, really have to pay attention.
Overcrowded tubes, equally overcrowded shops and streets, and a linguistic cocktail, which carries the multicultural athmosphere of this world metropole all too well. You too have to do some sight-seeing in your first week, and so you notice for example the quite calm character of Hyde Park, who seems so completely apart from London and in which you almost can not believe that you actually are in London.
London at night is almost like London at day, still full of life and people. And a ride on one of the night buses is even better than the corresponding day experience, if you like fast and hard driving that is.

Week 2 (25.10. - 31.10.)

And so it starts. The placement. The work. The stress. Well, not actually stress, but a lot of work. On the plus side my colleagues are a real bliss. Funny, imaginative and the real source of my work experience.
As I started work tuesday I was really nervous. Nervous about the job not meeting my expectations, nervous about not meeting the expectations of all the others. But, as it all turned out, all went fine. My supervisor is a real cool IT guy and as I already wrote my colleagues and the bosses are all nice people. I have some problems understanding the guys with the heavy accents, but most of the time it is just fine. And the work is really interesting, although a bit too much hardware related. But as time goes by I hope we get to the really exciting parts.

Week 3 (01.11. - 07.11.)

A real lovely week has passed. You just get used to the job and the transportation in the city and then the tube unions strike. Which means that the whole city went by bus or drove by car. So starting on tuesday traffic really was hell. And as the strike continued on wednesday it wasn't getting better. But at least the weather was really warm so you could easiely be a pedestrian and do some sight seeing in your spare time. Which I hadn't much, but you have to do something on the weekends, right?
Friday! There was the bonfire night celebration. Where Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the houses of parliament, but failed. So the people here are celebrating a failed terrorist plot, which seems a little strange to me, but the fireworks were really great.

Week 4 (08.11. - 14.11.)

Another week passed lightning fast by. Poppies! Everywhere you went, there where Poppies. because of the remembrance day on 11th of November. The British people mourn there their fallen from the different armed conflicts and give a lot of support to families which lost a loved one in one of the conflicts. This is especially strange as we in Germany usually don't celebrate the remembrance of our fallen. But this is in Britain very common, as you can see all sorts of different war memorials everywhere.
The weather is very good in this november. Very warm for the month and few rainy days. And if we get rain, it's usually only one or two hours rain. So I guess we are being lucky and I hope the infamous english weather doesn't strike.

Week 5 (15.11. - 21.11.)

It seems that the time is going faster the longer we stay here. It's only one week and then we have to go (actually fly) home. This week has been really freezing cold, with some rain every now and then. But at the weekend it got finally warmer. So we can watch the Winter Wonder Land, which had opened this Friday, and not have to feel the cold.
As the time of our stay here in London gets fewer and fewer, we have to go to all the sight seeing sites we haven't been yet. For instance: I discovered the Absolute Icebar London a absolut (pun intended) great place to drink wodka. It is completly build of ice and the drinks are served in glasses of ice. The temperature is below zero, so put your winter shoes on. A winterjacket and gloves for the stay in the bar are included in the admittance fee. So pay some pounds for an nearly unforgetable experience in ice and wodka.

Week 6 (22.11. - 27.11.)

London really is a great and beautiful city and we only had six weeks to explore and get to know the way of the people. And now it’s all over. So the last week where very hectic, we had to do the presentation, our work, tidy up our living places and pack our luggage. Some of us will take good memories and experiences back home, but all of us had good times here. We grew stronger through the challenges we mastered and the hardships we had to endure. Met new friends and made an everlasting impression on our co-workers. I, personally, am leaving London, but a part of me will always be here.

Challenges

The first challenge you will have to face is of course the traffic. As I wrote earlier the direction of the travel is a real challenge for continental europeans. Next is the chaotic traffic situation in general, especially for people who are from rural areas. A lot of people get headaches when going by tube and breathing is a problem too because of the dust and the used air. But the greatest challenge you will encounter is using the English language in all situations and understanding the different accents of the people of London.

Andre

My name is Andre Hoffmann. I`m 29 years old and come from Marbach, this is a small village near Augustusburg (Saxony). My Hobbies are meeting with my friends and cooking. My dreamjob is a job in a another country. When I am back in Germany, I will meet my family and my friends, seeking for a job.In the house who I live I have no problems with the several people. In my free-time I did trips for shooping and sightseeing. My colleagues were nice and the work was ok. My role in the placement was segregation wood and metall, to disassemble from furniture and recycling.

Arlet

My name is Arlett and I am 25 years old. I come from Reichenbach. a small town in Saxony. I have an apprenticeship as a certified child care taker. My Life dream is to settle down in the United Kingdom, and this is the reason why I am here.
I have a work placement at St. Mary’s Family Centre Day care Nursery and in the After School Club in Upper Norwood. This Work placement is at a special place, a church. My colleagues are very nice and we want to stay in contact when I’m back in Germany. I am working with children from 2 years old to 11 years old. My job is to look after them, singing some songs, reading stories, preparing food, helping them with their homework, flick painting, build some things and the most important thing in this job is playing with them. I really enjoy the work and I’m learning a lot which is useful for my Life dream. Most of these things are new vocabulary and more about the work in the United Kingdom. I also get more information about the English school system which is important for my sons future.
And now about London: My favourite places that I visited are The London Dungeon and The London Bridge Experiences with the London Tombs. These are great places for people who like scary things. But its not just the scary things you also get to know a lot of information about the English history in the past like Jack the Ripper and the history of the London Bridge. I really liked the Westfield Shopping Mall in Sheppard’s bush and the shopping at Oxford Street. In the Westfield Shopping Mall you can find shops like Gucci or Swarovski. There are also some shops for people who don’t have so much money. The greatest thing what I saw in this Mall was Rihanna. She was there to put the Christmas Lights on and to celebrate her new album. It was so great to see her!
I’ve done a sightseeing-tour through London and it was good because I have seen all the popular places in London like the London Eye, Big Ben or The houses of Parliament. The most impressive sight I’ve seen was the Tower bridge. It was interesting to see how the bridge changed if ships are driving through and than shut down that pedestrians and cars can go over the bridge.
What was difficult for me? The food! Because it is different than the one we get in Germany, but after a couple of days you get used to it.
The biggest challenge for me was the underground system. At the first time I was lost because it’s such a big net and you are going to be confused. Some lines split and go in two different directions. But now I can manage it.
The best thing of all is that I found a lot of new friends. Some of them Germans and some of them English. It was a great time in London and I will always remember it and I will fight for my dream to be a part of this nation.

Bianca

My name is Bianca, I am 21 years old and I live in Rodewisch in Eastern Germany. After leaving the grammar school I attended two vocational schools, in the first I became a business assistant and in the second training a foreign language secretary so that I could improve my former English knowledge even more. At present I am in London for a six weeks` placement. As I have just been here once, I was faced with some challenges, but gained new experiences too, for example to talk to English native speakers or to see how the people from different cultures live peacefully together. During my placement I worked at the Gospel Centre in Hornsey in the North of London. I worked for a social organization called “Winter Shelter” which provides sleeping facilities and warm meals for homeless people in the course of the winter season. I dealt with administrative tasks like writing emails, copying documents and attending meetings with coordinators from several churches. My boss and the colleagues were very friendly and helpful. All in all I enjoyed the placement very much and would like to come back to London as soon as possible.

Daniel

My name is Daniel Würker. I`m 26 years old and come from Freiberg, this is a town beetwen Chemnitz and Freiberg (Saxony).
My Hobbies are:

• read PC-Magazines
• hear Music
• watch movies

My dreamjob is to work in a office. When I will be back in Germany, I write candidacies. In the house who I live have I no problems with the several peoples. In my free-time have I make: sightseeing shooping diverse events visit. My colleagues was nice and the work was ok. My role in the placement was dig a hole, to plane and flowers plant.

Enrico

My name is Enrico and I am 29 years old. I come from a small village in East Germany. I did an apprenticeship as a butcher. After my apprenticeship I worked in several companies as butcher. Since the 17th of october I am in London for a placement.

Jennifer

My name is Jennifer. I am 19 years old and the youngest in this group. I come from Reichenbach in the east of Germany/Saxony.

In 2007 I finished my secondary school and then I started a voluntary social year as a nurse. So I found my dreamjob. But after this year I started a apprenticeship as an assistant for foreign languages, I would never do this job, because I don't like officejobs. I hope I get a chance to do a second apprenticeship as a nurse or as a care-giver.

Well, but now I'm here in London. We started on the 17 october 2010. At first some of us came to the station in Reichenbach and the rest of the group came at Freiberg into the train. Then we went to Dresden airport. This was my first flight but I wasn't really excited. It was really great. We got picked up by mini-cab at Heathrow Airport. It was a really long journey but I was so happy that we don't drive with the bus and the tube. I think that this would have been very hectic and strenous.

Now, this is the fourth week here in London and it is really cool, beside my little visit to the doctor. I saw very much. We were in the London eye and we went to the Tower Bridge.This weekend we will go to Madame Tusseaud and the London Dungeon maybe.

So, that's it from me, the only thing I can say is "I love London"!

Kai

My name is Kai. I am from Freiberg, Saxony, which is a nice town in Germany. I am 30 years old and I have an apprenticeship as an electrician.
Here in London I have a placement as a volunteer at British Hearth Foundation (Charity CD / Bookstore). London is very attractive for tourists I think, because of the endless possibilties for spending time (culture, park, museum, pubs, theatres etc.) The only thing I don't like is that I feel often ill here.
I think it is a good eperience to realise how easy it is to start up "another" life away from home, especially in London, because of the english language and good chances of getting a job.

Karolin

I am Karolin and I am from Freiberg. I have an apprenticeship as a desk clerk and after that I did my A-Level over one year. Both things in Freiberg on the same school.
Here in London I work at Oxfam. It's a shop in Kensington. They sell clothes, shoes, CD's, books and other things. The most of the money goes to afrika or any other needy country for help the people there. For example they buy schoolbooks. In my freetime I do a lot of sightseeing in London. Until now I have seen the Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the Towerbridge, the Big Ben and other lovely things. I was shopping at Camdon Town, Oxford Street and so on.

Konny Swen

My name is Konny Swen and I am 33 years old. I am from a town in East Germany. I did an apprenticeship as a process mechanic. Since the 17th of october I am in London for a placement at Greenworks.
My biggest sight seeing tour was on a Sunday. I started at Buckingham Palace and saw the Changing of the Guards. Then I walked through Green Park to Piccadilly Circus. From there I took the District Line to Monument where I took the 311 steps to the top, there I had an amazing view. After that I walked to the Tower Bridge. At the end I walked along the Thamse where i took pictures of the HMS Belfast.

Marcel

My name is Marcel Bongwald. I come from Oederan, which is a small city between Freiberg and Chemnitz. My hobbies are driving my bycicle, pc-games and watching movies. When I will be back in Germany I meet my friends and family. And I am trying to find a job. I dont have a problem to live with other people in a house. Any challenges are easy. If there are problems I solve these. We speak together in our group. I was sightseeing in London at: Tower of London, London Eye, Tower Bridge, The Monument, House of Parlament, London Bridge, Big Ben. The british culture is very nice, the people are very friendly. I work in a park, with metal and wood. The work is very easy and I am having a lot of fun.

Michaela

My name is Michaela and I am 29 years old. I come from Freiberg / Saxony / Germany. Through the project IDA of ARGE Freiberg, GSQ and Pscherer I had the opportunity to make a six week training period in London. I hope to improve my knowledge and to get to know the city and the culture a little bit better. I do my voluntary work in a books and music store of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in Streatham Hill. The BHF has a lot of shops all over the United Kingdom. These offer different Second-Hand products. For example there are clothing shops, bookstores as well as shops, who sell pieces of furniture or electronics. There are always many volunteers and customers, so that I can speak much English.

Nadine

I am Nadine and am 24 years old. I come from Auerbach which is in the east of Germany and near Zwickau. In the year 2007 I started a second apprenticeship as an office clerk which I had finished in January 2010 and I would like to work in this job. On 17 October 2010 I traveled for 6 weeks to London to do there a workplacement. I think that was a chance to improve my english and to get a good job in Germany. The time in London was very fantastic. Sometimes it was difficult to live in a house with 11 other people but from time to time it got easier. First to travel by bus, train or tube was difficult too but at the end of the time in London it was normal. My workplacement was very good. I had a good communication with my boss and with my collegues. I learned some about my job and improved my english. At my workplacement I did some administration things. I wrote some excel-lists, word documents and did some office management things.

Philipp

My name is Philipp. I am 26 years old. I live in Flöha, which is a town near Freiberg. After school I took an apprenticeship as painter and after that I was 2 years in the german army. After this I took a second apprenticeship as salesman in retail business. I am here in London so that I can find in Germany a new job.

Sandro

My name is Sandro and I am 29 years old.I live in a small village near Chemnitz.I am interested in motocross, forestry, hunting and sport-shooting. My dream job is Park Ranger in my own animal park.When I go back to Germany I will start my own company.

Living in a house with many people is sometimes difficult but we try to solve problems easily. The communication with the other housemates was from day to day better.

My placement is at a good company, my colleagues make a lot of funny things with us. Sometimes it was difficult to understand the colleagues because they spoke very fast, but now my english is much better.

The company Green Works was founded in 2000 by Colin Crooks, the CEO, with minimum resource and has now grown into a £2m charity with 4 franchises across the UK, providing great benefits to people and the environment around the world.

Sebastian

My name is Sebastian. I am 29 years old and I come from Freiberg, Saxony, but I was born in Spremberg, Brandenburg, formerly known as Prussia. In Germany I had an apprenticeship as an IT System Electronic. Now, I am here in London for a placement for the duration of six weeks. The placement is at Art Division, a web design company. The thing is, I really get used with the work and the living here. But six weeks aren't enough. To see everything you need more time, definitly. Obviously, you can see, I felt really lucky here, although being separated from my girlfriend and my son.

That's all folks!

Uwe

My name is Uwe Arnold. I`m 22 years old and come from Neuhausen, this is a small village near Freiberg (Saxony). My Hobbies are: play football, hear music and watch movies. My dreamjob is a job in another country. When I am back in Germany, I will meet my family and my friends and seek for a job.
In the house who I live I have no problems with the several people. In my free-time I did shoping and sight-seeing. My colleagues was nice and the work was ok. My role in the placement was segregation wood and metall, to disassemble from furniture for recycling.

Volker

I am the author and designer of this blog and responsible for all content posted. I am a programmer and web designer, know some things about hardware assembling and troubleshooting. I worked here in London at Embrace Cooperation’s IT Department. The job was really enjoyable, and I learned one or two things at it . I usually went by a crowded bus to work and left in the same crowded bus at 4 pm. But at least the bus spared me the tube, which usually is even more crowded.
My English got better and better in my stay here and I made some new friends and a lot experiences. I like to come back to London someday soon.