Eish! London 2 - 12 March

2 March 2009
A SOUTH AFRICAN’S YEAR IN LONDON

Introduction

Right, so where do we begin? How do I start?

Well this is our introduction so: “Hi, I’m Shannan, and I’m pleased to meet you.” {Picture me shaking your hand with a big grin on my face}. Actually I’m thrilled to meet you, this book is a really big deal for me and you are a fundamental part of that so: “Thank-you!”

The tale I’m going to share with you is my ‘here and now’ story of a girl (if 29 still qualifies as a girl?) who left all the comforts of her life in South Africa behind, to take a break from “real life” and run after all the dreams she could. Anyway what honestly ended up happening is that I learnt (and am still learning):

1) How very very VERY difficult and ghastly (and I am being polite here) it can be to be a substitute teacher in a London classroom;

2) That there are a vast number of challenges to be overcome when you move to a foreign country;

3) That home is the place you desperately long for when you have had enough and you feel the heartache of being overwhelmingly alone in a city overflowing with people;

4) That often faith, strength and perseverance are literally the only things that get you through a day; the only things that motivate you to believe in yourself and give you hope for tomorrow.

If we go back to my old diaries we will find (in one of the many!) that I have a page that lists a few dreams (or goals if you prefer), and three of them are briefly noted as:

1) to act on stage (and be brilliant at it!)

2) to travel the world

3) to write a book (and have it published!)

So what happened? I found myself approaching 30 and nowhere near actualising them. I decided to take matters into my own hands and change the situation. I decided it was time to prioritize where my life was going and how I was going to literally achieve my dreams (the first two being the focus, the third, a dream). So I created a realistic action plan and things started to happen. In 2008, after 3 years of full time teaching and part time studying, I succeeded in gaining my Post Grad in Education to accompany my original Bachelor’s Degree. By pure co-incidence, pure miracle or divine intervention (call it whatever you like), finance became available and I received my British Passport because my Mom (or as British people would call her: my Mum) and her family were born in England. I also received a bonus salary which became my £1000.00 start up kitty; and, to top it all off, I received a plane ticket as a gift. (Thus I’m going with a miraculous set of co-incidences on this one!) It was all happening: I could go and work in the Capital of England, the home of the West End, in education, where teachers are always needed, and I could use it as a base to travel the world and find my way back to the stage! The idea of writing all about it only happened later in a Chinese Buffet Restaurant on the Thames River.

Obviously, on paper, that all looks amazing: ‘an opportunity not to be missed’; but leaving everything you know, from people, to politics, to legislation and the natural comfort zones of home, is not easy. Trying to establish yourself in another country is not easy. Packing up 29 years of your established life, to chase a few dreams, is not easy; and most would say: “It’s not smart!”

But how many times do opportunities present themselves? How many times in your lifetime will you be able to give everything you have to try and achieve your dreams, to make them something real and tangible, and just ‘go for it’? This was the first time in 29 years for me… I couldn’t let it pass; I was ready to give it everything I needed to for this one chance to ‘achieve my dreams’. (Yeah, I know: Chances?)

Right now I’m 9 months into my year in London and I still have to live out the last 3 months of my: “here and now” story. So I’m not sure how it will all turn out. I hope you don’t mind, but we’ll have to discover that part of the story together (who knows, maybe there is hope for me yet, just maybe…). You may be thinking: Why on earth would she write a book three quarters of the way into the story? and my answer is simple: I sent out a newsy email (in January 2010), something I do every 4 months or so, to some dear friends who have supported me throughout my little trip of lunacy and I asked them if my writing was worth reading. The response was a resounding “Yes!” What better motivation than the support of good family and friends who believe you can and should (unless they were just being polite and trying to keep me happy… either way it worked)! This is an extract from the email I sent to them:

“I’m amazed at what I did in 2009… What was I thinking? Leaving a good job, decent income, my paid-off car, my own flat, my cherished dancing, family and sunshine slap bam in the middle of a recession, with £1000 to my name! … Nuts! AND no-one told me I was being rather INSANE! But then, you know me, I would’ve gone ahead anyway, only because I had a gut feeling that it was the right time and the right move for me; all I can do is hope that the person who said: “We regret more the things we didn’t do, than the things we did” was right. I took a rather large leap of faith and have learnt a whole lot in the process. I guess the term: “Faith-Filled!” is the best way to describe my 2009.

After having to leave my teaching post in South Africa earlier than expected, it would’ve seemed best to head to the Isle of Mud earlier too… But my sister’s wedding was in March (and I was her maid of honour, which is a really important thing I’m told, that’s because it involves LOTS of hard work, and support and other girl stuff so I found out!) and you won’t believe how phenomenally expensive flights are in January. So I decided to stay in SA until after Nat and Raydon’s wedding day, which really was worth it. She looked EXQUISITE; and Raydon didn’t look too shabby either A fabulous day was had by all. Then they tottered off on honeymoon and I tottered off to the city called London, with its public transport, cold weather and substitute teaching. Thankfully I was blessed with friends who took me under their wings. I had a blow up mattress to sleep on, food in my tummy, and I was registered with teaching agencies from the week I arrived. Eventually, Amen, hallelujah! I found a room of my own through one of the many rental websites online at £330 a month, no deposit needed. Thank goodness. The fact that there was a big dog and 5 Afrikaans speaking people in the house was by the by. I had an affordable space to settle into without bothering anyone else so I could get into a routine. So far so good.

The next challenge came in discovering that supply (substitute teaching) is a no work no pay game and many of the children are far from pleasant (I’m being very nice here). If the agencies don’t have a pre-booking for you the day before, or work for you that morning, then: “Sorry for you!” I had to take another leap of faith: “LORD PLEASE let the agencies find me work. PLEASE. Thank-You!”

Unfortunately I can type this email today because I don’t have work … I’m getting to the panic stage again (as per previous emails!) but I am going to try the pray first method and trust that work will arrive and money will arrive and my rent will be paid and my newly acquired credit card will return to a nil balance… and I won’t panic and I won’t stress out and I’ll keep breathing. Amen.

Finding a way to save money in this country is difficult. Everyone has said: “You’re earning Pounds. Wow, that’s thousands of Rands. You must be saving stacks!” Well not in those words exactly, but you get my drift. No, sorry, saving is not really an option here unless you determinedly make an effort and have 2 jobs, or win the lotto, or be employed in the wealthy private sectors. Hmmm, I’m going with winning the Lotto Actually it was suggested that I write a book… now I’ve been threatening and trying to do that for a while… but what do you reckon? Apparently the style in which I write my emails would work well? Let me know what you think.

Thankfully my faith has grown in leaps and bounds through my adventures. I couldn’t have done all that I have without the overwhelming and humbling support I’ve received from SO MANY people, through texts, emails, phone calls, cups of coffee, little gifts, accommodation, the odd meal and helping me to move homes! From all my worldly travels it’s the moments with special people that resound in my memories, not the old buildings or fancy sites, but the people. Thank-you for your support and faith in me, your little contributions have made everything possible and helped me have a little taste of achieving a dream.

Was it a smart move? Have I achieved my dreams yet? In some ways yes and in other ways no; I’ve learnt that sometimes the dream changes and sometimes the experience isn’t quite what you had hoped for… Would I do it again? Absolutely!

You take care and may you have even more than a little taste of your dreams this year.

GOD BLESS!!!!!

Shannan”

The responses to my email were the trigger to get me to finally get on and tell a story. I had to start straight away while the motivation was high or I would’ve left it, lost interest or never even have made a start. I honestly hope that you enjoy my story as much as I reckon I’m going to enjoying telling it.

Thanks again

Shannan

“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”-Anonymous