Living conditions ;O

Lifestyle Relationships
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Re: Living conditions ;O

Yes! There's lots of halal places! There's different cuisines too, Caribbean, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Thai and plenty more, and there's halal butchers everywhere too.

I find that some places may say that they just serve halal chicken (esp the more 'posh' places in central London), but there's easily a lot of halal places to go.

Oh, and don't forget the halal Nandos!!

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Re: Living conditions ;O

I've never tried Nandos (never seen it anywhere I lived) so I guess I could give it a try when I move to UK.
I'm glad there are many halal options it would be good to explore.

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Re: Living conditions ;O

Personally, I would run far, far away from desi areas. Perhaps if you want to go for food but that's about it.

The rest of London is mixed enough that you will never feel out of place.

London probably the most varied food you can find. There are obviously places where you can find halal restaurants very easily but even if you're not in one of those areas, it's not hard to find halal food. Aside from desi and middle eastern food, you can find halal chinese and some other random halal restaurants. All the vegetarians I know say London is probably one of the best cities for good vegetarian food...because we have the cuisine of so many different countries and many have great non-meat dishes. Personally, when I go out with friends I never make an issue over where we eat because there is always bound to be something seafood or veg based on the menu that is just as tasty as the meat dishes.

As for healthcare, we have the NHS. Very few people have insurance and really it's just if they really hate regular hospitals and waiting. I mean my parents might get health insurance but people my age generally don't. Medical care is free aside from a small charge for prescriptions and dental care charged but NHS rates so it's pretty cheap i.e. £17 for a quick routine check-up.

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Re: Living conditions ;O

I don't want to be in a big desi community area just enough desis so my SO wouldn't be lonely.

I'm not much of a fan of desi food (or any Asian food for that matter) I'm looking forward to the variety though that was just the thing I was worried about. I don't mind going all vegetarian if I have to but I admit I love meat.. so it would kill me if there was only desi options.

Ahh alright I didn't really know what to expect I was kind of thinking something similar to America and I know their hospital bills are through the roof!

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Re: Living conditions ;O

I live in a white area (it's in the suburbs) and we've not had to deal with stares here going out as a couple.. Sometimes ppl will ask about my name when I'm using my card or something but not in a malicious or negative way.. Of course my SO is a 'native' but I'm mixed like you so I look a bit different but ppl can't guess from where.. In desi areas we do attract attention but we haven't had any actual nasty comments in London (not to our faces anyway lol).. I have heard from female friends and relatives in mixed relationships in other desi areas outside London that they've come across real negativity, been called sl*gs etc. but I think in those places desi guys being with non-desi girls causes less issues and families + the circle as a whole can be more welcoming.. They might ask you if you've converted and if not why but you just have to take that stuff on the chin and that isn't necessarily meant in a negative way..

When I say 'conservative' I mean you will get stares and comments in some desi Muslim areas if you're wearing jeans with a sleeveless top in the summer.. My sil gets it quite a bit even when she's with my brother.. she wears skinny jeans and little tops (but not showing cleavage, the same sort of thing that the average white girl would wear in the summer), that is just her style.. There have been times where she's had to run bk to her car and get a shawl to cover up cos it's become so much hassle.. By 'chaos' I mean ppl stop their cars all over the place, cut you up in traffic, don't want to give way etc. It's can be quite hard to get used to.. Parking in general in London can be a problem tho.. double yellow lines, residents parking only etc. You need to be quite careful as well as tickets are expensive and inside the city it's not unlikely your car will get towed away (a friend of mine actually had her car towed from outside her apartment at 8:10 in the morning cos ppl were only allowed to park up front evenings till 8am)..

I can only remember a handful of days in all the years I've lived here where the temperature has gotten below zero in the daytime and we get snow but it doesn't snow every year at Xmas (much more likely up north).. Most of the year in London it seems to be 10/12-20C (usually somewhere in the middle of that) so not particularly cold or warm.. Lately, we've had a lot of rain down here but generally speaking we don't normally get so much rain (we actually had a hosepipe ban till recently)..

When it comes to healthcare best to stick with the NHS unless you really can't wait tho having said that going private now and again for non-major things isn't that expensive.. I have done a few times and the cost has varied from £125 to £250 for a normal consultation or minor tests (depending on who I'm seeing) so it's ok as a 'backup' option.. I don't have health insurance, I just pay for those few visits myself cos I know they are so few and far between.. Stuff like private cancer treatment can obviously run into thousands but it would do as it goes on for so many months and again you can always be treated on the NHS for nothing.. We have brilliant hospitals like the Royal Marsden where ppl can still be treated for free..

If social life, eating out etc is important to you obviously you need to bear that in mind and try and find a place to live nr the station or something.. Taxis are ok but can end up ridiculously expensive if you have to rely on them on a daily basis.. London prob isn't anywhere near as clean as sophisticated as Tokyo but it really does have its own charm, u should have come to visit during the Olympics :)

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Re: Living conditions ;O

Thanks for replying

I don't really mind people asking my name as long as its just that... Recently people have become more confused about my nationality because of my name lol. (thanks to my mother) Staring would irritate me but hopefully I won't receive any negativity.

Oh okay. I don't look good in skinny jeans anyway so that wouldn't be a problem. How hot does it get in UK?

That "chaos" happens in Australia too. I rather walk if I can otherwise I would put on weight..but for grocery shopping I guess its a must? I know they drive on a different line in UK. How do the foreigners adjust? and how much does it cost to get a drivers license? what do you have to do to get one?

**Parking in general in London can be a problem tho.. double yellow lines, residents parking only etc. You need to be quite careful as well as tickets are expensive and inside the city it's not unlikely your car will get towed away (a friend of mine actually had her car towed from outside her apartment at 8:10 in the morning cos ppl were only allowed to park up front evenings till 8am)..
**I'll remember this.

I don't think social life is that important.. just my SO does. and I don't want to get bored/depressed because I have nothing to do during the day. We won't be having children till a few years after out marriage. Are there any desi girls who have waited a few years and recently immigrated to UK? What do they do..besides spending time with their husband??

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Re: Living conditions ;O

you will be fine. there is plenty to do here…although the weather is something you will have to contend with. It DOES rain. And the last few years it has been getting colder during winter times. With that said just do what the locals do when it rains. Find a greggs Chicken Bake - Creamy Chicken Bake | Greggs and treat yourself to a pasty.

Honestly dont worry, in the bigger cities London, Birmingham, Manchester there are plenty of asians so you wont be lonely. We are friends with plenty of moroccans, yemenis, pathans, etc etc…
London is obviously the main attraction but know that it will be expensive.

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Re: Living conditions ;O

Kakee, since you are specifically asking about the Manchester, I can give you an insight to it ..

In general North England is a great place to live in , its much more peaceful, you wont find the place overly crowded , shopping is easier and more enjoyable, plus you can always escape to smallers towns and cities for a day out which is really fun on good sunny days ...

We do get rain most of the time, but then thats England for you, I havnt seen people getting SAD because of the weather but yes sometimes it can ruin moods , but honestly you get used ot it soon enough .. Thats what most of my friends who moved here from abroad suggest ..

Transport is really good , you dont really need a car .. In manchester dont stay in desi areas coz desi's are a really uneducated crowd mostly and they make a mess of the area ( hygiene reasons and gang culture) ... desi restaurants arent too far away and in easy reach from any part of Manchester ..

Racism , I havnt come across any racism but yes there are one off incidents but Police is very helpful ... The best part is that the roads are not as traffic filled so even if you decide to own a car later on you will genuinely enjoy your transport freedom .. something we cant even think about in London..

I personally left London coz I hated that feeling of always being surrounded with crowds of people and always got that cold look on people ... Up here in the north, people are alot more friendly and responsive and life is alot more relaxed and enjoyable .. you feel much closer to the nature and the greenery is awesome ..

You will have a lovely time here ..

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Re: Living conditions ;O

thanks for taking the time to reply :)

It's not my first time to move from one country to another its just the first time doing it without my parents so I'm a bit nervous especially since I know nothing about UK (unless theres really a Doctor Who :O)

It's funny that nearly all of you are telling me to stay away from desi areas. I will make sure to remember that.

Hopefully my SO and I will be able to pick somewhere with friendly people and if I need more help I'll ask here. :)

P.S Over the years of living in UK do you start talking in a British accent?