You know those moments in life that make you completely and absolutely believe in fate? Last week I received a phone call from my cousin Robby. The phone call itself wasn't anything extraordinary,he was just calling to catch up and find out when my next trip down to London would be. What was special about this particular phone call was the phone he was calling from, it was Olivia's. You may recall a few months back a little case of fraud I was involved with in London. Well Olivia was my flatmate, yes, the one who took Wanda to see Mark Ronson :) They had met briefly when Robby came to London to help me look for a new flat and never in a million years would I have imagined the two of them ending up together. Olivia, the outgoing social butterfly from Manchester and Robby, the laid back homebody from California who had just gone through a pretty rough break up. You see my cousin was married to the devil. If the devil were just sitting around in hell one day working on his suntan and decided to get some cheap thrills by taking the form of a woman and fucking with a descent and honest mans emotions ..... that would be his wife. Anyways, the point is he was going through a difficult period.... and then he met Olivia. You hear about people falling madly in love overnight and you see the fairytale romances in movies, but you rarely witness it in real life. I still cant believe how fast it all happened. I could hear her laughing in the background as I chatted with my cousin, and I could hear the happiness in his own voice as he talked. It was the Robby I remember before the divorce, and I knew he would be back, I just didn't know how long it would take. It's funny how my own misfortune could bring two people together who would have never met under any other circumstances, and I would go through it all over again just to see the smile on my cousins face :)
Ok, now that I have melted all of your hearts, a quick update! I woke up today hungover after what was my fourth night out in one week. Not that it wasn't a fun night, I saw the amazing Matt Belmont band and probably danced off about 2,000 calories, but it made me realize that I need to find things to do other than becoming Leeds own Lindsey Lohan while waiting for my next trip. So today I went and got a library card, it has been far too long since the last book I read. First up... Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Ferguson. I also wrote a song! Well... i wrote the chorus, and even if I finish it I would never play it in public... baby steps. Finally I have been looking into take a cooking course while I'm here. Who knows, maybe the culinary arts is my calling and I will become a world famous chef with my own restaurants in Los Angeles, New York, London and Paris!! haha... ok maybe not.
I also realized today that I can't actually remember the last time I felt homesick. Of course I miss my friends and family all the time, and I don't think I will ever get used to this weather, but I feel like I have actually set up a life here. Amsterdam is not for another few weeks, but I think I'll go up to York (the original) this weekend :)
xoxo
Danielle
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Paris, je t'aime
Paris.. city of lights... fashion capital of the world... and where Big finally told Carrie she was the one. I had been dreaming of visiting Paris since I was a little girl (not really but it makes it sound more magical) and it was everything I had expected and more. My dear friend Renaud, world famous rockstar and "the next George Clooney" as he says, invited me to come stay with him in his charming flat in in a small suburb right outside of Paris...
I finished unpacking and met Renaud and a few of his friends at a cafe down the street, however, after an hour of trying to join in the conversation with no success, I felt a little out of place. I'm not positive, but it could have been the fact that they were speaking french and "Bonjour! comment tale vous?" can only get you so far. To be honest I rather enjoyed just sitting there listening to them and sipping on my cappuccino. The first night out I was dying to see the Paris streets, taste the authentic French cuisine and drink fabulous French wine... so what did we do? We went to a Canadian pub for beer and cheesy fries of course!! I was perfectly fine with that though seeing as it was the only place around showing the playoffs...
The next day I woke up early and set off to see the sights! Now most people would choose the obvious historical landmarks to flock to, the Louvre...Champs De Elysee's...Notre dame, but not I. Being the traveler that I am, I did my research and discovered a little unknown gem called..... The Eiffel Tower!! Haha.. ok so I am a total tourist, but it is a must see, simply magnificent....
After visiting all the other previously mentioned landmarks (all just as breathtaking) I decided to spend the next few hours sitting at a beautiful little cafe overlooking Saint Michel. I stayed there for three hours, THREE hours, i drank four cups of coffee and smoked half a pack of cigarettes and just people watched. I drank, I smoked, drank, smoked... its a vicious circle really. I would begin to shake from the caffeine, so I would smoke a cigarette, which would in turn make me crave more coffee. Cigarette, coffee, cigarette, coffee. In between my caffeine and nicotine induced highs... an older French gentleman sat next to me and we ended up chatting for an hour. Turns out he was a film director who had a new documentary premiering at a local film festival. Oh... and he happened to be best friends with Sharon Stone.
I spent the rest of my time wandering the streets, completely in awe of my surroundings, Paris is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world...filled with exquisite architecture, delicious cuisine and passionate people. I am already planning another trip for spring! Next up is Amsterdam... and we all know what happens there :)
xoxo
Danielle
I finished unpacking and met Renaud and a few of his friends at a cafe down the street, however, after an hour of trying to join in the conversation with no success, I felt a little out of place. I'm not positive, but it could have been the fact that they were speaking french and "Bonjour! comment tale vous?" can only get you so far. To be honest I rather enjoyed just sitting there listening to them and sipping on my cappuccino. The first night out I was dying to see the Paris streets, taste the authentic French cuisine and drink fabulous French wine... so what did we do? We went to a Canadian pub for beer and cheesy fries of course!! I was perfectly fine with that though seeing as it was the only place around showing the playoffs...
The next day I woke up early and set off to see the sights! Now most people would choose the obvious historical landmarks to flock to, the Louvre...Champs De Elysee's...Notre dame, but not I. Being the traveler that I am, I did my research and discovered a little unknown gem called..... The Eiffel Tower!! Haha.. ok so I am a total tourist, but it is a must see, simply magnificent....
, 
After visiting all the other previously mentioned landmarks (all just as breathtaking) I decided to spend the next few hours sitting at a beautiful little cafe overlooking Saint Michel. I stayed there for three hours, THREE hours, i drank four cups of coffee and smoked half a pack of cigarettes and just people watched. I drank, I smoked, drank, smoked... its a vicious circle really. I would begin to shake from the caffeine, so I would smoke a cigarette, which would in turn make me crave more coffee. Cigarette, coffee, cigarette, coffee. In between my caffeine and nicotine induced highs... an older French gentleman sat next to me and we ended up chatting for an hour. Turns out he was a film director who had a new documentary premiering at a local film festival. Oh... and he happened to be best friends with Sharon Stone.
I spent the rest of my time wandering the streets, completely in awe of my surroundings, Paris is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world...filled with exquisite architecture, delicious cuisine and passionate people. I am already planning another trip for spring! Next up is Amsterdam... and we all know what happens there :)
xoxo
Danielle
Thursday, February 3, 2011
and this isn't even the good stuff...
Ok, so you're probably wondering why three weeks have passed and yet no blog update about my trip to Paris. I have been wondering a little myself.... as my trip was completely and totally blogworthy!I guess I will start with everything that has been going on since I've returned, no wait... everything since I missed my flight back to England......
Everyone who knows me knows that I am not the most responsible or punctual person in the world (this used to offend me but as the years have passed I have come to terms with my shortcomings). My flight was scheduled to leave at 2pm that afternoon from Charles De Gaulle airport, I had packed the evening before and set my alarm for 10 am. I woke up that morning, sad to leave but ready to get home. I made a cup of coffee and smoked a cigarette. Yes, I am a smoker in Paris... don't judge me. Fast forward to one late taxi, two hours of traffic and three asshole flight attendants later and I am left standing in the middle of the terminal crying hysterically and swearing at the poor girl working behind the check in counter. Did I overreact? Yes...yes I did, but anyone who knows me knows that I overreact and it is something I've come to terms with, along with irresponsibility, procrastination... and smoking (but only in Paris). Unfortunately, through gritted teeth, the girl at the check in desk informs me there's not another flight until the next day. At this point I would have just purchased another plane ticket and booked a room at the Hilton, but seeing as I only brought cash with me to Paris and spent the last of it on the taxi I came to the sudden realization that I could do neither. So I did what any other young girl alone in a foreign country with no money, food, or dignity (I threw that out the window when snot started running down my face during my public temper tantrum) would do..... I called my mother.
After my plane ticket was booked, the fact that I had to sleep in the airport sank in. Although I found some nice overnight camps set up by transients, and several offers from business men asking me to accompany them to their hotel room, I decided my safest bet was the Sherotan Hotel attached to Terminal 2. No I couldn't afford a room there... but I could at least sneak in and use their computers to chat with my friends. After about an hour I noticed the manager eyeing me from across the room. When he finally approached me at about 1 in the morning and asked if I was staying there, I began to apologize and grabbed my bags when to my surprise...he said I was welcome to stay as long as I wanted. After two glasses of wine, a bottle of Louis Roederer champagne and a marriage proposal, I realized his act of kindness was nothing more than attempt to get in my pants and I decided that the criminal infested terminals would be safer than the hotel lobby.
I was so relieved once my plane touched town in Leeds... but that all changed when within only matter of days I had to find a new place to live and a new job.... which brings me to the present! I am in a new apartment, not so much of an apartment as it is a dorm room shared with three students from Leeds University. Although I am rather enjoying it since I missed out on that experience due to working full time for the last five years. My new job at a local brewery/ live music venue is awesome, I even gathered the courage to perform at their open mic night last week! I'm not saying I'm going to be the next Ellie Goulding but a girl can dream :) On top of the stress of finding a new place to live/new job... my boss (please refer to my blog post dated 12/16/10) who I had been seeing broke things off stating the typical guy excuse of "I care about you...but I just don't want a relationship right now". Well DUH!!! I don't want a relationship either I am only here temporarily... so why am I so disappointed?? I guess I had more feelings for him than I thought, so probably for the best that it ended....
Anyways... I think I have gone on enough for one blog post, I will save all the details of my Paris trip for the next one along with all of my pictures! Next destination... Amsterdam March 19th!!!
xoxo
Danielle
Everyone who knows me knows that I am not the most responsible or punctual person in the world (this used to offend me but as the years have passed I have come to terms with my shortcomings). My flight was scheduled to leave at 2pm that afternoon from Charles De Gaulle airport, I had packed the evening before and set my alarm for 10 am. I woke up that morning, sad to leave but ready to get home. I made a cup of coffee and smoked a cigarette. Yes, I am a smoker in Paris... don't judge me. Fast forward to one late taxi, two hours of traffic and three asshole flight attendants later and I am left standing in the middle of the terminal crying hysterically and swearing at the poor girl working behind the check in counter. Did I overreact? Yes...yes I did, but anyone who knows me knows that I overreact and it is something I've come to terms with, along with irresponsibility, procrastination... and smoking (but only in Paris). Unfortunately, through gritted teeth, the girl at the check in desk informs me there's not another flight until the next day. At this point I would have just purchased another plane ticket and booked a room at the Hilton, but seeing as I only brought cash with me to Paris and spent the last of it on the taxi I came to the sudden realization that I could do neither. So I did what any other young girl alone in a foreign country with no money, food, or dignity (I threw that out the window when snot started running down my face during my public temper tantrum) would do..... I called my mother.
After my plane ticket was booked, the fact that I had to sleep in the airport sank in. Although I found some nice overnight camps set up by transients, and several offers from business men asking me to accompany them to their hotel room, I decided my safest bet was the Sherotan Hotel attached to Terminal 2. No I couldn't afford a room there... but I could at least sneak in and use their computers to chat with my friends. After about an hour I noticed the manager eyeing me from across the room. When he finally approached me at about 1 in the morning and asked if I was staying there, I began to apologize and grabbed my bags when to my surprise...he said I was welcome to stay as long as I wanted. After two glasses of wine, a bottle of Louis Roederer champagne and a marriage proposal, I realized his act of kindness was nothing more than attempt to get in my pants and I decided that the criminal infested terminals would be safer than the hotel lobby.
I was so relieved once my plane touched town in Leeds... but that all changed when within only matter of days I had to find a new place to live and a new job.... which brings me to the present! I am in a new apartment, not so much of an apartment as it is a dorm room shared with three students from Leeds University. Although I am rather enjoying it since I missed out on that experience due to working full time for the last five years. My new job at a local brewery/ live music venue is awesome, I even gathered the courage to perform at their open mic night last week! I'm not saying I'm going to be the next Ellie Goulding but a girl can dream :) On top of the stress of finding a new place to live/new job... my boss (please refer to my blog post dated 12/16/10) who I had been seeing broke things off stating the typical guy excuse of "I care about you...but I just don't want a relationship right now". Well DUH!!! I don't want a relationship either I am only here temporarily... so why am I so disappointed?? I guess I had more feelings for him than I thought, so probably for the best that it ended....
Anyways... I think I have gone on enough for one blog post, I will save all the details of my Paris trip for the next one along with all of my pictures! Next destination... Amsterdam March 19th!!!
xoxo
Danielle
Monday, January 3, 2011
A new year... a new resolution
"Everything happens for a reason". Those were the words I repeated over and over again in my head when I received an email late last week in which the contents completely threw me off course...
I read it at least four or five times, each time more confused than the last. What had happened between now and the day that I walked into Michael Kors on New Bond st in London for my interview? Even prior to meeting with Saskia, we had spoken on the phone and she had seemed so eager to meet me after telling her about my previous experience with the company. The interview itself could not have gone any better, I strutted into that store with confidence and determination, I wanted this job, which was a new and unsettling feeling for me. After the interview was over, Saskia told me she would love for me to be involved with the new store, and even though they were fully staffed she could bring me on part time to start. She then preceded to show me pictures and floor layouts of the new store. It was breathtaking, floor to ceiling windows and pristine white display cases spanning over two floors. I could smell the leather of the handbags as I flipped through the pages. As we said our goodbyes I felt like we were new best friends, she said she would call me in a week, and I walked out of the store with a smile on my face and a skip in my step.
Fast forward a month later, I am sitting in front of my computer reading this email yet again. After a few days of panic and self pity, I started to think about what it was I was really upset about. Yes, working at a brand new Michael Kors store in the heart of London would have been an amazing opportunity, but at what cost? Well first off, I could definitely kiss any chance of traveling throughout Europe during my stay here goodbye. London would surely exhaust the majority of my income. Not to mention Saskia said if she were to hire me she could only offer me a part time position to start, I would have to find another job, probably at some nightclub bartending until six in the morning. So yes, I would be living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, but I would probably be too exhausted and broke to enjoy it! It's not that I'm against working hard, but I didn't leave a great job, an amazing apartment, and my friends and family all in San Diego to fly half way across the world to get sucked into the fast paced stressful life that comes with residing in London.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this rejection from Michael Kors was a sign, a wake up call if you will. This whole time I thought that working for Michael Kors in London was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it's being here in Europe... that's the opportunity I came here for. For Gods sake my blog is called "Confessions of a Travel Queen" and the only place I have been is the UK. No wonder I only have nine followers!!!
So now I begin a new year, as well as celebrating my 25th birthday. Twenty-five, I am still not sure how I feel about hitting the quarter century mark. On one hand, I look forward to the year ahead and the new experiences that will come with it. On the other hand, fear and uncertainty settle in as I begin to over analyze every move that I have made up until this point and will make over the next year. If there is one thing I am certain about, it's that I'm not going to sit back and watch this year pass me by. In twenty years I am going to look back and remember my 25th year... as the year I was a travel queen. First stop, Paris :)
Xoxo
Danielle
Hi Danielle,
Unfortunately at this time, we are now fully staffed. I will let you know if another position opens up in the future.
Best, Saskia
Michael Kors
I read it at least four or five times, each time more confused than the last. What had happened between now and the day that I walked into Michael Kors on New Bond st in London for my interview? Even prior to meeting with Saskia, we had spoken on the phone and she had seemed so eager to meet me after telling her about my previous experience with the company. The interview itself could not have gone any better, I strutted into that store with confidence and determination, I wanted this job, which was a new and unsettling feeling for me. After the interview was over, Saskia told me she would love for me to be involved with the new store, and even though they were fully staffed she could bring me on part time to start. She then preceded to show me pictures and floor layouts of the new store. It was breathtaking, floor to ceiling windows and pristine white display cases spanning over two floors. I could smell the leather of the handbags as I flipped through the pages. As we said our goodbyes I felt like we were new best friends, she said she would call me in a week, and I walked out of the store with a smile on my face and a skip in my step.
Fast forward a month later, I am sitting in front of my computer reading this email yet again. After a few days of panic and self pity, I started to think about what it was I was really upset about. Yes, working at a brand new Michael Kors store in the heart of London would have been an amazing opportunity, but at what cost? Well first off, I could definitely kiss any chance of traveling throughout Europe during my stay here goodbye. London would surely exhaust the majority of my income. Not to mention Saskia said if she were to hire me she could only offer me a part time position to start, I would have to find another job, probably at some nightclub bartending until six in the morning. So yes, I would be living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, but I would probably be too exhausted and broke to enjoy it! It's not that I'm against working hard, but I didn't leave a great job, an amazing apartment, and my friends and family all in San Diego to fly half way across the world to get sucked into the fast paced stressful life that comes with residing in London.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this rejection from Michael Kors was a sign, a wake up call if you will. This whole time I thought that working for Michael Kors in London was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it's being here in Europe... that's the opportunity I came here for. For Gods sake my blog is called "Confessions of a Travel Queen" and the only place I have been is the UK. No wonder I only have nine followers!!!
So now I begin a new year, as well as celebrating my 25th birthday. Twenty-five, I am still not sure how I feel about hitting the quarter century mark. On one hand, I look forward to the year ahead and the new experiences that will come with it. On the other hand, fear and uncertainty settle in as I begin to over analyze every move that I have made up until this point and will make over the next year. If there is one thing I am certain about, it's that I'm not going to sit back and watch this year pass me by. In twenty years I am going to look back and remember my 25th year... as the year I was a travel queen. First stop, Paris :)
Xoxo
Danielle
Thursday, December 16, 2010
2010 is coming to an end...
I would like to begin this post by saying thank you to all nine of my followers....taking time out of your day to share with me in this journey has meant so much to me. Just think... when my blog hits 1 million followers, you will be able to say "I was there when it all began". Kudos.
It has been three weeks since my last update.
Week 1: moved to Leeds... the cultural, financial and commercial heart of West Yorkshire, England (or so claims wikipedia). Also home to my Grandad, Aunt Carol, and 50 cousins whom I have yet to meet. Although it is nice to have the family and support here it hasn't really made me miss my family back home any less :( Luckily I have not had the time to be homesick, because within the first week I had landed myself a J-O-B. oh yes, it was finally time to start rebuilding my fortune after that little "misunderstanding" in London. Where could this new job be you might be asking?! None other than The Lazy Lounge in Leeds city centre. I know it sounds a little like a dimly lit dive bar filled with overweight people sitting in front of slot machines drinking cheep beer... but it is actually a rather nice upscale wine bar.
Week two: This week is not much different from week one, accept for the fact that I have become completely immersed in work. Partly because I need the money, and partly because I have a little crush on my boss :) It's really not my fault, he likes to parade around at work in really tight tops that show off his muscles and is a complete flirt. No, but honestly my bar is just an all around awesome place to be, I literally work ten hour days, and then I get off and just hang out at work. Now I know what you're thinking.."um, don't you feel a little like a pathetic loser with no life?" Well, the answer is no, no I do not because everyone else that I work with is just as pathetic as me and they do the exact same thing. The first night I got hired my new coworkers took me to the German Market (a magical place filled with giant beers, giant sausages, and giant men dancing about in lederhosen) We drank, we laughed and we sang the night away. I knew right away these were good people.
Week three: This past week started out with a BANG when my good friend Anna Meldau came all the way from San Diego to see me!! Ok not really, I was actually just a little pit stop on her trip to London, but it was amazing to see her nonetheless! What better to do on her first night in town than to get completely schmammered, and schmammered we did get via a little jem I found during week two called the Neon Cactus Tequila bar (again, not as seedy as it sounds). Since we decided to go all out, the next two days were spent catching up. It was so great seeing a familiar face. This morning Anna left on a train back to London and I am diving back into work.
Leeds has been an unexpected stop in my travels, but I am really enjoying my time here and trying to make the most of it. I will try and update you again before the holidays, but just in case.... MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
xoxo
Danielle
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Farewell for now...
This past week brought a welcome break from all the chaos in the form of my dear friend Josh Bubeck...and with him came a private driver, shopping at Harrods, afternoon tea at Claridges, dinner at Theo Randalls and a private box at the Ascot horse races. But as amazing as it was stepping into a world filled with luxury, elegance, and pretentious assholes as far as the eye could see... I had the most fun at the Winter Wonderland festival in Hyde Park (Just imagine the Del Mar fair during Christmas on steroids) with Josh, his mom and sister. They made me feel like I was part of their family, which was exactly what I needed right now :) Sunday morning, Josh left for Amsterdam and I was back to reality. As I said goodbye to the driver and stepped onto the tube, I thought about a group of twenty - somethings sitting next to us at Claridges bantering about god knows what and looking ever so pleased with themselves. It's funny because at the time I envied them and how fabulous their lives must me. But then I realized... that's not me. I would never give up the excitement of running through the tube stations, eating a $2 kebab for dinner or dancing the night away at some hole in the wall club in Camden. Although I must admit I will miss the driver waiting outside of the hole in the wall club at 4 in the morning. Oh well, I really don't mind the 24 hour buses... sitting there by yourself and reflecting on the day. Just you, the driver, and the creepy guy sitting in the back glaring at you from underneath his over sized hoodie with an unsettling smirk on his face.
On Monday, having still not found a suitable flat in London and my job at Michael Kors not starting until February, I decided a change in scenery was in my best interest. So I headed north to Leeds, a vibrant city in Northern England filled with culture, exciting nightlife, endless shops and most importantly... free rent!! Being up here has also given me the chance to reconnect with my family, which couldn't have come at a better time with the holidays right around the corner. Now all I need to decide is where I want to go for my birthday... Paris or Amsterdam. Any suggestions?
xoxo
Danielle
On Monday, having still not found a suitable flat in London and my job at Michael Kors not starting until February, I decided a change in scenery was in my best interest. So I headed north to Leeds, a vibrant city in Northern England filled with culture, exciting nightlife, endless shops and most importantly... free rent!! Being up here has also given me the chance to reconnect with my family, which couldn't have come at a better time with the holidays right around the corner. Now all I need to decide is where I want to go for my birthday... Paris or Amsterdam. Any suggestions?
xoxo
Danielle
Monday, November 8, 2010
Im Alive!!
I never thought I’d be the type of person to be sucked into a scam. True, I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I’ve always considered myself to have good intuition, especially under these circumstances. However I have proven myself to be the young naïve girl from California who has found herself in an absolute mess. Where to begin….
It all started two weeks ago, after feeling discouraged when my flat hunt was starting to seem like a “what dump am I looking at next” hunt. But then I came across an ad on Gumtree (craigslist of the UK) for a girl looking for flatmates to join the search with her. Now at this point I had come across a few hoaxes, and I believed I had become quite good at spotting them. There were all the telltale signs... my favorite was the classic, “wire you money to this account and the place is yours!” I’d laugh to myself when I received those replies thinking, what idiot would be so stupid as to fall for that?!
Wanda (I have decided not to use her real name as we are in the middle of legal proceeding, so I have given her a name that I don’t really care for) was different. Her ad wasn’t trying to sell me on anything, just another twenty something girl looking for a reasonably priced place to live in London. Well I could relate to that! I sent her a reply immediately saying that I would be delighted to join her search. Well the next day she emailed me saying that her and a couple other girls had found a place and they would love me to come by and take a look. Seeing as I was in the middle of nowhere with no transportation made this task somewhat difficult so I asked her to send me details and pictures and If I liked what I saw she could count me in and I would arrange to come by the next weekend to meet her as well as look at the flat.
The moment I turned the corner to walk down the street I felt like I was in a movie. The streets were lined with classic Victorian houses, the autumn leaves falling from the trees. It was a quiet street, but just around the corner were endless bars, shops and anything else I might need to keep me entertained. The flat was even better; it was enormous compared to the shoeboxes I had looked at before. Wanda was there waiting to give me a tour, after she showed me the flat we sat and chatted about our jobs, families, hopes and dreams. My other flatmate who she scammed as well took her to see Mark Ronson the first night she moved in (I just love how everytime we tell someone our story she says “I even took that bitch to see Mark Ronson!!) haha. Apparently Wanda promised the room to three different people without the landlords consent.. I moved in the next week and Wanda was gone to LA, with my money… and my pride.
Fast forward two weeks and I am officially homeless… sleeping on the cold harsh streets of London and giving hand jobs for sandwiches. Haha JUST KIDDING. However the last two weeks have been the most stressful of my life. Being in a huge city alone not knowing if I am ever going to see my money again and not wanting to tell anyone because I felt like such a fool. Let’s just say I am extremely sleep deprived and a little on edge. Long story short, after pressing charges, little Wanda realized it was a good possibility she would end up in jail and decided to pay up.
I think the only thing that has made the last few weeks bearable have been the new friends I have made. They have reminded me why I came to London, this city is like nothing I have ever experienced and I have no intention in throwing in the towel over some “little misunderstanding”, or at least that’s what Wanda calls it. I do hope that my next update is a little more upbeat and contains loads of funny anecdotes about my adventures in London. Until then….
Xoxo
Danielle
It all started two weeks ago, after feeling discouraged when my flat hunt was starting to seem like a “what dump am I looking at next” hunt. But then I came across an ad on Gumtree (craigslist of the UK) for a girl looking for flatmates to join the search with her. Now at this point I had come across a few hoaxes, and I believed I had become quite good at spotting them. There were all the telltale signs... my favorite was the classic, “wire you money to this account and the place is yours!” I’d laugh to myself when I received those replies thinking, what idiot would be so stupid as to fall for that?!
Wanda (I have decided not to use her real name as we are in the middle of legal proceeding, so I have given her a name that I don’t really care for) was different. Her ad wasn’t trying to sell me on anything, just another twenty something girl looking for a reasonably priced place to live in London. Well I could relate to that! I sent her a reply immediately saying that I would be delighted to join her search. Well the next day she emailed me saying that her and a couple other girls had found a place and they would love me to come by and take a look. Seeing as I was in the middle of nowhere with no transportation made this task somewhat difficult so I asked her to send me details and pictures and If I liked what I saw she could count me in and I would arrange to come by the next weekend to meet her as well as look at the flat.
The moment I turned the corner to walk down the street I felt like I was in a movie. The streets were lined with classic Victorian houses, the autumn leaves falling from the trees. It was a quiet street, but just around the corner were endless bars, shops and anything else I might need to keep me entertained. The flat was even better; it was enormous compared to the shoeboxes I had looked at before. Wanda was there waiting to give me a tour, after she showed me the flat we sat and chatted about our jobs, families, hopes and dreams. My other flatmate who she scammed as well took her to see Mark Ronson the first night she moved in (I just love how everytime we tell someone our story she says “I even took that bitch to see Mark Ronson!!) haha. Apparently Wanda promised the room to three different people without the landlords consent.. I moved in the next week and Wanda was gone to LA, with my money… and my pride.
Fast forward two weeks and I am officially homeless… sleeping on the cold harsh streets of London and giving hand jobs for sandwiches. Haha JUST KIDDING. However the last two weeks have been the most stressful of my life. Being in a huge city alone not knowing if I am ever going to see my money again and not wanting to tell anyone because I felt like such a fool. Let’s just say I am extremely sleep deprived and a little on edge. Long story short, after pressing charges, little Wanda realized it was a good possibility she would end up in jail and decided to pay up.
I think the only thing that has made the last few weeks bearable have been the new friends I have made. They have reminded me why I came to London, this city is like nothing I have ever experienced and I have no intention in throwing in the towel over some “little misunderstanding”, or at least that’s what Wanda calls it. I do hope that my next update is a little more upbeat and contains loads of funny anecdotes about my adventures in London. Until then….
Xoxo
Danielle
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