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Charm Alarm!

After 5.5 years in one and the same My First Workplace, how do you start anew? I've figured getting to and from the office, but then... My roommate understands what is most crucial - he cleans a cup and escorts me to the coffee machine. Freshly ground espresso - I can safely stay in Glasgow.  The official 'induction' on the second day is not much more extensive than the informal one on on the first day: I appear to already have learnt all that's in the list. Well, except for where to actually find the people involved - three Victorian houses merged together in a Psychology department equal one big maze. (Experts say it takes about a month to get oriented.) The inductress is nevertheless almost off within a minute - but then decides to introduce me to 'other people in the project'. She stops at one. Then luckily she remembers a crucial bit: the welcome present. The Charm Alarm! The Charm Alarm! is a big pink egg resembling a hand grenade. If you pull out the p...
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Home Sweet Home

Three Little Deadlines made me decide that a home was not at all an essential part of moving to Glasgow. The first thing to cross my path would do. A room in a house I'd never seen with a guy I'd never met in a suburb of Glasgow I'd never heard of crossed my path so I moved in. Not bad: the suburb is not one of Glasgow's infamous areas but is actually pretty, the connection to work is straightforward (my commute has already shrunk by 50%), the house-mate is indeed an 'agreeable 29 year old male professional' as promised. He cleans, he's orderly, he's not noisy, he's friendly, he's social, he works for a children's charity - he's the ideal housemate.  If only I hadn't outgrown the very concept of housemate. (Ok, and if only I could always understand what he says). Therefore, exit deadlines enter house hunt. The response rate to my responses to ads suggests Glaswegians offer flats without actually wanting to let them. I nevertheless...
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Settling in

- Hi, I would like to buy a smartphone. - Do you have a contract with us? - No. I just moved here from the Netherlands. - I'm sorry but then we can't give you a contract. You have no credit history you see. - So can I buy the phone and get a pay as you go? - No, they are only sold on contracts. - Hi, I would like to buy a smartphone. - Do you have a bank account? - No. I just moved here from the Netherlands. - If you don't have a bank account, we cannot give you a contract. - Hi, I would like to open a bank account. - There are no banking advisors in just now, can I book an appointment for you? - When would that be? - Next week. - Hi, I would like to open a bank account. - Do you have an account with us? - No, I just moved here from the Netherlands. - So you have been living here less than three years? - Yes, as a matter of fact I have been living here less than a week. - We can only give you an account after you have lived in the UK for three years. You have no ...
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