9/365 - First week in London

Mr Salvatore and Ian, 2013

In the following days upon my arrival in London I kept applying for jobs, but by day 4 I knew it was a waste of time. I had a deadline so, I went into a stationary shop and bought a printer and paper. Armed with 30 CV’s, I started going door-to-door, asking every single business if they needed help.

I also went to an interview to get my National Insurance number. The man told me that I can only do cleaning jobs in the UK. I left crying without the prospect of getting a NiNo.

Ok so, the best way for us to get the visa was either to go to school or be the partner of someone studying so, we both agreed that Silviu will be enrolling into a course to be able to profess as a personal trainer here, but that was going to take a while.

I believe that only around 1% of the people I have come across in my life have been genuinely mean, they are a rare breed. Most people are good, not to say we should not be cautious, but statistically speaking there are very high chances we are surrounded by decent people most of the times. Obviously there are counterexamples like: jails, Westminster Halls etc.

Setting an intention to be someone’s friend before you even get to meet them is one of the most powerful things I have ever learned from this experience. Not to be vulnerable, this is a different thing!

By the end of the first week I did get a job. I remember going into this Italian restaurant on Old Brompton Road, during that quiet time of the day, after lunch. As soon as I stepped in, the smell of café greeted me. I went right in at the back where the counter was and next to it there was a beautiful display of homemade cakes and biscottis. This elderly couple was behind the counter, she was seated and he was standing close by. I approached her with my CV and exchanged a few greeting words. Her thick Neapolitan accent was not hard to spot so, we switched to Italian. I told her that I really needed a job, she listens to me for a bit and then she turns to her husband and says in a very empathic way: “Salvatore, questa ragazza sta cercando lavoro!” (“This girl is looking for a job!”). And just like that it happened!

Mr Salvatore, in his late 60’s probably at the time, was innately a brilliant businessman and everyone just loved him. He radiated light and tranquility through every single pore of his being. But on top of that he was a visionary, a good salesman, a hard worker and he could spot a rough diamond in a mountain of broken glass. Mrs Anna was a very elegant, beautiful woman and those cakes I mentioned earlier were made by her.

The main owner of the business was actually their daughter a very articulate, strong-willed woman and although we did not get off to a great start, by the end things were great and I think of her dearly. She was not there when they took me in and she was not particularly happy to see me.

More on that to come….

It has been a tough couple of years for everyone, but when things get tough I hope you can find the people that inspired you along the way and remember all the kindness you have received to bring you back the hope you need to make it through. And there is kindness in the world…. I have doubled my yearly hugging average since things have eased up and I keep getting in more!

You got this!