And The Sh*t Got Real… Five Months In!

And The Sh*t Got Real… Five Months In!

I still remember that day, I think it was late November. I was sat at my desk at work trying to crack on with my to-do list, one month in the job. And suddenly this realisation hit me – “Damn! This sh*t is real! I’m in Manchester, having a proper job, I have actually started a new life.” Yes, it took that long for the whole idea to sink in. And it scared me! Five months in now, has anything changed? Continue reading “And The Sh*t Got Real… Five Months In!”

Staying Sane While Turning Your Life Upside Down

Staying Sane While Turning Your Life Upside Down

These past few months, while starting up my new life in Manchester, I have learned many things. About life, about people, and most importantly – about myself. I have also learned to manage myself better. How is that? Basically – it’s not to go mental when everything around seems to be falling apart, or when life throws yet another challenge at you. Read on if you want to know the secret to staying sane in such circumstances. Continue reading “Staying Sane While Turning Your Life Upside Down”

9 Questions You Need To Answer Before Moving Abroad

9 Questions You Need To Answer Before Moving Abroad

Before moving to Manchester, my only experience with living abroad was the ERASMUS semester I spent in Malta. But that was a completely different story – I was there temporarily, and didn’t need much. However, when you move to another country to live and work there, and to build a new life, things get more serious. And before you do that – you have to make sure you know what you’re doing and what you’re in for. Sharing from my experience – questions to ask and answer before the big move. Continue reading “9 Questions You Need To Answer Before Moving Abroad”

Getting ZEALified: First Week At My New Job

Getting ZEALified: First Week At My New Job

I was supposed to write about my first day at my new job (at least that’s what the content plan says), but as you might guess – it got a bit busy. Five days flew by so fast! They were so eventful – loads of new information, meeting new people… getting crowned the Bowling Queen and Digital Laura, breaking internal records. Yes, all that happened to me on my first week. Want to know more? Continue reading “Getting ZEALified: First Week At My New Job”

That First Trip Back Home…

That First Trip Back Home…

As you might know by now, I have managed the impossible and landed myself a pretty nice job here in Manchester. As I didn’t have to start right away, a crazy idea of hopping on a plane to Riga started to seem quite realistic as soon as I got the job offer. And so I did! Bought the tickets on a Tuesday afternoon and boarded the plane three days later. I got one week time and so much I wanted to do! How did it all turn out? Continue reading “That First Trip Back Home…”

Project Manchester: What It Actually Takes To Move To Another Country

Project Manchester: What It Actually Takes To Move To Another Country

Since the moment I considered the idea of moving to Manchester, I started exploring this question quite seriously. The more information I consumed, the more overwhelmed I felt, and it just seemed too much of a hassle. But as I’m an experienced project manager, I treated all this as a project – I made a plan and I wrote down all the things that needed to be sorted or done. I called it “Project Manchester”, and in this blog post, I’ll give you all the details on what it actually took me to make it all happen. Continue reading “Project Manchester: What It Actually Takes To Move To Another Country”

11 Ways To Fall In Love With Manchester

11 Ways To Fall In Love With Manchester

Almost everyone I meet and tell my story and where I come from, asks me the same question: “Why Manchester?” Most of them expect a story, but my answer is quite simple: “I just fell in love with the city!” And that is completely true – I decided to move to another country and push a reset button on my life because I felt like I belong here and would really enjoy living in Manchester. Continue reading “11 Ways To Fall In Love With Manchester”

Becoming One Of ‘Them’ – Getting My National Insurance Number

Becoming One Of ‘Them’ – Getting My National Insurance Number

Once you move to another country and start your life from scratch there, you have to be prepared for a lot of bureaucracy. Luckily, I’m a citizen of the European Union, which allows me to skip a lot of paperwork and other mess. However, there are things you just can’t avoid when you move to the UK, and the very first of them is – getting your National Insurance Number. Continue reading “Becoming One Of ‘Them’ – Getting My National Insurance Number”

7 Things I Have Learned During My First Month In MCR

7 Things I Have Learned During My First Month In MCR

Life for me has always been like a school – I’m always willing to learn, to grow, to sign up for new challenges. That also is the main reason I have put myself in this situation and why I embarked on this mission called “Project Manchester”. Even though one month is not a long time, for me this past month has been a big learning lesson. What did I learn exactly? Continue reading “7 Things I Have Learned During My First Month In MCR”

It Ain’t All Sunshine And Rainbows…

It Ain’t All Sunshine And Rainbows…

If you’ve read this blog for a while now, you probably have noticed that I don’t really get very personal in my posts. That is – I talk a lot about my experience of moving to another country and going through job-hunt and room-hunt, but I don’t reveal the other side of it all. The way I feel about it, the inner struggles I face, and how do I keep my motivation high. As I’ve been asked that, I think it’s time to get a bit more personal. Continue reading “It Ain’t All Sunshine And Rainbows…”