I had no other option than to book into the OVC hostel in Earl's Court and hope for the best. I was a bit paranoid about bed bugs and who knows what else I thought I would pick up in a hostel of all places.

Coming from a nice big house with my own room in a quiet residential suburb in Durban, I was put into a room sharing with three other people. Definitely not my idea of 'suburban bliss'.

Sleeping over
I stayed in the hostel for about two months, about one month and three weeks longer than I'd planned to. But once I'd established myself and made a few friends, we moved out and signed a year's lease on a flat in Earl's Court. The flat was far too small for the number of occupants (I won't divulge that information) but we were paying minimal rent of about #50 per week, a real bargain in Earl's Court or anywhere else in London for that matter.

From luxury.... To London
Most of us are used to the kind of life our parents provided for us back home: our own rooms, home cooked wholesome meals every night, domestic workers, cars etc. Most South African kids are spoilt rotten!

I'd never done my own washing before and the thought of going to the laundromat for the first time was pretty daunting. I phoned my mom and asked her which cycle and at which temperature I had to wash certain clothes.
Just for the record... I'm now an expert at doing my washing.

Living with so many people can be a nightmare. You learn to walk around with blinkers on your eyes and put up with things you wouldn't normally tolerate. Eventually you reach a point (thankfully I reached it a while ago), where enough is enough.

I now live in a double room in a big five-bedroom house close to the Thames in Hammersmith with a handful of Australians. The house has two bathrooms, a dishwasher and few other luxuries I choose not to go without again. I pay #475 per month including bills like council tax and gas and even though I would prefer to pay a lot less, the money is a small price to pay for my happiness.

Finding work
Work wise, I've never really battled. I have an ancestral visa and a career in the accounting industry. The longest I've been out of work is about two weeks; other people have had it a lot worse!

There's been a real slump in the market over this past year or so and a lot of people have felt it, especially those in the IT industry. At the moment, the market is saturated. There's such an influx of fresh faces to London and the old faces don't seem to be going home. Those with a two-year visa are finding ways to stay in the country through sponsorship or by other means and therefore new jobs that should be coming available, are not.

I can't say that all the jobs I've had have been great; far from it. When I first arrived here, the jobs I had were an absolute insult to my intelligence and abilities. I found myself constantly having to prove my worth to employment agencies and employers. But looking back, I've worked at some really interesting and exciting places and gained a wealth of new skills and experience.

Study before travelling
The mistake that some people have made is coming over here fresh out of matric. Many people study first, gain working experience and then come over here in their early 20's. I would really recommend this route.

Those that come here just after school have no other option but to get bar jobs or jobs packing CD's, earning minimum wage. Let's face it, nobody wants to earn minimum wage. The reason why most of us came over here in the first place is to save money and travel and on #4.50 an hour, that's not going to happen. It's barely enough to survive.

Having said that, the cost of food and travel is pretty reasonable. If you're earning #4.50 an hour, you'll be eating baked beans on toast for supper every night. But if you have a career behind you and are bringing home a decent paycheck, you can eat really well. And there are so many more food choices here than back home, both healthy and decadent.

Getting around
Transport is generally convenient but the tube definitely has it's pros and cons. You can sleep, read, listen to music or just sit there and stare vacantly at someone during a trip on the underground.

The trick is to live reasonably close to work otherwise you'll be spending at least two or more hours a day on the tube and Murphy's law you'll get stuck next to someone with garlic breath or body odour - not what I'd call fun.

Oh, and don?t forget the tube strikes - a major inconvenience in everybody's life. Only the buses run at times like this and if you think of all the millions of people who rely on the tube every day who are now forced to catch the bus, it's absolute madness.

The first couple of times I attempted to catch the bus but you're lucky if they even stop at the bus stop. They're usually so full that the drivers just drive on. You end up getting to work about three hours late or eventually giving up and just going shopping.

The crime situation
Even though London has a fair amount of crime, it's certainly a lot safer than back home. I don't feel uneasy walking in the streets at night although coming from South Africa, I'm still very vigilant as to what's going on around me. There are no such things as burglar guards or security gates.

Gloomy weather
The weather has to be the biggest downfall. Coming from Durban, which has great weather all year round, I miss the sun terribly. Depressing is not the word when you phone home in summer and your family are out at the pool having a braai and it's cold and dark outside over here. I crave the sun and having a bit of colour in my cheeks. If you want a tan in London, you're going to have to visit a sunbed which can be expensive or you can opt for the cheaper version of self-tan.

Out and about
The night life in London is great. You can go to typical Antipodean places and throw back a few 'snakebites' and dance to old tunes, you could hang out in trendy bars and drink cocktails or you can go clubbing and dance the night away. The choice is yours...

The world is but a step away
London is also the gateway to the rest of the world and especially Europe. So for travelling, it's perfect. Over a bank holiday you could jump on a plane and be in Rome in a few hours. The opportunities are endless. And with companies such as Easy Jet and Ryan Air offering such good deals on flights, it's becoming easier and cheaper to travel.

London has definitely got its pros and cons, just like anywhere in the world. I've been in London for almost two-and-a-half years and it's definitely been the best decision I've made and the best years of my life so far. I've made friends here from all over the world. They certainly have become my support system, my family, travel buddies and party-animal partners all rolled into one.

London can be dismal, gloomy and cold but it's also an exciting, cosmopolitan and vibrant city with lots to offer. Maybe one day I'll get sick of it, but for the time being, I'm having the time of my life!