It's been about a month and a half since I've arrived in the UK. There have been some absolute highs, most of which were spent in that first three weeks during my program. It seems moving to a new country is never all highs, however. 

After coming back from Wales I ran into a serious depression. I hardly knew anyone, I had no job, acquiring a bank account did not prove as easy as I thought it was going to be, and I was also trying not to spend money. Furthermore, I was informed that the landlord of the flat I had just moved into had decided to sell the place so I was forced into another flat hunt much sooner than I deemed appropriate. 

I threw myself into the necessities of being a UK resident. I applied for a NIN (National Insurance Number), I tried (and failed) many times to get a bank account, I applied for jobs,  and I watched a lot of netflix. There's something about not needing to be anywhere or do anything that makes a person very lazy. I had zero ambition. Which is saying something because everyone who knows me knows that ambition is in my blood. I breath it. But not then. Then I was waisting away in netflix marathon after netflix marathon. 

There was also the necessities of being a UK based actor. I applied for Spotlight, which is the UK's leading casting website that every professional actor needs. The Canadian equivalent would be Casting Workbook, except the difference is for Spotlight you can't just sign up and pay the fee. You need at least 2 years of professional acting training or 4 professional credits, which only include feature films and television. Not to mention applying for an agent without a Spotlight would be hopeless, as mostly all require one while submitting. I had the two years of acting training, so I assumed I'd be able to acquire one easily. Nope. I was rejected. I emailed them explaining there's no reason I should have been rejected as I did have a diploma from a professional acting school. They finally gave me an account and I've been applying for agents ever since. 

I also signed up for the Actor's Centre which is a membership that allows actors infinite opportunities for classes and workshops. I took a workshop last week which I found very fulfilling. 

Finally, I was successful in my attempts at getting a bank account, and I found a flat that I move into mid September. I also got a job, which I don't start till next week. 

Last week I was sick of laying on my arse doing nothing and I wanted one last adventure before starting my job, so I spontaneously went to Scotland to take in the Edinburgh Fringe as well as explore my Scottish ancestry. It reminded me how close I am to everything in Europe and the rest of the UK, and to really take advantage of it. Despite all the struggles and lows, I'm still really glad I'm here. The fact that I can book a trip to Scotland the day before at such a low price is still amazing to me. I don't think that will ever change.

Looking out the view from Castle Campbell in Dollar, Scotland