Raffaello during his internship in London

Hey! Who are you and where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

Hey, my name is Raffaello, I am 19 years old and am from Soest (the Netherlands). At the moment I am doing the Manager Hospitality study.

What was the first thing you thought when you got off the plane? (bus/train/car)

Super nice, because London is really a world city.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and England?

It is actually not that bad, because it is very close to each other. Of course the cars drive here on the left, but you get used to it very quickly. For me the big annoyance was that the supermarkets sell completely different products than in the Netherlands.

What does your usual working day look like?

A normal working day for me starts at 7 o'clock or at 3 o'clock. Then I have to check in guests, help carry the suitcases to their room. But also help guests who are not known in London to inform them about the fun things to do in London.

What's the working-atmosphere at your internship company like?

The working atmosphere is great at my hotel!

Did you ever feel homesick? How did you cope with this?

I have never really had homesickness, I only missed my friends at the beginning. But you know that in advance if you are going to this adventure alone!

Did you feel at home in London? Why (not)?

After 2 months I felt completely at home in London, because you get to know the way and discover all the nice restaurants.

Was there a type of local food you could NOT handle?

English Breakfast

Please give us tips about who to befriend when living abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans? (Honestly, we want to know some gossip about other internationals you’ve met.)

There are many Dutch people in London for an internship or study so I can definitely recommend that.

Describe the inhabitants of the new country in three words.

Polite, Multicultural and Apart

What did you learn from your experience abroad? Was it the loving community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The overwhelming nature? Or was the experience less helpful than expected? Details, we want details!

What I have learned from London is that it is very expensive to live! First, a room is ridiculously expensive. Do not try to do it through an agency, because they make it even more expensive. What I can recommend is a room in the city. My room was in the Shoreditch area, of course you pay a bit more, but it's really worth it. Secondly, the food is expensive, if you are on your own, you have to cook for one person. Try to find someone who is also alone and wants to cook together. It saves you money and it is much more enjoyable because cooking on your own is not worth it. Thirdly, the prices in the clubs sometimes really startle you. Just try to drink something at home, then you save money!