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MyLondon interview

Astrid Rehwald

Where are you originally from?
Born in Berlin, raised in Neumünster, Northern Germany, not far from the Danish border. Similar climate there, wet, windy and the coast is not far.

When did you first arrive in London?
September 1999, it was a really hot summer and I wrote postcards home sitting in Hyde Park, it was a dream come true.

Why did you come to London?
I was desperate to find a job in architecture and I did it in my first week.

Where do you live and why?
I live near Regent's Park, off Albany Road, you can cycle everywhere from here and we live in a maisonette with a semi-private courtyard.

What’s your occupation and where do you work?
I am an architect and work in Earl's Court but looking to work in the West End again.

What was you first impression of London?
I always assumed it would be full of punks and was surprised how normal it was. I am still surprised that women wear summer dresses in winter and shops still sell them.

What was your first memorable London experience, e.g. an interesting faux pas or a good day out?
I was still staying at my friend’s place and they got a kitchen delivered that weekend and we assembled the units all weekend. Being asked on Monday morning at work what I did at the weekend, I said I had been screwing all weekend.

Do you have a favourite pub/restaurant/club?
I prefer to try out different places, but I did like the Langley for quite some time. But this was probably because of the nice work crowd I went with. It has a nice, sometimes eccentric media crowd though.

What are your favourite shops?
I guess that’s Homebase. I spend a lot of time there because it’s the only shop close to my work.

What’s your favourite London landmark/place of interest e.g. building/park/museum?
I love Covent Garden, with the market, street musicians and the Opera. That’s where I feel that I am living in a town, others come for holiday. And Neal Street for shopping.

What was the last play/movie/musical you saw and did you enjoy it?
I went to see Joseph a month ago, horrible theatre and you couldn’t pay with card at the bar. The music was very nice, so was Darren Day, but the show was too much Las Vegas for my liking.

How often do you go home?
Home as in my parent's place? Because home is Regent's Park for me. I went to see my parents twice this year. I normally go for special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries etc. I have been to other parts in Germany a few more times as my friends now live all over the place.

Do you know many compatriots here?
Yes, quite a few now, but all of them I met in London.

Tube or Bus?
Bicycle actually.

Soho or Covent Garden?
See above.

North London or South London
North for sure or West or best of all Central.

What do you miss most when you are out of London?
Stylish bars, busy streets, work colleagues.

What would make living in London more pleasant for you?
A job in town and a better bike and no worry about people vandalising your bike.

What has been your favourite Euronet event?
Probably the carnival event some years ago, where I won a two litre bottle of champagne for the best costume (I was the only one dressed up with exception of the host!).

What advice would you give to a new London settler?
Join Euronet or any social club, enlist for a course and socialise with your work colleagues. Try to build up your own group of friends as quickly as possible to enjoy the fabulous culture and nightlife. If you are invited to corporate events, do that too, just live life to the full.

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