- Jan-Peter van Tijk
I wish I'd found InterNations sooner: It would have made my first few month as an expat in London much less overwhelming.
Living in Northampton
Despite its name, Northampton is actually situated in the middle of England, just north of Milton Keynes, and south of Derby. Known as “the town of the Cobblers”, after the local soccer team, this city is as English as you can get. When you are living in Northampton you will be expected to display at least a basic knowledge of the Northampton Town soccer team (The Cobblers), and make at least one trip to a home game. The expatriate population of Northampton has increased in recent years as the local economy has picked up. Expats living in Northampton can expect a warm, Midlands welcome, and to be offered approximately 15 cups of tea each day. Expatriates hailing from warmer shores may find the weather a challenge – like the rest of England, Northampton’s climate tends to be wet and cold, although the English summertime is a thing to behold. Speak to other expats living in Northampton or nearby on the InterNations website to learn more about what to expect from an English Midlands city.
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Moving to Northampton
English employment and immigration law is similar to that in the rest of the European Union, so make sure you are qualified to work there before moving to Northampton. It may help to arrange accommodation before you move, as short-term accommodation can be expensive. To prepare your relocation to Northampton, immerse yourself in English history and Northampton-specific trivia. Northampton is famous for its imposing buildings – look up the Guildhall, a classic building built in 1861 in Neo-Gothic style, and 78 Derngate, the only house outside of Scotland to be designed by world-famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Working in Northampton
The English working day typically runs from 9am to 5pm, with either 30 minutes or 60 minutes for lunch. During the day, you can expect numerous tea breaks – to win over your colleagues, bring a few packets of biscuits into the office, and offer to make the tea for everyone at least once a week. Most people who are working in Northampton commute into the city from the suburbs – the traffic can get heavy during rush hour, so consider riding a bicycle, or taking one of the local buses instead. Expats in Northampton who hail from outside the United Kingdom may struggle with English traditions and customs at first, however, you can always speak to fellow expatriates on the InterNations platform, and pick up a few tips on how to seek out like-minded people in a new community, as well as sharing a few funny stories on your assimilation to English culture.
- Jan-Peter van Tijk
I wish I'd found InterNations sooner: It would have made my first few month as an expat in London much less overwhelming.
- Therese Yeboah
For me, the InterNations events are the best part. I attend almost every get-together and always get to know lots of friendly fellow expats.
