The darkest day since I have been to London

The darkest day since I have been to London

I had the first class in the MA International Relations Course on 2nd February, 2009 from 13h00 until 17h00, then another class at 18h00 until 21h00. I wanted to try all possible options before deciding which modules would be taken this semester. I was ready for the class, but in the morning, I was busy writing a letter to my course leader, Prof. Mike Newman, therefore, when I was aware of the time, I thought I would be late for the class. So I rushed out although there was so heavy snow outside that no bus ran in the street.

As usual, I took on train to Straford station and then, another train to Highbury Islington. I saw the map in the student handbook and decided to take off the train in Canonbury station to shortcut to the class which was organised in Ladbroke House in Highbury Grove. I walked almost 2 km from the station to the Ladbroke House in order to attend the class in time. In fact, I was nearly 30 minutes late, but to my surprise, there was only on person in the classroom who you could guess was the module leader, Dr. Colin Meade. He and I introduced with each other and He suggested that I needed an international law book to read in order to get some general ideas about the subject we would study: The legal regulation of conflict. Then, we, I meant the class, dismissed.

I went on walking to the university to attend the evening class as I supposed without realizing that the University was closing because of the adverse weather which caused transportation delays in London. I walked more than 3 km to the University to do nothing. Then, I caught a Piccadilly line train from Holloway Road station to King's Cross station with a hope that I would take on a Hammersmith train to Bow Road station. It took me long time waiting in King's Cross station before I realized that there was no train in Hammersmith line. Therefore, I caught a Central line train to Mile End station, then a district line to Bow Road station. It was a long waiting in Mile End station. When I reached Bow Road station and walked more than 1 km to Bow Church station, it was late afternoon.

I was not fortunate enough as the train to Lewisham which called on my All Saints station did not stop until It reached Poplar station. I was forced to catch an opposite train to come back, but again, it did not stop at All Saints station. Therefore, again I had to walk back nearly 3 km to my flat under the snowing weather. It was the first day of my MA International Relations Course, but the darkest day since I have been to London.

Another experience in banking transaction

The UK looks as extremely old as its conservative and stunted way of doing business!


Here is another humorous story of mine. It took place on 22nd January 2009 when I went to Highbury Corner branch of Lloyds TSB to continue my humorous story about OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT in the UK. It was really an adventure from North to East of London, namely a North-to-East trip in London. I started another banking transaction in the UK with a Lloyds TSB branch near my university with less confidence. I was asked to go to a small room to discuss what I and the bank would do then.

A gentleman received me in the room. It was different from the atmosphere I had experienced before when I first tried to open a bank account. It was a comfortable and happy climate for people to do business. I thought this type of doing business was very good for the old and conservative UK. What we did there was chatting and doing business as friendly as possible. The difficulty in our transaction was about my name, exactly how to write my name correctly. I submitted my second letter to the bank staff in which my name was written in Vietnamese way. He saw my name, asked me which was my family name. Then he wanted to make sure that I understood his requirement by asking me about my brother's name. "NGUYEN NHU DAT" - I answered and wrote the name. He saw it and looked back to mine. He was a bit confused, he said to me.

Then, I understood his confusion and told him about my case and the first letter with my name written in English way, but it was not accepted and I was requested to bring another letter of introduction. I told him that I had to request a University staff to change my name in the computer system in Vietnamese way as mentioned above. To my surprise, he asked me to give him the first letter in place of the second. He got the letter with a pleasure and stated that it was exactly what he was looking for - a letter with my name written in English way. It was a very simple and easy request for me. I said if I got to know him before, I would have not faced any difficulties and my bank account might have been opened for a week. It was the most stupid story I have ever witnessed in my life and of course, it was very humorous, isn't it? I hope there will be a change in the UK, especially a strong change in the way of doing business, starting from BANKING.

An experience of dealing with banks in London

I left the University for my first appointment in the UK. This transaction is important for me because I need to open a bank account for my convenient living here. Thanks to Mr. Steve's permission, I had much time to go to the Lloyds' branch in Commercial Road which took me about 1 hour and a quarter traveling from the University by all means of transportation: on foot, by bus, by overground train, by DLR train and by bus again. When I met a "big" lady, I thought she was over 50 years old, working for that bank, a difficulty arose. I think it is a stupid situation I have never witnessed before. As you know, this difficulty stemmed from my name. It is clear that my name is written differently in Vietnamese and English: NGUYEN NHU DUC, compared with NHU DUC NGUYEN as in English. The bank lady looked at my passport and also the University letter of introduction. Unfortunately, she discovered the difference between two ways of writing my name as above. She asked me again about my surname. "NGUYEN is my surname" - I answered. It looked differently because It was written by different ways - in Vietnamese and English, I explained.

She then walked out to consult her senior manager, I guessed. About 7 or 8 minutes later, She got back and talked with me about my case that my name should have been written or copied exactly the same like It was done in my passport, therefore, She asked me to bring back another letter of introduction with a changed name on it. She ignored every explanation that I tried, at the end, I felt very angry with the way of doing business like this in the UK. I think she is as conservative as Great Britain, maybe with this kind of conservativeness, Great Britain is becoming the Great Backwardness in EU in particular, and even it will be facing a collapse some day in the future. I saw her eyes and attitude showing that she wanted to see me off immediately when I said angrily: "The letter is not wrong, my name is written right in English and Vietnamese". At that moment, I wished my English was so good that I could express my anger softly. I left the bank in a bad mood, but I could not do anything to make the situation better. Even if I spoke more, the situation would have deteriorated. So I'd better leave. Oh, my God.

I came back the University and got another letter of introduction to Lloyds bank with the changed name as I wished. I decided not to come back the bank branch of Lloyds TSB in Commercial Road. I wandered around to ask somebody how I could find a Lloyds bank branch near the University. Finally, I got the answer: there is one at the beginning of Holloway Road. Fortunately, I went there and got another appointment easily, but on next Wednesday, at 3.00 pm. It is likely that I am not lucky and maybe, I was browbeaten in a civilised and highly developed country with "a good record of human rights and nondiscrimination" in the world. Even in my dream, I would not be able to think of that situation. But it is a fact now, and I have to accept that because it is the UK. I do not know if Mr. Steve has ideas about this situation. I went back home late in the afternoon with some confused thoughts about the UK and its businesspersons. In short, today, I had traveled a lot, 5 hours by London transportation means: foot, bus, train, and the result: an 0. Tomorrow, I will go somewhere, maybe some historical landmarks of London to witness the greatness of the UK. Maybe, it will be a different Great Britain tomorrow.