Attila Olbrich.

And so, a new chapter began—a new life, a new place, and, as luck would have it, new levels of chaos. Hungary wasn’t exactly a land of opportunity at that moment. The economy was spiraling down like an untethered kite in a hurricane. The car parts company I worked for was barely hanging on. Competition was fierce, taxes were climbing faster than my stress levels, and inflation had turned “premium customers” into bargain hunters scouring for the cheapest aftermarket parts. Oh, and my biggest side hustle? Toast, as you might remember from the last chapter.

My wife wasn’t faring much better. She was working as a channel partner manager, tasked with introducing some futuristic 3D desktop virtual reality kit to Spanish-speaking countries. She was fluent in Spanish thanks to her 12 adventurous years in Mexico. But even with her skills, her company folded like a house of cards in a windstorm.

The Crawley Connection

Enter stage left: our friend in Crawley. During a visit, between cups of tea and dismal discussions about our prospects, he dropped a suggestion: “Why don’t you try finding a job here in the UK?” It sounded simple enough, so we both started hunting.

She landed a job first and decided to give it a go. Spoiler alert: her UK career lasted precisely one day. After dipping her toe in the waters of British employment, she declared, “No thanks,” and promptly resigned. The shortest chapter in her work history.

She flew back to Hungary, but I still had a few interviews lined up. Despite having a return ticket, I thought, Why not? Let’s see them through.

The Umbrella Incident

The final interview day arrived, and of course, it was a typical English spectacle: rain coming down sideways, winds strong enough to launch small dogs into the air. My umbrella? Destroyed. My clothes? Soaked. I arrived at the company in Kingston looking less like a seasoned professional and more like a contestant in a wet T-shirt competition.

We chatted, I showcased my work, and I said goodbye, fully expecting the return ticket to Hungary would be used as planned. But life, as it often does, had other ideas.

The next day, my phone rang. The recruiter on the line said, “Congratulations, you start next Tuesday at 9:30.” Wait, what? I was as surprised as anyone. I had no permanent place to stay, no plan beyond Monday, and the only thing standing between me and total homelessness was a website called Gumtree.

The Gumtree Games Begin

Ah, Gumtree. If you’ve never had the joy, let me explain. It’s a website where landlords post listings for rooms that can generously be described as “quirky.” Most were dodgy, overpriced, or both. But it was my only option. I found a promising ad—close to my new workplace, and the landlord was Hungarian. It seemed perfect!

I met one of the tenants, saw the room, and prepared to move in. On Sunday, with deposit and rent in hand, I called the landlord to confirm.

Then came the curveball. “How old are you?” he asked. Odd question, but okay. I replied, “42.” His response? “Sorry, you’re too old. I only rent to university students.”

Too old? For a room with peeling wallpaper and questionable plumbing? I tried to reason with him. My wife called him. No dice. I was standing on the street with a suitcase, a few T-shirts, and my laptop, while this guy gatekept his dingy room like it was Buckingham Palace.

To make matters worse, the motel I had been staying at had turned off the heating for the weekend, leaving me freezing and furious. Returning wasn’t an option.

The Dodgy Savior

Back to Gumtree. Desperation fueled my calls. Finally, a landlord answered. “Yes, I have a room. Come now if you want.” I asked, “Now? Like, right now?” He said, “Yes, just ring when you’re outside.”

It was a miracle wrapped in sketchiness. I arrived, signed a contract, and was handed the key to the smallest room I had ever seen. It had a single bed and a coffee table squeezed into a space better suited for a broom cupboard. But hey, it was a roof over my head.

I had survived. Barely. Now it was time to focus on my first day in the job and the next chapter of my life—working in a foreign language environment for the first time. Stay tuned for tales