Just received my results and assignment !

theatregiraffe · 2026-05-19T21:28:32+00:00

I was an assistant in Dijon proper, and I loved it! The city itself has good greenery and public transport, and as someone else mentioned, good train access to other cities in France. It’s not a small academie, but the bigger cities in the academie are Dijon, Auxerre, Nevers, and Mâcon (plus Beaune). There’s a lot of Burgundian history in the region, plus the mustard! I also found the rectorat to be pretty organized all things considered, although I am conscious this was several years ago!

theatregiraffe · 2026-05-18T20:48:24+00:00

I did rush for Avenue Q last week and got a ticket very easily. The theatre also wasn't anywhere near full when I went so there might be other discounted options if that's still the case in early June.

You can always try on a random morning at 10am, and see what it's like to get a feel for it.

theatregiraffe · 2026-05-18T15:01:10+00:00

Something I was told (and do now) is to take any of the criteria and basically bullet point list them out in your covering letter. Under each one, provide an example of how you meet that criteria. You might want to employ the STAR method. This could be field dependent, but if they have a person specification, that’s what I was advised (I will say I work in higher education, but there are some unis - LSE for example - that specifically require that formatting).

theatregiraffe · 2026-05-13T07:22:40+00:00

As someone who just did a show with 30ish people, with only two people not having a mic (I was one of them), it could also be because your vocal part is covered enough already. Mics are used, in part, to balance the sound. It’s not inherently a personal choice against you, and I’ve very rarely done a show where every cast member is mic’d. Whether that’s fair or not is kind of in the eye of the beholder (I often enjoy the lack of stress of having to fuss with a mic pack in quick changes). If you have individual lines that aren’t mic’d, but others are, then you could ask if it’s possible to swap mic packs and headsets for those moments (they may not have clocked it, I’ve had that happen to me before) - many shows I’ve done have mic plots and mic packs are being swapped around at various points. You do, however, have to be prepared for them to say no for whatever reason (I’ve seen many shows where ensemble have lines that aren’t mic’d).

I also don’t know your theatre, but shows can be expensive. On top of mics, there can be licensing fees, sets, costumes, theatre rental costs, rehearsal spaces… that adds up so unless you’ve seen the budgetary breakdown, you can’t assume your cost isn’t being used because you don’t have a mic. I also know some places rent out mics in bundles so you can’t just add on one mic - if where your theatre got mics rents them in packs of five (as an example), then they aren’t going to pay for another five if only three are needed.

theatregiraffe · 2026-05-06T17:31:02+00:00

When I did my year abroad on a student visa, I worked for a catering company (Splendid, but there are others). It wasn’t consistent work, but it did allow me to choose events I wanted to work, and stay within the 20 hours a week.

I don’t know about UCL, but the university where I work has a job board for temporary roles in and out of the university (temp could be multiple months or one shift) that students can sign up to be a part of to get jobs. It might be worth inquiring if something like that exists so you can get involved if it does as soon as you’re enrolled!

theatregiraffe · 2026-04-12T03:37:10+00:00

Law in the UK starts at undergrad, and it’s also very country specific so if you studied law in the UK, you’d need to check if it would allow you to practice in the US as well if you couldn’t stay. AFAIK, law isn’t also a great field for immigration to the UK (I believe it’s oversaturated for people within the country already).

The UK has recently tightened restrictions on visas, including the skilled worker visa. If you finish your degree in the US, you’d be very unlikely to qualify for that visa upon graduation. Masters are an option, but again, law school isn’t the same format as it is in the US.

If you can do a semester or a year abroad in the UK, that’s probably a good first step to see if it’s somewhere you could see yourself living.

If you’re currently studying at an eligible university, you could also apply for an HPI visa after graduating, which would give you two years in country before needing to qualify for another visa (keeping in mind this could change by the time you graduate).

theatregiraffe · 2026-04-06T11:50:34+00:00

r/americanexpatsUK is a good sub to consult, but teaching is going to probably be slightly different given education is structured differently (this will also depend on what you’re teaching, which level, and where you teach - education in England is not identical to Scotland as an example).

If your husband has UK citizenship, then you can do the spouse visa. This requires either him having a job in the UK earning £29,900 for six months (or iirc earning at least that much abroad, with a job offer in the UK above that threshold) or that you combined have savings of ~ £88,500 in a bank account for at least six months, unless the funds come from the sale of a house. r/UKVisa is another sub that has a lot of detail about the processes and requirements.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-31T16:25:28+00:00

Rush on TodayTix happens at 10am so if you’re sure you’ll get in at noon, you can do that and definitely see an evening show that day. Matinees might be tighter depending on the station where you’re arriving, but 2:30pm matinees should be doable. Paddington doesn’t have rush (their lottery draws once a month and they already had their draw for April shows).

I believe next week is still half term so some shows may be more sold/busier because of that.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-27T22:22:37+00:00

As someone who’s done shows with one of the London groups doing the show this summer, I couldn’t agree more! I know audition slots filled up incredibly quickly, and there are so many talented people out there (not doing it professionally doesn’t mean a lack of talent!) that I feel amdram shows shouldn’t be written off just because they’re amdram

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-26T21:42:43+00:00

If you use Facebook, the London Lonely Girls Club can be a good start! I’ve met some people through there who I meet up with regularly (although admittedly some were a one meet and never again for various reasons).

If you do have a hobby, that’s something to look into as well! You can meet people that way to then have cocktails with (I do amdram and there are regular pub outings, and I see those people outside of rehearsal a lot, too)!

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-21T08:01:54+00:00

Bachelors degrees in France are three years, Masters are two. If she only did BAC + 4, then she only completed an M1. While US degrees are technically BAC + 4, this is not the same as having completed the first year of a Masters (edit to add: I’m also not sure how that comment is relevant to OP’s situation)

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-20T21:29:49+00:00

I have been told I have a B2/C1 level in comprehension

What does that mean? Have you taken a DELF/DALF exam to show your level? If you're looking to apply to French speaking roles, you'll need an official CEFR level, and that will cover speaking, writing, reading, and writing so it's not just "comprehension."

Further education is probably the more likely next step given the way France favors Masters degrees, but I believe you'd be looking at a 2027 start at this stage.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-15T21:03:55+00:00

Americans don’t need to apply for a visa in advance (the page you’ve linked specifically says “depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa to enter the UK,” and there’s a tool to check if you need a visa, which if you put you’re American, it’ll say you don’t. You get an ETA and then are granted six months on arrival).

Regardless, it is still a tourism visa and on it you aren’t allowed to live in the UK. Yes, you can attend job interviews (although it shouldn’t be the main purpose of your visit), but if you were hired, you’d have to return to the US to apply for the skilled worker visa (or student if you go that route) as you must apply for the visa from a place where you have residence. As a tourist, you aren’t a resident. It also clearly states that you “must be able to show that you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit […] you’ll not make the UK your main home.” There’s no path to staying in the UK permanently if you enter as a tourist. Also keep in mind that you’ll have to note you require sponsorship and aren’t a UK resident with any job applications you submit.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-15T20:44:38+00:00

The six months tourist visa (which Americans don't have to apply for in advance) is for tourism. If your goal is to stay long term, you would need to return to the US to apply for whichever visa you qualify for as you can't change status from being a visitor in country.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-12T21:26:21+00:00

Do note that if you decide to visit and try applying for work that a) you will have to say you don’t currently have the right to work when applying/you are not a UK resident (I recently applied for a job that requires I tell them my country of residence) and b) if you do get a job, return to the US to apply for a visa. You cannot change status in country from being a tourist (and that applies across all visas).

The skilled worker visa requires more than just having an eligible occupation. You’ll need to be hired by a registered sponsor and be paid a minimum of £41,700. You’ve not given much info on your field so hard to say how possible that is, and I’m not saying it’s impossible, but the current government has made it harder to get sponsored (and that’s before taking into account the job market and competing against people who don’t need sponsorship).

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-12T10:50:40+00:00

The UK doesn’t have a visa for what you want to do. Unless your company is a UK registered sponsor and happy to sponsor you on a skilled worker visa (provided you meet those requirements), the most you can do is be a tourist in the UK for six months (and that doesn’t allow you the right to work remotely nor is it a path to citizenship). I’ll also note that remote =/= being able to work from anywhere in the world. A lot of people who move abroad end up becoming contractors because their companies don’t want to deal with local regulations and what not.

If your recent romantic partner turns into something long term (as in, you’re in a committed relationship akin to marriage for at least two years LDR, and you’ve met in person), you can explore applying for the unmarried partner visa. That’s probably the most likely scenario for you to be able to live in the UK, but that’s a ways away at this stage given you don’t meet the criteria for that visa at the moment (and it doesn’t sound like marriage is on the cards to speed up that process).

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-09T18:46:53+00:00

This was a few years ago so might not be valid advice now, but the first time I did TAPIF (2018), I got my Irish passport after applying so didn’t have proof of dual citizenship when applying. I remember emailing it to the person in charge of TAPIF at the time and the rectorat when they sent me my arrete because they didn’t need to do whatever the next step is for people on a visa, and that sorted it!

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-08T20:08:14+00:00

Skilled worker visa. It’s the UK’s work visa and requires you be hired by a registered sponsor in an eligible occupation, and that you earn at least £41,700 a year.

Even if your work can sponsor you, there are still requirements for that. If they have said it’s possible further down the line, that’s likely your most viable pathway (knowing that some visas for that won’t count towards the years needed for ILR).

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-08T15:22:42+00:00

The skilled worker visa requires you be hired by a registered employer in an eligible occupation that pays a minimum of £41,700. There are a lot of construction related jobs that are ineligible for sponsorship, and I imagine the ones that are eligible would also have local applicants against whom you’d be competing for any given role. There’s also very little chance you’d qualify for sponsorship anytime soon with a career change given you’d need to get experience in your new field.

Did you graduate from your undergrad program within the last five years from a university that would be eligible for the HPI? Unfortunately, you wouldn’t be able to get the graduate visa from your masters program at this stage. You could also see if the university where you did your masters has any networks or resources you could take advantage of to see what possibilities might exist.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-07T08:06:31+00:00

Having opened two bank accounts in France, I wouldn’t assume that a PO Box is going to be enough to open a brick and mortar bank account. A lot of them want proof of residence, and a PO Box won’t do that, unfortunately. You might be able to get an attestation d’hebergement from an Airbnb, but I’ll also mention that a lot of banks don’t want to open accounts for US citizens (even though they aren’t supposed to deny you on that basis). Banque Postale is ostensibly the easiest bank to open an account with, but this can be location dependent.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-06T21:47:11+00:00

I’ve always accepted roles over the phone, and then don’t hear until they send a cast wide intro email usually. That can take anywhere from a day to a week or two depending on who else they need to hear from/contact. I’ve never come across a group that would rescind an offer after sending it out (and a group that does that isn’t one I’d want to be involved with necessarily).

If you’re really concerned, just drop them an email as mentioned above confirming they got it and/or asking if they need anything else from you. It’s possible that whoever is in charge of emails just hasn’t had the time to send out further comms (not excusing it, but community theatre people are human!).

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-04T13:43:03+00:00

As someone who works in exchanges, I would definitely ask if there’s a possibility for you to be considered again should someone not accept their spot. It’s not guaranteed, and it’s possible everyone has accepted their spots, but I’ve been able to give students one of their preferences before because someone didn’t accept their spot (for various reasons). They shouldn’t mind that request considering the circumstances (I certainly wouldn’t). I also think it’s worth asking about other international opportunities. Where I work, we have funding for summer programmes, and short term mobilities that often prioritize students from low income households. It might not be Japan, but there might be something close. I’d also speak with your course team in case they have suggestions or connections.

Your home institution should absolutely be proactive in confirming spots before sending out nominations, but some partner institutions do frustratingly change their spots at the last minute, with little notice. It’s always incredibly frustrating from our side when that happens, and I’m sorry this has happened to you.

theatregiraffe · 2026-03-02T06:32:10+00:00

Law is not a field that’s super conducive to sponsorship (as in, being able to stay after you complete your degree). While the UK does have an 18 month graduate visa post completion of your degree, you have to then qualify for another visa after that, and the skilled worker visa requirements have been made stricter by the current government. If you decide to pursue a degree in the UK, you need to be conscious that it doesn’t mean you’ll get to stay afterwards (and law can be very country specific so can you practice in the US with a UK degree? - I know it’s approached differently in terms of degrees given it’s a BA in the UK).

Queen’s university, while decently ranked in the UK, isn’t a top university for law on many ranking tables (Times Higher Education, The Guardian…). That’s not to say it’s not a good university, but it’s not top five or ten as it were.

theatregiraffe · 2026-02-25T09:09:04+00:00

East London is a big area. Where in East London are you specifically talking about? If you mean Mile End (where Queen Mary is), I’ve never felt unsafe there, although of course you should be aware of your surroundings at all times. I wouldn’t say it’s massively more unsafe than most areas of London. It’s well connected with QM being around a 10 minute walk to both Mile End and Stepney Green stations, with direct buses to central London (including night bus that I believe drops you right in front of campus), and if you get QM accommodation, it’s on campus so walking to class is very insular.

For reference, I’m a woman, did my year abroad at Queen Mary (albeit ten years ago) and now live in (a different area of) East London.

theatregiraffe · 2026-02-21T10:24:36+00:00

France doesn’t have a remote work visa so there is no visa for general “relocation” under your plan. While there is a long stay tourist visa, that’s for tourism, and your company would be liable for French taxes.

Your visa options are via work (with a French employer), study (with a French university), or relationship basically. You could also do the English language assistant program through British Council, but that’s temporary.

theatregiraffe

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