Welcome to England!

The Transition Assistance Network (TAN) Committee of the American Community School Hillingdon PTA has compiled the following information. Although we have suggested specific people to call for various services, we cannot guarantee that you will also be completely satisfied with them as everyone has different needs. At the time of printing, however, we have been able to recommend these people simply as a starting point for you. The best resources are people that you will meet along the way. Ask questions and hopefully you will find everything your family needs in England. The volunteers from the Transition Assistance Network are happy to answer questions anytime, so please call one of us. The school can provide you with a current list of volunteers.

There is a Feedback Sheet at the end of this handbook. If you have any information that you feel should be added, removed, or changed, please use the Feedback Sheet. We welcome your comments.

Information is also available in your community. Forbuoys or Martins (newspaper shops) have books specifically about your area. The local libraries carry information about leisure activities in your area, general interest courses, etc. See listing of libraries under Libraries. Local leisure centres also have sports, swimming, camp programs, etc.

The W.H. Smith bookstore also has map books. Consider buying these area books for the areas that you and your friends will be living in. The following are good resources:

Barnett's Berks & Bucks Street Atlas

Local Red Book: High Wycombe, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Amersham, Chalfonts, Flackwell Heath and Bourne End.

London A-Z (pocket size) - good for city travel and includes a map of the underground.

County Red Book

A-Z Master Atlas of London

There is a Japanese handbook sold in Japanese food stores and Japanese department stores in the Piccadilly area of London. The book costs approximately £3 and has information about doctors, automobiles, shopping, etc.
There is a French magazine called "Bonjour" with different kinds of information for French citizens and also a French video club. The phone number is 020 8392 1408.

You may want to consider ordering The International in Britain. This is a good magazine for expats. The Junior League of London sells an excellent book on living in London. It costs approximately £14. You can get an order form by phoning 020 7499 8159. Also, the Chilterns American Women's Club offers a one-day seminar called Notes on a Small Island, which provides an excellent source of reference materials. Contact the CAWC Hospitality Chairperson.