Thursday 5 September 2013

Careermove

Nursing an aunt with a concussion! Age 15 or 16
Did I ever tell you about my career wishes? About how I wanted to be a nurse since the age of 4? I didn't? Well, that certainly is an oversight on my part. Because I did. Want to be a nurse that is, from the age of 4. Influenced by some sisters of some order or other who were nurses in Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) in Africa. When I was four we had an action week at school and it stuck. I wanted to be a nurse. 

By the age of 15 I didn't anymore. Well, I did and didn't at the same time. I wanted to be a pediatric nurse, but since there are no separate pediatric nurse trainings and I wasn't feeling much for the general side, I lost my interest pretty much. However, all the classes I took were geared towards nursing: mathematics, biology, chemistry. Oh, plus Dutch, English and German. By the time I was 16/17 and trying to get into a course (preferably practical), all the hospitals told me no. They weren't interested, because I wasn't interested. 

One of many excursions during my year at the tourism school
So, it was a career swith. Since we were due to move (which never happened), I looked for and found a school that dealt with tourism. Incoming tourism to be more exact. And from then on my life changed. I failed that course, but by the time I found that out, I was already working in Yugoslavia! My first job since you ask, since I never had any summer or after school jobs. I was too busy doing nothing. 

Fast forward a few years and a few countries (Belgium, Italy, France, England) and I finally moved back home. But after a few years temping and working in such exciting places like a milk powder factory, mail rooms and a biscuit factory, I moved up: a job on the trains, selling snacks and drinks. I had already thought of a different career though: the army! Yes, I wanted to be a driver in the army, despite what my Dad thought about the subject (he was army and thought it was no place for women and if there was: it would be office only. Me and office don't go together). Well, you may realise I never got in. I was mentally okay, but physically? That's a story for another day!

During my first year as a busdriver
My Dad then gave me the only good career advice ever (he had tried once with air hostess, not his best, even he will probably admit): why not try and get your buslicense? And here I am, fourteen and a bit years later, driving a bus for a living. And loving it! Because I love driving and I love interacting with people. I have been all over the place, from as far south as Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast in Italy to north to the Highlands of Scotland. I have been looking at the Atlantic Ocean from Waterville which is situated in the West of Ireland and I have almost been at touching distance to the Polish border in the far East of Germany. 

I have had my palm read by a gypsy in Southern France, walked in mud in Denmark, visited a Champagne house in France, been in a gondola in Venice, saw owls in the Lake District, England and lots and lots more. And for the past 9 months I have been living it up here in Norway. 

In Ireland!
More to come tomorrow!

6 comments:

  1. Wow, you have certainly covered a lot of territory in Europe, and you've been here, too.
    Good for you. The right attitude and an adventurous spirit can take a person (even a woman) a long way!
    Luv, K

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hari oM
    MARA!!! You will not believe this.. but trust me - last night i was stuck for what to post for today and I got the idea 'buses' jump in and I referenced you!! See? RIGHT HERE!

    Loved reading this and look forward to more. If we are lucky, life will guide us all by itself!! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. And it's so related to tourism -- at least your Netherlands job seemed to be.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's so hard to decide what you want to do when you're in your teens. Too many of us make the wrong choices but yours turned out to be ideal.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow you have packed a lot into your life so far - much more to come I am sure. I managed to make it into the airforce and loved it. Looking forward to hearing more.
    Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love your story of how you got to where you are today and I'm so glad you like where you are. You have certainly seen a lot of wonderful things along the way.

    ReplyDelete

Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!