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!