Taking
up BA Hons Culinary Arts course was very exciting for me. Mostly because I was
looking forward to the 3rd year of the studies. Travelling, I had so much
enthusiasm thinking of going to Shanghai. I was so lost in my dream of living and
learning Asian cuisine that I forgot the biggest challenge of my life. As a
parent studying full time is a challenge but going abroad when you have
children is insane, so many will think but it's possible. I am deliberately
posting this for those parents who wants to pursue their dreams but hesitate
because they have a family. It is challenging but can be done. I soon realized
going to Shanghai should remain a dream and decided on Canada, that did not
work out either. The only thing left was for me to think rationally. Northern
Ireland was recognized as an international country for students to take up both
industrial and academic placement. That was the first challenge out of the way,
it meant I can continue with my international placement closer to home. The
best part was getting my work placement in Newry which is only two hours away
drive to my family all that was very relieving.
The next step was to look for accommodation, I had never been to the North, so
I had no idea where to start. The hotel had offered me a live-in accommodation,
but I had to turn it down because I could not Live with a three-year-old at the
work place and a childminder. I looked up estate agencies online and private
postings, rang a few places but I had no idea how far those places where from
the work place. Finally, I gave myself a task of finding from Google map the
nearest areas to the Mourne Country Hotel and rang the places which were closer
and arranged a viewing day. Luckily, I fell in love with one of the places I viewed.
A spacious one-bedroom apartment in Warrenpoint just a minute walk to
the beach and a playground right across the road it was perfect for me and my
little girl. Of course, that meant 15-20 minutes’ drive to work
but it was worth. Warrenpoint is a very small town in Newry with loads
of tourism attractions. My favourite times were walks on the beach after work
and going to the ice cream parlour Genoa. I decided to start my placement
during summer, so I could see my kids more often without worrying about taking
them out of school. Also, the main reason was so I won’t have to worry about
find a childminder on top of everything that was going on. Every week on my off
days I drove to Carlow and took one child with me to help mind the baby while I
went to work. Despite being away from home I got to see my children every week
I overcome the first challenge by planning a little. Accommodation and
babysitter was sorted I only had to start work and open the bank account, how
hard can that be so I thought.
First I had to get a National Security number, that was not so hard the work place manager helped me making phone call and appointment. Opening a bank account was more challenging that I thought to an extend that I gave up on the idea of having one.
By Sindile Vundla @mournecountryhotel. Newry. Northern Ireland
First I had to get a National Security number, that was not so hard the work place manager helped me making phone call and appointment. Opening a bank account was more challenging that I thought to an extend that I gave up on the idea of having one.
By Sindile Vundla @mournecountryhotel. Newry. Northern Ireland
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