Tuesday.
Let us start at the beginning. It has been a goal of mine to work as a midwife in New Zealand since my first year of midwifery training. I was working with a midwife that had worked there for two years and had nothing but amazing things to report back and after some research I found myself drowning in a multitude of positive experiences that New Zealand health care and midwifery had to offer. A big thing that drew me to this work culture was the continuity of care for their patients and the focus on patient wellbeing and safety. (Not to law suits and the punishment of health workers for being human). Also, let us not skip over their amazing leader; Jacinda Ardern... girl power or WHAT?!
During the third year of my studies, one day I came home after a long shift to Ben who had an excited grin on his face and the posture of a small boy waiting to enter a sweetshop. As I hung my coat by the door and washed any residual covid off my body and clothes, Ben told me that there was a promotion opportunity in the New Zealand Defence Force. My energy levels surged and I became giddy as I bounced on the spot and said "Oh my God! Apply for it! Apply for it now!"
"Already have!" he said, confident that this would have been my response. Ben knew this was my dream, and it was starting to come true!
Months went by and the interview process was dragged on and on. The C word was halting all travel so I think the company saw no point in choosing who they wanted prematurely, especially as the pandemic could change peoples circumstances or enthusiasm for the job position. June rolled around, (6 months after the opportunity presented itself) and he flippin’ well got it!!! Now, I am writing to you from a Bowing 777 aircraft in Singapore awaiting take off to Auckland New Zealand.
Questions you may have: Do I have a work visa? No. Do I have the 2 years of experience required to work as a midwife on this country? Also no, but I sure as heck have my certificate, assessment books and revision material for the exam in NZ when I arrive! In the mean time, there is a sweetness to my lack of employability. I say 'lack of' but I have left behind two job offers in the UK and I have a job offer in research at the University of Wellington once my work visa clears. So, why do I not have a work visa? Who the fuck knows? Covid has made everything less accessible in NZ for sure, but they are literally short of midwives and they gave me a visa to come over to their beautiful land, but not one that lets me help them with the shortage they are experiencing.
Going back to the sweetness of unemployability, I can now put all of my time and energy into some awesome sight seeing, blogging, vlogging and creative juices that have had to be limited and controlled during my scientific education and midwifery studies. I finally feel free. Don’t get me wrong, there are downsides. We only have one income which makes money extremely tight living in the Capital. Thankfully, due to Bens parents and mine we have a small rent and food buffer and an adventure fund which was gifted to Ben under strict instructions; "This money is not for food, rent or bills. This is for you to enjoy this adventure".
The want to write returned to me during my layover at Singapore for the first time in a long time. Any inkling or creative waves that have hit me in the last three years have had to be thrown into a body bag, filled with rocks and yeeted into a river shortly followed by an industrial sized (plugged in) toaster. However, now I have the ability... or even better... the excuse to make time for the creative things that I really enjoy. The things that bring in no money, that cannot be standardised tested and do not prove intelligence or win you grant money or unconditional offers. There is just time, and a brand new place on the other side of the world for me to explore on a budget in arguably the safest country during C-19. Come with me?
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