Zoey

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I grew up in a rather poor family. Too many people in the home, so we never had much spare. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of love and laughter. But....we never got to go on holidays. I didn't even know that was a thing until I saw some shows on TV about how families would take vacations. To me the only people that actually travelled were professionals. Working for TV, or businessmen, or really rich people.

I used to love the travel shows, that would share the beautiful places, beaches, mountains, cities. A yearning started that grew stronger over the years to actually see these places. But I knew it would take money.

My school grades were fairly good. I wasn't sure if I should go to university. Where I lived had low cost school with the government loaning the money so anyone could go. I would talk to my mum quite a bit about it. She knew as I would always ask about her adventures before she married dad and travelled to several countries. Back in her days it was a lot cheaper to travel. She encouraged me to find my passion or else I'd hate my profession and in the end waste time and money. She made sense. But apart from travelling, I didn't know what I could do.

When the last year of high school arrived, and I had to decide about university, I decided to do a business degree, as there was so many things I could use it for.

That Bachelors degree was so much harder than I thought! Thankfully my mum was a true support when I would call home to talk, complain, or get an essential recipe! Also I wasn't the oldest, so my older brother, James, who was almost finished his degree when I started at the same Uni, showed me the ropes and warned a lot of guys off.

Partway through I got a job at a small store at the mall. I had already got several years under my belt back home in our home town. I knew how to work well and became valued. Years went by, I finished my degree, but didn't have any real place to go. I applied for so many jobs but didn't have the 5 or 10 years experience they all seemed to think I would have straight out of university! It was depressing, staying in a small minimum wage job. Feeling rejected from the entire business world. Going nowhere. Staying home. I couldn't afford to travel.

Then, a couple of years after university, an old workmate contacted me. She was going on maternity leave at her new job, and wanted me to fill in. She wasn't in retail any more, but in a growing IT business. My degree was perfect and she vouched for me. My heart was running a mile a minute and I was sweating when I went for my interview with the owner. I had no clue how it would go. My friend said I was a shoe in, but I had been disappointed before with how many job applications had been turned down over the years.

I kept sweating for 3 days. Waiting on a response. Going to my normal, boring retail job. Thinking that maybe, this once, I had a chance.

Then the phone call came. I was so thankful I was at home.

I GOT THE JOB!

I cried. I called mum. I called James (my older over protective brother), I called my friend who had recommended me. My friend laughed, she'd known the result but was forbidden from telling me until it was official. A whole new world was beginning!

first trip, first overseas, etc