I have changed career paths -- I was a freelance editor for many years, and now I'm studying to be a travel agent. I'm taking a six-month, full-time program at a tiny private travel college run by a very knowledgeable woman who can tell the most interesting, sometimes hair-raising travel stories.
Although I feel I haven't learned much yet, I am about three-quarters of the way through the course already. There was a huge geography lesson, of course, and lots of information about fares and ticketing, travel insurance, and the different kinds of jobs out there in the huge tourism industry. I know what a "trade discount" is (yay!) and how much it costs to open your own travel agency (whoa!). I have also learned how travellers are pretty well protected by TICO here in Ontario, so that if anyone, anywhere in the world, buys their travel services from a TICO-registered travel agent, they will be covered up to $5,000 for undelivered travel services in the event that a supplier (e.g., a tour operator) goes bankrupt. Pretty cool.
So my head is exploding at the moment. I have not got much time to write or reflect, and I have no idea where I'll end up after I've got my diploma, but I'm excited to be doing something new. I love to travel myself, which is what convinces me that I could encourage others in their plans to do so.
If you find yourself in a rut -- try something new!
Well, I care about this issue, so I won't leave it alone when something useful like this comes out. I particularly love the statement in here, that there's no point in trying to leap a chasm in two steps. You've got to have the will and the strength to make the big change that will benefit everyone.
Well, you learn something new every day, they say. Last Friday was my day to learn that groundhogs come in colours other than brown. Yep. Found a black one, near the Rideau Canal. Here it is:
Lifetime
Pine Siskin
