Reflecting

Amarante, Portugal

I haven’t written anything for the blog in a while. I think I’ve said pretty much everything I wanted to say from my experience in Medicine - at least for now. If I come across anything that inspires me to share my thoughts and feelings and opinions, I will! But for now, I’m just enjoying not being frustrated with work, not being chronically anxious and not being angry with how things are.

We are really enjoying life in Portugal. All I can say is that we are blessed. Things have gone as smoothly as we could have hoped for. Luke’s parents visited us again the last few days, and it was just so easy. We didn’t need to stress over planning for weather or activities. It was pretty hot when they arrived and I think it drizzled one of the days, but the weather was mostly on our side. We had lazy mornings in and we’d set off for a walk or a drive to another town for the afternoon and evenings. There are so many beautiful places to see and we just have to park up, apply some sunscreen and go for a nice leisurely wander. No fuss, no hassle.

Last night we were watching Youtube videos about buying property in Portugal and we had a quick look at properties that are currently available. I’d really LOVE something by a river - Luke laughed at this very specific request. But then I thought, we had very specific requests for our rental, too, and we got it! (Yes, I think we got super lucky and yes, I believe someone’s looking out for us up there) but we got pretty much exactly what we were looking for. A 3 bed with private outdoor space and air conditioning. Not to mention how the apartment backs onto a manor house and its gardens, so Loki can roam freely away from the busy streets! This place is just perfect. So I’m going to go ahead and be optimistic about a property that either backs onto a river (the dream) or is within a 5-minute walk of a river.

And then there’s TEFL. Honestly, it’s incredible how well things have worked out. I am so grateful that Luke’s Mum suggested TEFL way back when. This may sound ridiculous to you, but I start work at 11:00 and finish up just before 18:00. I get to make my schedule however I please. I’ve been tweaking it every couple of weeks to optimize it, and my current schedule blocks out 4 hours 45 minutes of available teaching time per day, Monday through Friday. The pay isn’t amazing but because we live in Portugal, I’m actually earning more than enough to pay for rent and utilities.

I AM NOT a morning person. I have never been, unfortunately. I do envy those that are. So to be able to give myself a few hours in the morning to do my yoga, shower and prep for lessons without being in a rush for work and without having to drag myself out of bed at some ridiculous hour and hate every second of it - oh my gosh, it is a real blessing. I am actually awake by the time I start work. (I’d want to be by 11 am!) It is wonderful.

Although I only teach a maximum of 4.75 hours per day, I also prep for my lessons, make notes after lessons and send feedback to each student every day. So the total hours worked is probably more like 6.5 hrs per day. It boils down to this: I work part-time and make more than Portugal’s minimum wage in a month.

I don’t want to be misleading. I don’t have spending money right now, but my goal was to make enough to pay for my half of the rent and utilities - and I’m able to do that pretty comfortably. Luke has to cover most of our other expenses, which is not ideal, but I need to be ok with that. As Luke put it, I’m starting from scratch, and when we look for our first job fresh out of university, it’s not usually a well-paid one. In time, I’ll gain more experience and apply for better-paid teaching roles or I’ll work on a platform where I can set my own rates. The important thing is, I’m doing something, and the more important thing is, I’m actually enjoying it. 

If you’re stuck in a rut, feeling miserable, feeling tired, and feeling unmotivated at work and in life in general, don't just accept the way things are. Do a little research into alternative careers. Go on Youtube and find some inspiration. Read a few blogs. There is a Plan B out there that will work for you, but you have to do a little bit of digging to find it. You don’t have to be miserable, you don’t have to hate waking up in the mornings and you don’t have to live for the weekends. Don’t give up hope and please don’t just accept the way things are. They don’t have to be this way, but the only person who can change things for you is you.

I’m not saying I have found my dream job or my new career, but I am happy with what I’m doing right now and with how things are going. I received my first rating on Cambly, and I am so pleased with myself. I cannot complain about work right now, and that has to be a first! I enjoy giving lessons, I enjoy seeing my regulars and my schedule is getting booked up. Thank you God! So for now, I am happy with work and I am happy in Portugal.

If you would like to share your own story about considering a career change or making a career change, whether you’re a healthcare worker or not, please send me a message! I promise it’s therapeutic and you can be a source of validation and inspiration for other people feeling much the same way as you!

Thanks for reading!

Take care of yourselves <3