21 Jul 2008

FUN MONDAY - THEN AND NOW




Irish coffehouse asks us about our Careers : Then and Now

THEN: As a child day dreaming of what your future would hold for you, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever pursue or achieve it?

NOW: If you could be trained and placed in any career beginning tomorrow, what would it be?

As a child I wanted to be married and have two children, a boy and a girl. I gave up this idea very quickly when I saw my father as an example of a good husband. He was a womanizer and I started to dislike all men.

Around 12 I wanted to become an actress and a very famous one and saw myself sitting in a big car and waving to people and earning a lot of money. I gave this idea up too because getting older I became more realistic. So I really didn't know what to do after school.

The move from Germany to Brussels and the very difficult start there because I didn't know any french, directed me into a completely other way which probably I wouldn't have chosen if I would have stayed in Germany.

I learned languages just like that without any school or classes, because I had too. Writing I learned from reading, first french then English where I had some knowledges from school. Then I worked for American companies as a secretary and climbed the steps of a carreer as a Sales Manager assistant for France, Germany and Italy. Languages allowed me to get a far bigger picture of the world and opened up my horizons. I had and still have friends from different countries since at least 30 years which was quite unusual at that time because most of the people stayed in their countries it was not like today with the students exchanges.

Thinking this over and looking back I think life had put me in a good way and if I had to start again I would probably love to do the same. I only would change some boss and sue a lot of them for sexual harrassement !

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19 comments:

  1. I am glad that you are happy with your current career. Good luck with it.

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  2. I think your life has taken you lovely places with your handsome Italian man. I am glad your world has turned out for the best for you. Too bad about the sexual harrassment though. It happens, doesn't it?

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  3. What an interesting life you've had, Gattina. You're right, learning other languages can open up a new world for you...but not so much bad language...lol!

    Oh yes, sexual harrassment...we've all had our share of that, haven't we? There's always some sleeze bag who'll try his luck...creeps!

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  4. G'Day,
    Thank you for leaving your comment on my blog. It is interesting to hear what you thought of the pope as I don't always make a point of keeping up with current affairs.My son has since told me that he had involvement with Nazi youth when he was younger.Ouch!
    You have had an interesting life Gattina, better jobs than I ever had. Education is something I never carried through with, or I may have done better for myself.I just fell into the jobs I've had and stuck with them.

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  5. I had one boss like that...but I put him straight the very first minute he thought he could touch me.

    In so many words, I told him I could change his religion with a flick of my knife I carried in my purse...and you know now, it's against the law to carry a concealed weapon. Hmmmmmmmm, maybe I scared him more than I thought. He never touched me again.

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  6. I'm glad you are so pleased with the way things turned out in your life. That's the way to live it...no regrets.

    Except for some pigs that think they are men...

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  7. I love hearing that you would do it all over again! I am so jealous of people who know more than one language. I wish I did! Maybe I will go back to school and learn a language!

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  8. It's good that you are happy with the way your life has gone (barring dirty old men!). So many people seem discontented it's refreshing to hear another view.

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  9. Gattina,

    I enjoyed your Fun Monday post. It's great that you are satisfied with your career. I hope the days of sexual harassment are over for you. It used to be that way when we were young.

    Take care and if you have time, drop over to my Writing Nook to read my FM post.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  10. It's nice when you can look back and be happy with the path your life too.

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  11. We've, unfortunately, had to deal with the bad bosses. For the most part, those days are over. Thank God.

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  12. great cartoon gattina!!! I am glad you ended up happy and successful!!

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  13. Fathers really make or break daughters don't they?

    It sounds like you've had a very interesting life thus far. I'm glad you wouldn't change a thing- that says ALOT!

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  14. You must have quite a flair for languages if you picked all those up with no formal training in them! I wish I did. I'm afraid languages and music are in the same category for me - extremely hard to grasp.

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  15. I've always regretted not keeping up with any language after school. We only did French but it would be very useful now to be able to remember more than the odd phrase!
    It's good that bosses cannot get away with sexual harassment these days!

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  16. Good story of an interesting life.

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  17. I've always admired people who spoke multiple languages. Not that I couldn't do it -- I just never had or took the opportunity.

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  18. yes, you are right, languages can really open the world for you.

    i think your attitude and humour made your life also more exciting and wonderful :) not just your talent for languages :)

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  19. interesting post!

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