The Journey Begins...
With Brenda, 1 of my closest friends in Melbourne before I made the decision to leave for close to a year.
It was early on a Sunday morning in May 2018 when I had the sudden thought, “I wonder what it would be like to work on a cruise ship?” I had thought about it once about 6 months before, but just hadn’t had the motivation or self-belief back then to really chase it (more about lacking motivation to come in my book). When I thought of it again, I remember I was lying on my friend Brenda’s sofa, trying to gather the strength to get ready and head back to my place in Kensington, Melbourne after a late night out. I guess I had gotten to that point where I was fed up of being fed up of what I was doing and feeling...and not having a clear direction. I had come out of a hard breakup and just felt like I was starting life again, and I had always given back to everyone around me over the years...but never gave much at all to me.
So with thatthought, I messaged one of my sisters in law who has worked onboardships for years. She messaged back “do it”, along with someinformation on how to apply and a summary of what life onboard couldbe like. So armed with that information, I went on Seek (anAustralian careers website) and typed in the Search box ‘personaltrainer cruise ship’. Within seconds a role came up, with thedeadline being two days away.
Just Do It
Photo I sent in as part of my application to join the cruise ship.
“Hmmm should Isend this information in?” I wondered. I had to send a CV, coverletter, copies of my fitness qualifications along with a photo of mein business attire plus a few other official documents. So rightthere and then, I decided not to tell anyone because I wanted it tobe solely my decision, without any influence. So on Monday morning –I ran around getting the application together. By 1pm – I hadpressed ‘send’, then waited to see if I would get a response.
Two days later, Igot a reply inviting me to interview. I remember screaming withexcitement at the computer – not believing I had taken this hugestep for myself. Again, I told noone. I thoroughly prepared for andattended the interview on the Sunday of that week – exactly a weekfrom when I had first seen the role! The interview was 5 hours longlol! Not only did I have to talk about myself, and my fitness careerbackground to a group of other interviewees which included PersonalTrainers, hairstylists, beauticians etc – the Personal Trainersalso had to take each other through a training session and be fitnesstested by the Interviewer.
I gave it 110% andat the end of a long interview – I was told that I had beensuccessful! And so began my journey to life at sea!! I then told mysister and a handful of close friends about what was about to happen,as I began the immigration and study process to get myself ready forsea.
It was a heady mixof excitement, nerves and sheer panic as it all registered that I wasgoing to spend 9 months at sea!!
The Process
1 of my Fitness To A Tee clients Shahani, who then became a beautiful friend. This was the night we met up after a few years & I told her about my decision to leave Melbourne for a while to travel onboard a cruise ship.
After another twomonths of trying to decipher various visa ‘puzzles’; standing inimmigration queues with my heart beating fast and numerous onlinestudy and testing for the role – I made it through to the Fitness &Business Academy in London, UK where I would be studying for at least4 weeks to qualify for a role as an onboard Personal Trainer. Duringthis time, I would qualify to teach Yoga, Pilates, Cycle, Stretchalong with hosting various public health seminars onboard.
It only became realwhen I got my flight for London. It was exciting knowing that I wasfinally heading to London for this role, but I didn’t enjoy packingup my things in Melbourne – particularly fitting my life into onesuitcase ready for life at sea! I gave soo many clothes away tocharity, then left a case with a good friend to look after it for me.Shedding layers of clothes and ‘things’ that I had amassed overthe years was a form of cleansing for me. I remember looking at mypiles of things and remembering all the events that had happened as Icollected these things. And that’s what a lot of them where –just things! It was like peeling off layers I no longer needed in mylife. I cried, I celebrated and cried again.
With Jennifer, a close friend of mine in Melbourne who was there for me through so many soul & spiritual transitions in Melbourne and whilst I packed to leave for the ship. She taught me so much including the might of God's love for me.
The packing at thistime taught me that I didn’t need ‘things’ to feel or be anybetter as a person. What matters is your soul and what you have astreasure inside of you. Things come and go, but your soul doesn’t.
During this time Iwas also happy and proud to complete cooking and taking all thephotos for my Flat Tummy e-book. How I managed it all – only Godknows but it goes to show that you can do whatever you put your mindto! And for me, I absolutely live life through my passions!
Transitions
One of my mostmemorable weeks was staying with one of my close friends Brenda for aweek in Melbourne, before I left for Sydney to stay with anotherclose friend Nyarie - after which time I would then head to London. Icherish that week in Melbourne because I got to rest, I was able toexpress myself fully to Brenda about my feelings, but I also neededtime on my own to prepare myself mentally, physically and emotionallyfor what lay ahead although I don’t think one can ever really fullyprepare for what was to come! I took lots of walks, sat in thesunshine and did things just for me that are still hedged into myspirit to this day.
Saying goodbye the night of my birthday on 17 August 2018 to good friends Brenda and Florence some weeks before I left for my journey onboard a Luxury cruise ship.
Emotionally, as Ileft for the ship - I realise now that for the past two years beforethat I had been in such a strange kind of ‘No Man’s land’. Ihad gone through deep-seated trauma, the most recent which was losingmy dad and going through a horrific time throughout his funeral.Throughout those two years, due to several reasons - I had lost myessence, my confidence and didn’t even know it until many monthslater when I began travelling. I wanted Tee back and I wasdetermined to find her!
Image: captured by professional Photographer & Artist Wendy Chan.
In the next blog...walk with me as I travel to Sydney for 2 weeks before heading to London where I did further Fitness and Business education before I joined the cruise ship...
Useful links...click below
Modelling Business page on Facebook
Elizabeth Chanakira Cancer Trust website
Business enquiries email: fitness@fitnesstoatee.com.au