Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help.

-Christina Feist- Heilmeier

Everyone I’ve met in the UK so far is fathomed by the idea that I would pack up my life in a hot, beautiful country like Australia to move to the UK, where it is cold and rains every day. This is my reason…

I cannot lie I love my home country, the beaches, the sun, and the laid back lifestyle are absolute bliss. The dream of buying a house on the beach and watching the sunset every night is still a dream I have. However, I caught the travel fever when I was quite young, at the age of 15, when my mum encouraged me to go to Japan as an exchange student. Since then have travelled 25 countries including New Zealand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Turkey and a lot of Europe.

I have always wanted to move out of Perth and experience another way of living with a bit more excitement. I had my eye set on moving to Melbourne but unfortunately couldn’t land myself a Job. I’d already received a conditional job offer from a UK hospital but had never really contemplated moving so far from home. After speaking with the nurses on my last clinical placement, they told me what a great opportunity it was and that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was. Ultimately I’d say they convinced me to keep an open mind and at least consider the option.

I thought about all my options and ultimately decided that I had nothing tying me down in Perth and the thought of continuing my job as a carer, until I could start a nursing job in Perth, gave me chills. Europe was the cultural change I desired and would give me the opportunity to continue travelling and would challenge me in every way possible.

So with the yearning to live somewhere more cultural I decided to give it a shot in this cold, rainy country… So far it’s not been too bad.