Muchos dicen que la suerte no existe, que solo es el pretexto de los fracasados. En cambio, otros dicen que sí y que ocurre cuando se unen oportunidad y conocimiento. En cualquier caso, hay que andar atentos, puede que la vida nos sorprenda de manera positiva en el momento menos esperado.
Hello, hivers. It’s with great pleasure that I greet you. I’m here to tell you about how someone’s life changed in the blink of an eye.
Many say that luck doesn’t exist, that it’s just an excuse for the unsuccessful. Others, however, believe it does and that it happens when opportunity meets knowledge. In any case, you have to stay alert; life might surprise us in a positive way at the most unexpected moment.
A Yordy lo conozco desde que empezó la escuela. Es contemporáneo con mi hija y pasaron toda la primaria y la secundaria juntos. Pero independientemente de eso, es el único hijo de mi gran amiga hermana Raisa, de quién hablé en un post hace un tiempo. Yordy siempre fue un niño dócil aunque en la secundaria sufrió una pequeña metamorfosis y le dió algún que otro dolorcito de cabeza a la madre.
-Es bueno en lo académico, pero muy conversador y le gusta ser el bufón del aula-decian los maestros en reiteradas ocasiones.
I’ve known Yordy since he started school. He’s the same age as my daughter, and they went through primary and secondary school together. But beyond that, he’s the only son of my dear friend, sister Raisa, whom I mentioned in a post some time ago. Yordy was always a docile child, though in secondary school he underwent a slight metamorphosis and gave his mother a few headaches.
-He’s good academically, but very talkative and likes to be the class clown, his teachers said on several occasions.
For that reason, Raisa “never took her foot off his neck,” as we say in good Cuban slang. Thanks to that, she managed to get him to finish secondary school and pursue a career as an English teacher, something he wasn’t too thrilled about. First, because he didn’t like the language, and second, because the idea of teaching and dealing with the antics of naughty kids (like himself) wasn’t in his plans. Nonetheless, he started, finished, and graduated under the strict supervision and guidance of his mother.
Lo ubicaron a trabajar en una secundaria y gracias (una vez más) al empeño de la madre, hizo su servicio social mientras empezaba también la universidad (aunque no la terminó). Después de eso, no quiso seguir trabajando de profesor, pero algo tenía que hacer, con 18 años ya era hora de aportar algo a la economía de la casa, así que hizo varios trabajos como fregador en un restaurante y hasta aprendió a hacer dulces en una dulcería particular. Mientras tanto, matriculó en cuanto curso relacionado con la gastronomía apareciera. También paso un curso para trabajar en barcos Cruceros. Se anotó en varias bolsas de empleo y Agencias de Viajes.
He was assigned to work at a secondary school, and thanks (once again) to his mother’s persistence, he completed his social service while also starting university (though he didn’t finish it). After that, he didn’t want to continue working as a teacher, but he had to do something. At 18, it was time to contribute to the household economy, so he took on various jobs, like washing dishes in a restaurant and even learning to make sweets at a private bakery. Meanwhile, he enrolled in every gastronomy-related course that came up. He also took a course to work on cruise ships. He signed up for various job boards and travel agencies.
Durante un tiempo siguió en su trabajo de dulcero, pero tampoco era algo que lo hiciera feliz, traía dinerito para la casa, pero en su mente mantenía la ilusión y la esperanza de que algo cambiaría en algún momento. Ya cuando apenas pensaba en eso, recibió una llamada para una entrevista de trabajo. Si era aceptado, entonces trabajaría como Mayordomo de Cubierta (Deck steward) en un Crucero Turco llamado Celestyal Journy. Dentro de sus funciones estarían las de atender las necesidades de los clientes que están en la piscina y mantener organizada el área. Y si, en efecto, fue aceptado, poseía actitudes y aptitudes, su título de profesor de inglés también influyó en eso. Ni el mismo se lo creía, menos la madre.
For a while, he continued working as a baker, but that didn’t make him happy either. It brought some money home, but in his mind, he held onto the hope and illusion that something would change at some point. When he was barely thinking about it, he received a call for a job interview. If accepted, he would work as a Deck Steward on a Turkish cruise ship called Celestyal Journey. His duties would include attending to the needs of clients at the pool and keeping the area organized. And yes, indeed, he was accepted—he had the right attitude and skills, and his English teacher degree also played a role. He could hardly believe it himself, and his mother even less.
When I found out, I was overjoyed. I told Raisa it seemed like her love for Turkish soap operas had set the law of attraction in motion. What a coincidence that her son would go work, of all places, on a Turkish cruise ship. The pay for that job might not be significant for a Turk, but for a Cuban, it’s a lot—quite a lot. Maybe that’s why those companies seek labor from this part of the world.
Gracias a ese trabajo, Yordy ha podido comprarle a su madre los equipos electrodomésticos más sofisticados para su comodidad, hacer arreglos en la casa y enviarle dinero para que pueda alimentarse de forma adecuada, ya que la pensión de su retiro, no alcanza ni para una semana teniendo en cuenta la absurda inflación de este país. Es cierto que el precio es la separación de los seres queridos, pero en este caso, vale la pena. De todas formas, siempre va a poder regresar. Además, gracias a la tecnología, ve y conversa con su madre todos los días.
Thanks to that job, Yordy has been able to buy his mother the most sophisticated household appliances for her comfort, make repairs to the house, and send her money so she can eat properly, since her retirement pension doesn’t even last a week given the absurd inflation in this country. It’s true that the price is being separated from loved ones, but in this case, it’s worth it. After all, he’ll always be able to return. Plus, thanks to technology, he sees and talks to his mother every day.
Pasaron 9 meses, Yordy volvió a Cuba de vacaciones y pudo, incluso, ir a un hotel en Varadero con su novia, cosa imposible con un salario de profesor. En estos momentos, está de nuevo el alta mar. Su vida dio un giro de 180 grados, ahora puede vestir a su gusto, comer lo que quiera, ahorrar algo de dinero y hacer planes. Ha conocido a muchas personas y su inglés se ha perfeccionado.
Nine months passed, and Yordy returned to Cuba for a vacation. He was even able to go to a hotel in Varadero with his girlfriend, something impossible on a teacher’s salary. Right now, he’s back at sea. His life took a 180-degree turn; now he can dress to his liking, eat what he wants, save some money, and make plans. He’s met many people, and his English has improved significantly.
Ha visitado varios países y lugares del mundo gracias a su trabajo en el Crucero. Países como Turquía, Dubai, Montenegro, Croacia, Grecia (incluida Santorini), Italia (incluida Venecia) y hasta se montó en una góndola y pasó por debajo del famoso puente de los suspiros. Yordy se volvió un marinero de la noche a la mañana, un trabajador serio y profesional, porque la suerte es loca y a él le tocó.
He’s visited several countries and places around the world thanks to his job on the cruise ship—countries like Turkey, Dubai, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece (including Santorini), and Italy (including Venice), where he even rode a gondola and passed under the famous Bridge of Sighs. Yordy became a sailor overnight, a serious and professional worker, because luck is crazy, and it struck him.
Gracias por visitar mi blog
Texto e imágenes de mi propiedad
Thanks to visite my blog
Text and imagen are my own
