I'll try!

In 2011 I was doing a job that I didn't like, I worked in an office and I sat at the computer for hours, watching my life go by so quickly. The trip we took to Scotland was so devastating and exciting for me that, when I got home, I thought that I could change my life and that Scotland could give me and my partner an opportunity.

So I decided to take a chance and see if this was possible. I started checking the internet to see what the job market in Scotland could offer me. Having worked in the hospitality sector in Italy for a few years, I had only read job ads of this type from different places in Scotland. However, I didn't want to consider job ads from big cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow; I preferred to consider opportunities from smaller Scottish cities. I sent my CV to several ads, keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed.

Used to Italian standards, such as slowness in responding to an email or, worse, ignoring it completely, I was surprised by the amount of responses received in a short time. But one person in particular intrigued me, because instead of responding with an email, he called me. It was Ian (the owner of two hotels on the Isle of Bute) who was looking for a "general assistant".

On the phone we talked about our respective work experiences, obviously all accompanied by many questions from both parties. Needless to say, Ian had aroused my curiosity, but even more so, he had confirmed that Scotland would be an excellent choice. The problem I now had to face was that, before deciding, I wanted to meet Ian in person and see with my own eyes where the Isle of Bute was. I opted for a soft solution; I took a week off work in October 2011. I booked a flight to Glasgow and asked Ian to host me in the hotel for the whole time. In exchange for room and board, I would work for him, giving me the opportunity to get to know the hotel, the staff, the property, the type of work required and therefore be able to choose in complete safety.

So I left for Glasgow on October 25th 2011, via London Gatwick, exactly 5 months after my first visit to Scotland. I was over the moon, even if a little scared, and Ian and his wife Angela were waiting for me at the airport in Glasgow. The next day Ian picked me up in the car and took me to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and we took the ferry from Wemyss Bay.

The crossing was already an adventure for me. Everything was new and exciting. The day was beautiful, the sea was calm and Rothesay opened up to my eyes as a charming town nestled in a small bay.

The small harbour was filled with pleasure boats, sailboats and motorboats, which indicated that Rothesay was a summer tourist destination. The small town, which has a population of about 3,000, was bustling with life and a long row of bars and restaurants lined the main street facing the sea, including the Victoria Hotel where I would be working and staying for the week.

I was introduced to all the staff who worked at the hotel, people from all over, but all very friendly and ready to welcome me and help me get into this new reality. The 7 days passed quickly and soon it was time to leave Rothesay and go home. Now I just had to figure out what to choose after talking to my partner and children; easy said but not done. Want to know how it ended? Follow me in my next post.