Ahead of summer, Fashion Editor Polly Rogers talks about opportunities available working abroad in Europe, and her experience in the watersports industry.
For almost a decade, my summers have been spent taking to the sea and sailing away the season - so it was no surprise when, after my many rewatches of Mamma Mia, I found my way to the Google search, “Sailing Instructor jobs… in Greece?” The second result accepted applications from IS (Irish Sailing) qualified instructors. So of course… I applied the same day.
Being lucky enough to be born on this emerald isle, I did not need to obtain a visa and in the post-Brexit scramble, so I was the perfect candidate. Flying out not a month after my 18th birthday, I can honestly say never have I been more excited and simultaneously terrified. I knew no one, nor anything about the summer that lay ahead. I had never heard of the island Kefalonia before, nor been away from home longer than a few weeks… nevermind an entire summer.
Arriving in the dead of night, windy roads and the suffocating heat of late June, whirled around the island in the dark. I began working the next day, sailing across the inlet of the island to the most beautiful beach, with pearly white stones and an intoxicatingly turquoise sea. A whirl wind of a summer flew by… I learned to windsurf- something I had only had the opportunity to try once before, my days off were spent strolling around the tiny town of Lixouri, running into shops full of souvenirs to catch some shade, or at the beach club perfecting my own skills when the guests were gone.
A disaster trip on Greek public transport brought me to Vasiliki to visit a friend. Convinced I could do this lengthy journey both ways and have time to spare in a single day, I was very wrong. I knew the bus schedules would not line up but I hoped for some reason a magical bus would appear and deliver me to my destination at my desired time. The ferry was delayed due to the massive winds that rocked the ionian seas with rolling waves. The beautiful inlet of Vasiliki, which is no doubt the watersports capital of Greece, enthralled me, incredible windsurfers and wing foilers took to the seas in the late afternoon when the phone effect rolled down the mountain bringing the idealistic cross shore winds.
Taking my beginner rig out, I was severely humbled by those prepping for front loops and practicing their planning carve gybes. An accidental catapult led to me and my friend spending most of our little catch up time in the Lefkada hospital over an Xray, which unfortunately left her off the water for the rest of her holiday.
Day trips around Kefalonia showed beautiful villages and sights, the local family who owned the hotel attached to the resort were so welcoming. It was a wonderful community they created on this tiny island, allowing us to immerse ourselves within the culture of Greece, not just to the perception of tourists. The cuisine was incredible for a Vegetarian, while there are Greek restaurants in Dublin, sadly none of them match up to an authentic €3 gyros after a night out from a little take away along the strip.
During my second summer, I worked on the other side of Hellas, on the island of Evia in a tiny little town of Nea Styra. While just as warm as Kefalonia, the high speed winds were cooling and came in a force. The proximity to the country's capital, Athens, also led to days off wandering through the narrow streets, shopping in flea markets and gazing at art in galleries. The pretty town of Stira had long beaches and beautiful areas to snorkel, and cliffs waiting to dive off of. Not wanting to leave early, I ended up staying as late as I could, flying back the day before my first day of UCD. I came straight from the airport to Belfield with no winter clothes whatsoever, just many linens and shorts, exhausted from a summer and ready to see what college had in store.
Last summer I revisited my roots, back to Kefalonia which was just an incredible few months. Exploring areas I had not before, I roamed the island top to bottom with friends and co-workers, having mud baths in the clay cliffs at Lassi, reading books and tanning in Lepeda, exploring abandoned hotel complexes and staying out all night only to get the first ferry back from the city of Argostoli.
If you haven't got any summer plans, I can't suggest a euro summer enough! You can apply to work at a resort for a summer season even if you aren't a watersports instructor, people come out to work as trainees or in childcare or even fitness instructors! The experience from working and living in a seasonaire situation has been invaluable, it was an immersion to adulthood and the best decision I have ever made. With almost 10 months of my life spent working and living in the gorgeous country of Greece, some would have foregone the freckles which are no doubt in my future.
I've enjoyed every drop of sun and miss it daily as I’m walking to my bus through puddles and rain to make it to 9ams, when I was once walking along the waters edge to mess about in boats all day, as my job! I cannot wait for this coming summer when a new adventure begins… the J1! The big apple will definitely differ from island life but I’m more than prepared and excited for it!