The nail salon was bustling with laughter and chatter, a symphony of multiple languages mixing in a delightful melody. As I sat there having my manicure, I couldn't help but notice the woman next to me looking around with a bewildered expression. Sensing her confusion, I turned to her and asked if she needed anything. At that time, I was fighting my boredom of sitting still, unable to do anything since my hands were tied, literally 😅. As it turned out, she couldn't figure out why everyone was laughing so hard that one staff actually cried. The joke was in Vietnamese, so I tried my best to translate it into English for her. "Oh really? How is that even possible? That's hilarious!" She was surprised and amused. "Well, I'd like to think that in Vietnam, everything is possible", I replied with a grin. The room was cozy and bright with vibrant colors and a sweet aroma of vanilla and lavender. The manicurists were busy creating art on the customers' nails 💅. We sat on comfy chairs and talked like we were old friends.
It didn't take me long to realize the person I was talking to is a modern superheroine. She was a paramedic from Melbourne taking some time off to explore Vietnam.
"Being a paramedic is a fabulous job," she told me, her face lit up. "Every day is different, and you never know what's going to happen. One day you might be helping someone who's had a heart attack, and the next day you might be delivering a baby. It's a job that requires quick thinking, and the ability to work well under pressure," she said, "and it's not just physically demanding but emotionally taxing as well." She shared stories of saving lives and helping those in need, but also of the toll it can take on one's mental health.
She went on to explain what her daily schedule looked like, which varied depending on the type of shift she was working. "I work 12-hour shifts, which can be either during the day or at night. I usually work three or four shifts a week, so I have plenty of time off to pursue my other interests."
Becoming a paramedic in Australia requires a lot of hard work and dedication 😤. As she talked from her experience, to become a paramedic, one needs to complete a degree in paramedicine, which usually takes three or four years. After graduating, they also have to pass a series of exams and gain some experience before becoming a registered paramedic. However, challenges come with rewards. "One of the best things about being a paramedic is the sense of fulfillment you get from helping people. It's a job that makes a real difference in people's lives, and that's a really rewarding feeling", she said with a big smile and twinkling eyes 🤩.
As we chatted, we also talked about the gender gap in her field. "There used to be a lot of discrimination against women in the paramedic field, but things are slowly but steadily changing. About 30 years ago, the paramedic industry in Australia was majorly male-dominated. However, now it's a 50-50 ratio, and more and more women are joining the field," she said. "It's a positive sign for women's empowerment, and I'm proud to be part of this change."
As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this serendipitous encounter. It's those moments of genuine human interaction that make us feel truly alive and connected to the world around us. It's easy to get caught up in our little bubbles, but when we step out and engage with others, even for a brief moment, we open ourselves up to a whole new world of experiences and perspectives. And in that small Hanoi nail salon, I was reminded of just how powerful those connections can be ✨.
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