IlzeBaiza :
Irealisedthatthere ’ sno suchthingasadeadendjob – thereisonly deadendpeople !
MeetourbloggerIlzeBaiza ( 28 ), whohaspromised to take our ‘ ForAnyWoman ’ readersontourto explorethediferentopportunitiesandaspectsof women ’ scareers . Aswelaswritingforus , Ilzeisa motherofhersixyearold son , hasa degree in chemistryandafultimejobasapesticideresidue andconsumerriskspecialist .
‘ Thisisatoughworldanditisnotalwayseasyto folow your dreams , but there are so many magnificentwomenwhohavesucceeded ! Iwant tomakesuretheirstoriesareheard !’ shesaysand smiles , thentakesa deep breathand continues : Nothing isposible withouthard workand even moreimportantly – withoutabeliefinyourself !’
Inspiring isn ’ tit ? There isno doubt-articlesand interviewswritenbyIlzewilsparkaninterest , but todaysheissharingherownstory .
Oftenwomenareputinthepositionofhavingto choose between family and career . You have managedtohaveboth , canyoutelushow ?
Therearequiteafew womenwhohavemanaged tobebothmothersandtopprofesionals ! Sothere isnothingthatspecialaboutme , however , Ithink , whatmightbediferenthereishow Igotmotivated tomoveforwardandactualyachievesomething inmylife .
AboutsevenyearsagoIwasworkingandlivingin London . Ispentsixdaysa weekbehind a barin Fulham . Starting a careerasa pub manager seemedtobeaperfectopportunityforme . Things werejustmovingintherightdirection , whenIand myfiancé ( myhusbandtoday ) decidedtohavea child . Iwashalf-waythoughthepregnancy , whenthings changedfrom goodtobad , andthenfrom badto worse . Firstunexpectedly , onebyoneour ‘ forever livingtogether ’ flatmatesmovedaway , leavingus alonetopay1,200poundsrentfortheapartment . Each ofthem had a diferent , buta legitimate reason-itwasn ’ tliketheyhadachoice , theyjust hadtogo .
Thisleftuswithverylitleorevennomoneyatal afterpayingthebils . Eventhoughwebothwere workingfultime , thewagesjustdidn ’ tcoverital . Despite ourdesperate atemptsto find new flatmates , luckjustwasn ’ tonourside . Ikeptmyself positive and worked up tilthe verylastmoment beforeleavingformaternityleave , butthingsjust gotworse . Iremembermyhusbandwalking4milesadayto gettowork , aswecouldn ’ tafordtopayforanotherbuspas . Oneweekwehadnothingtoeat , butluckilyIhadearneda ‘ stafofthemonth ’ card atwork – a 25pound voucherforanyfood and
Author : DatsaGaile Photos : Ilze`spersonal archive
drinks . To make materseven worse , onlya few monthsaftermysonwasborn ; wereceivedanotificationthatwehadtomoveout . WithoutclosefamilymemberslivingintheUK , we hadnowheretogo . Forthefirsttimeinmylife , Idecided to askthe localcouncilforhelp . Itdidn ’ t seem righttomeatfirst , asIwasn ’ tborninthiscountry . Itwasmyownchoicetomovehere , butthen thingsgotmoredesperateandIrememberedthat 2 / 3ofmyfamilywereBritish .
Sadly , nobodyinthecouncilwasinterestedinhelpingus . Insteadtheysuggestednotpayingtherent andlivingthereforthreeyearswithargumentsand infearuntilacourtorderwouldbeisuedtoremove usfrom theproperty . Thiswasn ’ tthefirsttimeIhadnowheretogo , but thiswasthefirsttime , Ihadababytotakecareof . I thinkinthatday , whenIreturnedfrom thecouncilI criedoutaboutyears ’ worthoftears . Nextmorning , abrandnew Ilzewasborn . Ididn ’ twantmysonto everexperiencesomethinglikethisagain .
Whatdidyou do ?
RentpricesoutsideofLondonaresomuchcheaper . InWiral , forexample , youcangetawhole2-3 bedroom house forthree orevenfourtimesles moneythanpayingforatwobedroom apartment inthecapital . Myhusband ’ sworkcompanycoveredthewholeoftheUK , soitwasn ’ tdificultforhim to geta transferto anotherarea , butforme it meantIwouldlosemyjobforgood .
Luckily , they paid outthe restofmy maternity moneyalatonce – whichwasenoughtocoverthe depositand onemonth ’ srent . Onlythendid we realisethathavingthecorectamountofmoney didn ’ topenthedoortoyourchosenhousestraight away . Wehadtogetmilionsofpapers , waitforal reference checksto be done , and waitagain beforewecouldmovein .
WhenitfinalydidhappenIwassohappytohave somewheretocalhome . Inthebeginning , wehad nofurniture , notevenablow-upbed , butaslongas therewasaroofoverourheads , wecouldn ’ tcare les . Althoughthingswerealotbeter , sincethere wasonlyonewagecomingin , westilhadtoliveon averytightbudget .
Myatemptstofindanew parttimejobwereunsuccesfulandIfeltuselesandverydepresed . The onlywayIcouldkeepmypromisetomylitleboy wastodaretodream bigger . Iwasonamisionto realisemyhighschooldream – togetauniversity degree .
Ifyouareinterestedinbloggingforusorsharingyourpositivelifestory , youhaveabusinessandyouarehappytogive awaysomepricesforourreaders , youwouldliketosupportuswithgifts , financialyoradvertiseinouronlinemagazine , orifyouareastudentandlookingforaninternship , youcancontactusatinfo @ foranywoman . com