Another "What do i do" question---

[kino]

opinions welcomed---

My recent divorce has given me the opportunity to reflect on my life.  I've been working in pharmacy for over 20yrs and now realize that i dont have to do it anymore. I can now focus on blurring the line between fun and a career.  The term "fun" is relative to a situation---i have worked in a kitchen before and i do enjoy experimenting with my own food--I LOVE TO COOK.  So the next logical step is to jump into culinary school---right?

Well, i recently decided to join the culinary program at the Austin Community College--and let go of one of my pharmacy jobs.  But then i realized i dont have to stay here.  I dont have any kids or a house---or even a car.  (I have a really nice motorcycle---i'm happy.)  Why not drop everything and move to New York?  I could enroll in ICE and find a pharmacy job over there---right?  I dont have enough experience to work in a kitchen---but as soon as i cultivate some skills thats where i'll want to be. 

So here is my question---Do i stay at my local community college and get my associates and go to New York with some experience?  Or do i head straight to New York and jump in? 

By the way, i'm 38yrs old and so eager to start the next chapter in my life--- 

 

[gunnar]

If you can land a job and a place to live before letting go with the other hand... go for it.

 

[eliza]

i suggest you get your associates first then experience yet. New york is a very competitive city where a lot of young newly grads are starved to get a job. and ask yourself, what's your edge? you are new to this field but on the other hand you are an expert in pharmacy, if you have enough earnings then maybe you can take a chance. today, for me, it's all about doing the practical things, stick with what pays but sometimes those who takes risk end up very successful. hope this helps!

--

i started my bakery with HTSB

 

[kino]

Here i am again---leaving Texas for NYC in two weeks.  I found a job in pharmacy and looks like ICE will be the school.  I'd like to find something on the weekends in a kitchen---anybody have any suggestions on how to approach a facililty and ask for weekend work with no experience?  I dont mind washing dishes but i'd hate to do it for free---but i guess at this point i'm in it for experience---suggestions welcomed.

 

[bughut]

No info for you Kino, but I just want to say good luck and good for you. You've done what most folk only dream of doing. I wish you great happiness inNY

 

[culinuthiast]

I'd happily wash dishes in NYC for a year for free if I could, but that costs like $80k right?

Sincerely, all the best, I wish I could do the same. I highly recommend adding learning Spanish to your curriculum/budget (which has nothing to do with NYC fyi, just a generally great skill to have in the industry anywhere in North America and beyond).

 

[aric87]

This sort of presents an issue for you because it's new york, but try this.

Find a type of cuisine you feel as though you will want to pursue after school and go have a heart to heart with the owner or head chef. If you can find a smaller place you'd be better off simply because the slower kitchen will present more time for you to learn, or a really busy kitchen with many employees which would allow the same. Either way, offer to do some work in exchange for the opportunity to learn. Maybe tell them you will come in and do dishes sat if they let you work on line sun, or at night if they let you come in and cook for lunch. You will need to give the owner a reason to bring you on, being that it's going to cost him to have you there, even if your not getting paid. The idea is to start low and once you can work one station, then see if you can work it alone one night, with the supervision of the usual station cook who trained you. Once you can do that, you will be a bigger asset to the company, and can renegotiate the bargain. I can't guarantee it will work out in the city as easily it in a smaller town, but good luck

Congratulations on following your dream. 

 

[kino]

thanks for the great advice and the luck.  I am fluent in spanish, but i'm hoping to learn french or italian---after all these are the countries i'd like to do my externship in---

80k?  Gosh, i hope not.  I dont own a car and the only large expense i see is rent.  

I will look for a small place in my neighborhood---thats great advice!