Christmas Abroad: Changing career to become a truck driver in North America
For our annual feature on local people who won't be home for Christmas, Adrian Cusack compiled interviews with people from the greater Athlone area who are spending the festive season in Canada, England and Australia. Here is our interview with Holly Burdess:
This year marked the seventh anniversary of former Athlone IT student Holly Burdess's move to Canada.
Where are you from originally, and where are you based in Canada?
I'm originally from Ballinasloe, the home of everyone's favourite horse fair and the home of Supermac's! I've been in Canada seven years this past August, and have been in Calgary, Alberta, ever since I landed.
How did the move come about, and what do you do there?
After secondary school I took a gap year, followed by a two-year course at AIT (now TUS). I still had a hankering to up sticks and see the world. I ruled out the US, and Australia had spiders, so I landed on Canada. They did, after all, have cowboys.
I've spent the last six years, including the Covid years, working in and running bars and restaurants in downtown Calgary, a big jump from my days at The Villager in Glasson.
Alongside the usual serving and bartending, I was also a general manager of a distillery start-up, and a bar manager of a fine dining restaurant. In both, I got to make amazing cocktail menus and bar programmes.
That is until this past year, when I wanted a change and went into schooling to be a truck driver. After getting my licence over the summer I am now a fully-fledged fuel hauler with one of the biggest companies in North America and Canada, called KAG, driving the highways of Alberta!
What are the best and worst things about living in Canada?
The best thing about living here is the diversity. Calgary is a city where it's hard to find born and raised Calgarians. It's a melting pot. I have just one friend who was actually born here! Also, our summers and sunsets are the best in the world.
The worst thing has got to be the homeless crisis in the city. It pairs alongside the drug use, which is pretty rampant, and that is unfortunately common in most major cities here.
What are your plans for Christmas Day this year?
My best friend/roommate and I are hosting Christmas for her large family and all their spouses and kids: Ten adults, two kids, and three dogs, so it's going to be one busy house. The downside is I have work the following morning at 5am!
What are some of the things you will miss most about Christmas in Ireland?
Obviously the Christmas dinner. Nothing beats your own Mom's stuffing. That and the build up to Christmas. I spent my teenage years working at Glendeer Pet Farm, so Christmas was always a six-week affair.
I'll also miss having drinks in town with hometown friends on St Stephen's night. Seeing all the people you haven't seen in years is definitely something I miss tremendously.
Is there any message you'd like to send to your friends or family reading this?
For my parents, Angela and Alistair, and siblings Fern, George and Primrose, they definitely know I miss them but I'll be heading home in April for the first time in five years, for my brother's first baby's Christening, and I have everyone warned we shall be doing Christmas 2.0 then!