Chasing my Dream Job @ 40!!!

Pulane Nyoni Start Date: Aug 15, 2024 - End Date: Sep 23, 2024
  • London, United Kingdom

My Travel Story

by: Pulane Nyoni Start Date: Aug 15, 2024 - End Date: Sep 23, 2024
Hello friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,
At 40, some might say I’m too old to be chasing dreams. But I’ve always believed that age is just a number, and the heart knows no limits, especially when driven by passion.

My journey as a chef began later than most. At 30, when many are already deep into their careers, I found myself stepping into culinary school as one of the oldest students in the class. I wasn’t just learning how to cook; I was proving to myself—and to the world—that it’s never too late to pursue what you love.

My love for cooking was deeply rooted in my childhood, intertwined with memories of my dad. Every year on Christmas Day, also his birthday, I would bake him something special. It became our tradition, a moment just for the two of us amidst the holiday chaos. He was my biggest cheerleader, the one who believed in me even when I doubted myself. But when I lost him during the COVID-19 pandemic, it felt like I lost a part of myself too. The joy I once found in the kitchen disappeared, leaving behind an emptiness that nothing seemed to fill.

COVID hit the world hard, and the culinary industry was no exception. Suddenly, I was a 30-something-year-old chef with minimal experience in a world where even seasoned professionals were struggling. Who would hire someone like me? The thought echoed in my mind, but I refused to give up. I began taking small orders, cooking meals, and delivering them myself. Occasionally, I would take on cake orders, each one a bittersweet reminder of the days when I baked for my dad.

After his death, everything changed. My kitchen, once a place of comfort, became a place I avoided. The joy of creating something from nothing seemed to have vanished along with him. I stopped cooking, lost in grief and uncertainty. My two girls, my heart and soul, kept me going, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had lost my way.

Time, however, has a way of healing wounds, even the deepest ones. As the years passed, I slowly found myself drawn back to the kitchen. It wasn’t easy, but with each dish I prepared, I felt a little bit of myself returning. I began experimenting again, reigniting that spark that had once driven me to culinary school. Cooking became my therapy, my way of remembering my dad while also carving out a new path for myself.

Then, after months of job hunting, numerous video interviews and practical trial days, an incredible opportunity came my way—a chance to bring my passion and expertise to Afrikana, a place that values creativity, tradition and African food. It’s more than just a job; it’s a chance to start anew, to build a better life for my daughters, and to honor the memory of my dad by doing what I love. This opportunity feels like the culmination of everything I’ve been through, a chance to prove not just to others, but to myself, that I can do this.

At 40, I’m not just chasing a dream. I’m living it. I’m showing my girls that it’s never too late to follow your passion, that setbacks don’t define us, and that sometimes, the hardest journeys lead to the most rewarding destinations. My dad might not be here to see it, but I know he’s with me in spirit, smiling down as I step into this new chapter of my life. And this time, I’m not just cooking for the world; I’m cooking for him, for my girls, and for the love of the craft that brought me back to life.

Thank you for reading my story. 
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Chef Pinky
  • London, United Kingdom