Melody Patricks’ journey is a powerful testament to the boundless possibilities that come with determination. Rising from the grips of poverty as a small-scale Mitumba trader, she transformed her life, ultimately securing a position as a crew member on a prestigious five-star cruise ship.
At 36, the single mother began her journey in Kenya, where she sold second-hand clothes at a small stall. A friend connected her with a Bahraini family in need of a nanny, opening the door to a new chapter in her life.
Driven to transform her and her 15-year-old son’s lives, she embarked on her journey, spending three months as a caregiver. After a brief return to Kenya, she headed to Qatar for another short stint as a nanny. When she returned to Kenya once more, she brought back all her savings—Kshs 100,000—ready to invest in a better future.
“I didn’t stay long and got a job in Qatar. Still, I was not satisfied, so I went back home after six months,” she narrated to a local media house.
Unwavering in her resolve, Melody turned her focus to Dubai, making her way there in January 2021, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global crisis severely impacted the job market, leaving her struggling to survive in a foreign land. Melody ended up sleeping in a parking lot with two other Kenyan women, and by day, they tirelessly pounded the pavement in search of work.
“We would shower in a mall, dress up nicely, and head to the streets looking for a job,” she recalled.
Before long, she secured a job as a nanny, working on an hourly basis, caring for the children of families stranded by the lockdown. Her duties included babysitting the guests’ kids for five hours each night, earning 150 Dirhams (KSh 5,000) per hour.
While working as a part-time nanny, she quickly realized that her prospects in the job market were limited without additional skills. With her impressive earnings, she enrolled in a nursing school in Dubai, skillfully balancing her work with families alongside her new academic pursuits.
“I had so many clients for part-time that I couldn’t manage two jobs. I had to resign from the Irish family and focus on being a night nurse,” she continued.
Her fortunes eventually took a turn for the better, allowing her to buy a car and create a stable life. Unfortunately, this progress was short-lived, as the easing of the lockdown brought a return of guests to their home countries, leaving her unemployed again.
Photo: Melody Patricks/ Facebook
Melody then turned to applying for cruise ship positions in Europe, submitting applications to various agencies in her quest for a career on the high seas.
She eventually landed a crew position with Viking Cruise, stepping into a world she had long dreamed of, prayed for, and fasted about.
On board, she applies her skills as part of the ship’s medical team, working while traveling to various destinations around the globe.
The job comes with its challenges however, as according to Melody, spending most of the year at sea can lead to emotional stress. It demands a person who is both resilient and determined.
She views the job as a stepping stone toward achieving greater goals. It is important to stay focused and not let the challenges deter you, or you might end up quitting within the first two weeks.
Despite the long working hours, she finds the silver lining in having fellow countrymen on board, which makes her time worthwhile. She also appreciates the perks of the job, such as attending parties, enjoying spa nights, and exploring new places when the ship docks.
She warned interested crew candidates, “There are no days off; that is why they have a short contract of six months,” advising them to be vigilant in renewing their contracts or seeking better opportunities.
She advises people to approach the job strategically, noting that it provides the opportunity to accumulate numerous international stamps, significantly enhancing one’s travel history.
