The Journey(wo)men Years

A traditional and developmental stage for several kinds of tradespeople in the German-speaking countries. When I first saw them, I thought I was looking at Mennonites or Amish, before somebody explained who they were and what they were doing.

Who are these intriguing characters and what can we learn from the whole concept of undertaking one's 'journey(wo)men years'?

As you'd expect, the practice dates back centuries, and though the landscapes have changed through which these apprentices move, their corduroy outfits, top hats and gnarled and knobbly walking sticks haven't! Neither has the purpose or the benefits of their mission.

When an apprentice - usually a chippie, sparky or other classic 'work-with-your-hands' tradie - completes the majority of his (and increasingly her) trade apprenticeship, they are strongly encouraged by their mentors to don the uniform of the wandering tradesperson and take to waltzing far and wide across the European continent and sometimes even further afield - even as far as Australia!:)

The idea is to round off and complete their vocational education and training through real-world experience in a variety of learning contexts and by finding their own informal learning opportunities. Just think of the variety of architectural styles in Europe alone that they can gain exposure to! They do this by trudging along from town to town, or these days probably more by bus, train or carpooling together, knocking on doors and offering their service in exchange for mentorship, and quite often room and board. No employment or apprenticeship service provider to speak of, and often navigating different languages and customs while negotiating the terms of their employment.

Sounds fun, doesn't it?

At the end of this period, usually a year but it can last longer, the tradies return home and formally complete their apprenticeship and receive an official qualification. They then set about perfecting their trade and utilising the many skills they've learned on their travels.

Far from being just another quaint vestige of medieval European culture, this tradition still serves the communities it emerged from so many years ago and offers us in 2022 and beyond a model for how to achieve life-long learning and maintain a growth mind-set at each stage of our career, up to and including retirement.

In the education and employment service industries today, it is becoming increasingly common (and necessary) for professionals to be 'mobile' in order to service remote areas and/or provide support to a large volume of clients spread out over the countryside. This is why you'll find formal job titles springing up like 'Mobile Employment Consultant' and not-so-formal ones like 'Travelling Trainer'.

Not a bad antidote for that grey nomad and empty-nester itchy feet! Now just to find an affordable Winnebago...

Happy Learning

GW