The Value of Meaningful Work
Oana was born and raised in Romania. Since she can remember, she has wanted to explore her country and the world.
From Business Administration to Park Ranger
Oana has a degree in business administration. In her second year of university she chose to go to the USA through a program called Work and Travel. She spent the following summer in Malta working and travelling. Back in Romania she lived in various parts of the country, working for example in social media. In 2017 she discovered an agency offering jobs in Iceland.
“That’s when I first arrived in this beautiful country. I worked at the cafeteria in Skaftafell and then I left at the end of 2018 because I was offered a job in one of the national parks in Romania.”
The job in the Romanian national park suited Oana perfectly.
“I got to work with kids in summer/winter camps. That was a dream job for me, because we were teaching them nature education and we were also playing a lot. I stayed there until 2022, when I decided to return to Iceland and since then, I’ve been living in Skaftafell.”
National parks have been Oana’s field of work in recent years, and she now serves as a park ranger. Over time she has held many different jobs. “I like to explore to see what I’m good at,” she explains. Working as a park ranger, as well as volunteering, is particularly important to her.
“Being a park ranger is an amazing job. This, and all my years of volunteering, are my proud moments regarding career path. Volunteering is an important part in my life. Since I was a teenager, I liked to get involved in projects and help. From dealing with troubled teenagers, to children with disabilities, children from foster homes, underage pregnant girls, homeless people, Scouts, I did plenty. Before I left Romania, to come to Iceland, I was in 4 different organizations.”
In Öræfi, Oana continues this work as a volunteer by participating in the rescue team.
Öræfi Has More Than Job Opportunities to Offer
Work was one of the reasons Oana settled in Öræfi, but the surrounding nature also played a big part in the decision.
“Skaftafell is a beautiful oasis, where nature is so close to you and the air is fresh and there is not that much pollution. Plus, it’s crazy that I just get out of my house, walk a couple of meters, and see all the mountains and the glaciers. I think it’s a blessing to live in a quiet place, with nature close. It provides a kind of peace it’s hard to find in a lot of places in the world.”
For Oana, the decision to settle in Öræfi was relatively easy. She considers herself very adaptable. However, she notes that living in the area also brings certain challenges, including social factors.
“Being a pretty sociable person, I would say it’s easy to meet people but it’s a bit hard to form real connections. First, because most of the people, at least the ones working for the park, come and go, as they usually have a short contract. Second, except being in nature over the summer and going hiking or climbing or etc, there aren’t many places to attend for fun activities in a group, like a bowling place or a board games club. I realized that social life is a big part of my life, and I don’t fully have that here so I’m trying to do my best with what I have.”
Despite these challenges, Oana also highlights several advantages: very little daily stress, no city noise, traffic, or crowded commutes. Last but not least, the community in Öræfi means a lot to her.
“The community is great, with a diverse age group but with similar interests. I was fortunate to work and meet with some locals too and they are awesome.”