And indeed, on the job training really meant something, it worked and everyone was happy. :) Now I am on a not so happy place, but ah well. It pays the bills.

It might also be worth mentioning that when I made them that bet, I was employed, and had a reasonable salary. I was head chef at a small town hotel, got along good with everybody, and just at this particular time my boss decided to buy another hotel. He offered me a "name your pay" job to take the whole manager business for the hotel I was on while he focused on the new job. While being trainee meant cutting my income in half while moving to an expensive town. What would you have done?

In retrospect, I think I did the right move. I love programming. I now make at least as much money as I ever would have as hotel manager. I think. And the proposed new hotel never got bought - partly because I left, but it is possible it would never have happened. And there I would be, still stirring soup and lifting heavy and very warm stuff. Which is fine, just not as fun. :)