The Apprenticeship of Nidinia
The apprenticeship program is a popular alternative to an individual attending a college. The program requires a certain number of years, usually two, for a student to learn a craft/trade from a master/teacher. This usually starts at the age of twenty. An individual will submit their name and their desired occupation and mentors who are part of the program will pick who they believe has the most promise. It is rare for a mentee to leave without an apprenticeship, but it is not rare for them to leave with a mentor in a field they are not interested in.
After two years of the mentorship, the mentor/master/teacher will release the apprentice and either hire them or deem them worthy of continuing on in the chosen field. There are a few exceptions, such as witch apprenticeships that can stretch on for many years. Due to this, most witches are not looked down upon for the number of years spent in tutelage. But for anyone else, they are seen as a disgrace if they have spent more than a few years without graduating. It is also seen as a bad omen if a tutor ever lets an apprentice go early, forcing them to reapply to the program.
The following was written by a cultural academic from Paisa.
It is an odd thing, is it not? Apprenticeship. That is usually something we would equate to the colleges. In fact, one not attending a college to enter their desired profession is truly rare, if not merely unthinkable. I know none from Paisa, but perhaps that is due to our dear kingdom’s size and the lack of restraints on our colleges. Regardless, I write to you as I have been informed that you are now back from your trip to Nidinia. I wished to ask you how you feel about their apprenticeship program. You have delved into it, correct? If only to understand it. I did so on my second visit and was honestly baffled. They informed me that certain towns held shamans who would visit a newborn’s family. Upon this visit, they would tell them the future job that their child would have, and that was to be the end of that. Near the age of twenty, the child would then go out and find an apprenticeship. For those lucky, it was an apprenticeship in the field that the shaman had foretold many years ago. For those under unpropitious circumstances, it was nothing more than a job with poor pay. I have continuously tried to understand why one would choose a predetermined future in this way. Not only to point out the monotony of such a life, but also the lack of free will and the ability to venture down a path one prefers. Both you and I have made great strides in our respective academic fields but imagine we were born in Nidinia. A shaman, one whose divine powers should undoubtedly be questioned, could claim that we would be nothing more than farmers or merchants. Overlooking even the idea of how a shaman claims such things, the apprenticeship system alone is folly. When I asked how long one stays in said apprenticeship, they could only give me an imprecise number. This would be fine if they did not follow such number up with the words, ‘but it all depends on the master.’ Did others not judge the individual? Though I will not speak ill of these so-called masters or teachers, if one was to simply wish for cheapened labor, they would have to look no further. I fear the only way out of such a predicament was to resign, which would surely call for them to be looked down upon by society. With that, I simply say call it for what it is, another form of slavery. … Perhaps I am far too harsh. I have done little research into the apprenticeship program of Nidinia, and I could be harshly judging this system due to my animosity towards their views on slavery. This is why I ask you, my dear friend, to get the thoughts of another non-native academic. I hope this letter finds you well. Do give your partner my greetings. I look forward to your reply. Your Friend, Everett
Comments