Ati Anderson has been working at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont for three years, but prior she had literally been all around the world.

Ati was born and raised in Bali, Indonesia. She met her husband there and the two began traveling.

The couple settled in Fairmont when their daughter began attending college at Minnesota State-Mankato six years ago. The family had been here before as Ati’s husband is originally from Fairmont.

“It was kind of a culture shock when I moved here,” Ati explained. “I was far from my family and the first few years here I thought, ‘What should I do?’ I would go up to Mankato to visit my daughter and I began working some at Giddy Up downtown [in Fairmont] to help my friend Denise.”

Ati’s husband was a personnel manager for Club Med for many years, which is why the family traveled so much. Club Med’s headquarters is in France.

“We spent so much time in Paris, always going back to check in, I feel like it’s a second home for me,” Ati said.

In addition to living in Paris, other places the Andersons have lived include Thailand, Florida, Morocco, Sweden and the Bahamas. Wherever the family has lived, they have stayed at Club Med.

Ati has worked several jobs in the past. She has worked as a secretary at different places, finding a job wherever the family is stationed at the moment. She has worked as an assistant food and beverage manager for Club Med, and also at a few boutiques, as she loves fashion.

Taking a job as a care provider at Lakeview Methodist in Fairmont was outside of Ati’s comfort zone.

“I saw many listings in the paper for CNAs but I didn’t know what that was so I looked it up and wasn’t too interested,” she said. “But my husband encouraged me to look into it. He loves education and learning. He signed me up to take the course and after earning my certificate I didn’t apply for a job for several months, but now I’ve been here for three years.”

Ati said being a care provider is not for everyone, as it is work that is physically and emotionally involved.

Ati was young when her own father and grandparents passed away so she didn’t really understand. She helped take care of her husband’s parents, which was eye-opening for her.

“I get touched very fast by the people here. They welcome me and smile when I walk in and it makes my day,” Ati said of why she enjoys working at Lakeview.

“This job is not always easy. You have to work as a team and support each other,” she explained, adding that she is grateful for her co-workers.

“It’s hard work but it’s important to know that you have to work with your heart here. That is key,” Ati said.

Ati’s mother and much of her family still live in Bali so she goes back to visit from time to time. She is not sure where the future will take her. Her daughter lives in Mankato but Ati and her husband may see more traveling in their future.

“I’ve always loved to travel. The rest of my family wasn’t like that, just me. I’ve always liked to see new places,” she explained.