Helpful tips on tricky words

Do you know the difference between 'vocation' and 'vacation'?

'There is this metaphor I like to use: a director is just like a carpenter, it's a vocation. The only difference is, this industry draws a lot of attention. If there's anything exceptional, it's the industry that's exceptional, the industry that's glamorous, not us. We just happen to be a part of this industry. That's why I think filmmaking is an ordinary job, a job that I like. And when the day comes when I can't do it any more, I will let it go.'

From an article by Winnie Chung, published in the Post on April 9, 2006

Professor Sun moved to Hong Kong at the age of 12 to join his father. The deprived days during his childhood had inspired him to be a doctor so he could 'help people in the shortest period of time'. Yet he found another vocation after failing to get into the medical faculty at HKU in the 1960s due to his limited English. He opted for biology at CUHK instead, followed by a master's in botany at HKU. From an article by Linda Yeung, published in the Post on April 1, 2006

Graduates can begin by defining the word 'career'. According to strategic services firm GA Puleo & Associates, 'a career can be classified as a way to obtain money and status - a means to an end. And a career may also be defined as a vocation - one's true calling'. Your calling is an occupation which you enjoy; something which presents not only a challenge or a sense of job satisfaction, but also a deep sense of personal fulfilment.

From an article by Crystal Tai, published in the Post on February 23, 2006