Thanks for all your replies. There seems to be a mild obsession with food and starvation, something rather unexpected. The heli pilots I have met did not seem to be starving AT ALL. Still I will make sure to enter the profession well padded.
HillerBee; your story about opening your own flight school is very inspiring. I am just amazed that you got clients. I have noticed that many entry jobs are for flight instructors, I would assume that would be something to do when you have at least 5 years of experience. (That seems to be the case here in Canada.) Can anyone explain how this system works? I don't know of any industry where the first job for someone with a very little experience is to teach others.
Not that I wouldn't take an instructor's job. If I get my CPL in Canada can I teach in Canada?
S21