How does 最初の何年かは work here?


I'm communicating with a Japanese penfriend on italki, and I've got a few
problems with what she has written me in Japanese

For context: Amongst other things, I've told her that I've changed my
profession. I successfully finished my studies to become a teacher, but I've
changed into the IT sector because, in my country (Germany, Bavaria), there is
no need for teachers anymore for the subjects I've studied.

Now, I haven't told her this background information and as far as I can
understand, she tries to convince me to go for it. The problem is, as I said,
that I don't understand everything she has written me.

>
> 仕事を始めるとき、最初の何年かはとても大変ですね。でも嫌でも続ける事は、何か自分に意味があります。そういうふうに、日本では言います。だから、本当に自分のしたい事が今できなくても、できるときがくるので、そのときまで粘ってください！かな？？？

What does 最初の何年かは mean? Does the topic marker は include the とき phrase as well?  
=> "(Concerning?) The time you start your work, (concerning?) the how many
years of the onset it is horrible.




[何年]{なんねん}か means "a few / several years" (≂ [数年]{すうねん})

cf:

> [何日]{なんにち}か ≂ [数日]{すうじつ} "a few / several days"  
>  [何人]{なんにん}か ≂ [数人]{すうにん} "a few / several people"  
>  [何回]{なんかい}か ≂ [数回]{すうかい} "a few / several times"

So 最初の何年か means "the first few years", and the は is a topic marker.

> 仕事を始めるとき、最初の何年かはとても大変ですね。  
>  When you start a new job, the first few years will (usually) be really
> tough/hard/difficult.

p.s. 「数+counter」 sounds a bit more formal than 「何+counter+か」.




[何年]{なんねん}か means "a few / several years" (≂ [数年]{すうねん})

cf:

> [何日]{なんにち}か ≂ [数日]{すうじつ} "a few / several days"  
>  [何人]{なんにん}か ≂ [数人]{すうにん} "a few / several people"  
>  [何回]{なんかい}か ≂ [数回]{すうかい} "a few / several times"

So 最初の何年か means "the first few years", and the は is a topic marker.

> 仕事を始めるとき、最初の何年かはとても大変ですね。  
>  When you start a new job, the first few years will (usually) be really
> tough/hard/difficult.

p.s. 「数+counter」 sounds a bit more formal than 「何+counter+か」.

