Originally Posted by
Snowfly
This is a copy of my posting at the other thread too, I hope this will give more information to others who really dont know..... and how I really wished people will be open minded na because its very discriminating/ really hurts to hear bad comments about seaman. Lots of people pinned them down for others mistake. Kawawa naman sila, they are just like any of us- human beings too!
When one remains at sea for a long time, he loses his contacts, his qualities to deal with people, expansion of his view of the world. He serves for months at time on ship and goes back on leave for short duration. I do like to look at seamen now as well, but in a different way - with a different eye.
Yes, seamen earns good salary and for the good ones, he is able to provide better living conditions for the one’s he cares about. A nice house w/ a swimming pool, different cars,a stable business,children all enrolled in the best schools etc. just name it,they really can afford it, if they are that smart enough. Yet, a seaman’s own life do not get benefits of luxuries within his buying power, He has the money to buy all what he and his family desired but he was not able to enjoy it bec. he is on board. He works like a money making machine. Over time the seafarer forgets himself and points his planning towards others only, but most of all- his Family!.
He was sold to sea in the beginning of youth but I know it is satisfying enough to feel that one day he have 2 buy himself back from the sea and the ships and will be among many common people, average people, who live with their families and worry about their day to day needs. Who see children grow and are part of their families instead of being a guest who arrives 'home' after six months, introduces himself to children and waits for kids to get used to him to enjoy their company.
There is a price for either end of the coin: one has to let go the benefits of career at sea and lose a lot in gaining what life on shore has available. The decision is difficult and depends upon ones commitments and responsibilities. A desire to live the way majority leads their life: good or bad, rich or poor, deprived or fulfilled is vital.
Life on shore is busy and demanding too, but end of the day one is home and free. You will be able to walk around when off and see
others around - new people and new faces .
Ship job provides the most important financial independence but buys a seaman’s life in return.These are the reasons why not any of my sons did not study to become a seaman.
On ships one has to be able to do everything from operations to maintenance, from administration to accounts.Sore job is not that easy either. His routines are tough. He work long hours, it is normal so far as the private employment is concerned. But the people are different, they are more descent, not all but most of them. They take their jobs easy - unlike ships where lots more deadlines need to be met and fast actions are required. It is not an 8-5 job, where one goes to an office sits on a table and gets up in the afternoon to go home.
Many years have passed in ship dry-dock, I was standing on deck with my husband and the duty A.B. when my 16 yr.old son approached us and started talking about life at sea and on board ships. By the way, we were on an all expense paid holidays by the company and had come to visit the ship. After hearing about their contracts, leave duration and the scale of our salaries - my son liked the income part of the information. Seeing his interest, I asked him if he would like to join sea. ---
"You stay away from your home for so long and you are confined to the ship all the time, you are selling your lives for money, I want to live a free life - a NORMAL LIFE!!!” was his straight reply .
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