One morning, I received a text from my sister that her son, who was working as a crew in one of the cruise ships in the Mediterranean was arriving home unscheduled. He said that he would explain when he arrives. Immediately, I went to the airport for it was already about the time he was arriving. I was a bit shocked when I saw him. Medyo namayat and he looked a little sick or just recovered from a severe one. My observation was confirmed when we finally talked and rode home. He said he could not anymore take the condition in the ship. It was just too much for him. He narrated to us that they worked almost twelve hours everyday. The work was harder when it is cold and they have to go out to accompany the passengers. Another difficulty was the managing of the baggages of the almost four thousand (4,000) passengers who are boarding the ship.
In their work, getting sick is practically not allowed! As long as you can still afford to stand up, the doctors would not merit you a sick leave. You still had to report for work. They are very strict in declaring a crew as sick for it would entail costs for the ship. They will still be paid while having the leave. Medicines given are being checked if they are really taken. Apparently, there had already been a lot of cases when some crews would call sick only to be caught lying about it. He told us that the work was so hard that to be granted a sick leave is already considered a luxury!
The worst part of getting sick was being alone. He related to us his ordeal when he was very very sick that he could not get up from his bed. As a result, he was not able to eat the whole day! He was really very devastated and frustrated about his situation. His room mate was so deep in his work that he could not attend to him all the whole day. Even in that situation, he was not given a sick leave. The doctor said that nothing was wrong with him. He was forced to work. For three days, he worked in that sick situation. When finally he told himself that he had had it. The pay is good, but it is not worth it. After working for almost three months, he finally called it quits. Time to "sign off"! He was very clear and sure of the decision. During these times when everyone here in our country would take any opportunity to work even under the most adverse situation, he had the courage to say "enough". I admired him for that. He went home partly a failure, but definitely more mature. I asked him if he would ride again. He answered quickly in the affirmative. Most probably in another ship. Hopefully, a better experience and manageable conditions. I am sure he would find another ship to work in. I am sure he had learned a lot from the previous experience that will help him prepare better. I am sure, he emerged from that first ship a better man and a better person!
In life, we are always faced with a lot of decisions. Do we have the courage to make difficult ones with difficult consequences?
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