Some contracts are insanely difficult…some…like this one? Are most definitely not.
This contract – thus far, and I’m almost reluctant to mention it for fear of jinxing it – has been a stroll in the park. For the first month I hardly even had to host any classes as it was straight port days with, and this month – well there are more sea days, but something about htem seems to be going much more smoothly.
I’m not sure what it is exactly, its not as if the contract has been overwhelmingly joyful (if anything I’m honestly just a little bored) – but it’s been easy. About the only thing that’s shaken my routine is a touch of a cold…
The people are…rather uneventful to be honest. Neither here nor there, some are very enthusiastic, some are…quite the opposite. You try and make a joke and they stare at you as if you have three heads, and then the next day they laugh…
People are so strange!
About the only stressful thing going on at the moment has been the insane amount of preparation involved in going to spend my 6 day break during dry dock with Amras in Florida. It is more complicated than one would think for two reasons – first, because I’m coming in as a crew member I can’t just stay on in the states; I have to leave the states and then return on a standard tourist visa. So that part is set easily enough thanks to a deviation on my flights and a really good travel agent. But this is also my first time visiting our southern neighbours as a fiancé, and I want to make sure that that crossing goes as smoothly as it possibly can. I am after all, not looking to stay in the states, Amras and I aren’t even getting married until at least next year, and when we do tie the knot we’re not planning on living on the US side of the border; so I have to be sure to make it clear that yes I am most definitely just visiting. Nothing more. That means having every single flight detail and hotel booking printed off, along with copies of my next contract (which I am joining in the Bahamas)…in short, paperwork, lots and lots of paperwork…
But hey, I’m an ace at paperwork, so off we go!