Across the ocean of challenges

I am blessed to join my husband in his company’s ship last summer. For the first time in his career as a seafarer, I joined him, who takes full command of the ship, which was at the time docked in Durban, South Africa. I arrived in Durban last April 4, 2011. I was supposed to board the ship the following day, but due to some labor dispute at the terminal, I stayed at a hotel for three days. I thought it was an opportunity to explore the place — especially the uShaka Marine World, a new tourist and lifestyle hub of the city. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone waiting to join my husband in the ship. At the hotel, I met the better halves of some of my husband’s colleagues. After three days of waiting, we finally boarded the vessel. We stayed at the port for two days before we had to sail to the Cape Town, also in South Africa. I had the opportunity to join the vessel’s chief engineer and his family to Table Mountain — a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town — when hubby had to attend to some errands at the port authority.

Using a cable car, the view on top of the mountain was really breathtaking, I said at the time. From Cape Town, we proceeded to Newark, a city in New Jersey in the United States, sailing for at least 17 days. Being at the sea changes people. The stress of long travel, confinement, and separation from my son was wearing me down. However, the solace and serenity of the ocean — in the arms of the man I love — became a source of comfort. Reaching New Jersey was a great relief. It was where I got the chance to be reunited with a classmate in college, which I haven’t seen in the past 29 years. A perfect serendipity in distant shores. Meeting his whole family only showed that the warmth of our friendship has transcended the test of distance and time. Thank you for your time and for being a generous host. You made my short stay in New Jersey truly memorable. I left New Jersey a bit sad because I didn’t meet my cousin and a town mate, who was preoccupied at work at the time. At any rate, dining in a steakhouse in Baltimore — the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland — was a nice way to spend time with my hubby. The Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia state was an interesting sight to see as we transit in and out of the Hampton Roads, notable for its year-round ice-free harbor for United States Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, NASA, Marines, and Army facilities, shipyards, coal piers, and hundreds of miles of waterfront property and beaches. Indeed, the ship composed of new breeds of seafarers. They strive to work with excellence, envisioning to meet the highest standards set by their company. One thing I have learned from the travel is that unity goes beyond race, culture, and gender. With the no blame policy of the firm, making mistakes and learning from them is one of the finest things my husband and his colleagues could experience. I also realized how frugal and cautious they were of their spending. Indeed, times have changed. They are totally different now from the people I have met some 15 years ago. The no-alcohol policy of the company made bonding moments on board a pure and clean fun. I saw darts killer game, tug of war, karaoke, and bingo socials, among many others. That was all fun, and I wanted to say thank you for the time well spent. Till our next journey. — GMA News eigh chuahu tiu Ano ang kwento mo? Mga Kapuso, tuloy ang ating kwentuhan. Sana’y hindi kayo magsawa sa pagtangkilik sa ating pitak na ito. Habang may mga kababayan tayo sa abroad - pati ang kanilang mga kabiyak, anak, ina, ama o sinuman na kabahagi ng kanilang buhay - na nais magpaabot ng kanilang saloobin, mananatili po ang inyong Kwentong Kapuso. Katulad ng dati, hindi kami magsasawa na basahin ang inyong mga kwento - maigsi man o mahaba. Kahit na ang laman nito ay naglalabas ng inyong saloobin, walang mapagsabihan ng sikreto, o kaya naman nais magbigay ng inspirasyon, gustong magpayo, magsumbong, magpatawa o kahit nagpapalipas lang ng oras. Kaya hihintayin namin ang inyong mga email na maaari ninyong ipadala sa Pinoyabroad@gmanews.tv Sa inyo mga kababayan namin saan mang dako sa mundo, kami po'y saludo sa inyo. Kaya ilabas na ang iyong saloobin, ikuwento mo Kapuso!