Extraordinary Jobs for Ordinary People

This past week has been really busy, but really fun too. My best friend from high school came to see me, and it was the first time we'd seen each other in 25 years! We only had a few days, and barely scratched the surface as far as updating each other on our lives to date. Add my two wild little girls to the mix and her retired mother, and you can just imagine how full our few days together were.

In light of all that, I didn't blog at all this week! Instead, here's a little story a friend sent me this week:

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he picked up a very large and empty glass jar and filled it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of small stones and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The stones, of course, rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was. So the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous - yes. The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour the entire contents in to the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."

"Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers!!"

Feature:

A Life at Sea

by Raymond Ouellette

I have enjoyed my life at sea, considering that it is not what many people think of as a "normal" job. Travel and variety have been the norm, rather that the 9 to 5 existence and lifestyle that so many people spend their whole lives at. I have just spent 3 months on Vacation in Europe with my partner: not something the average person can ever expect to do without Lottery winnings! I don't have any reservations as to my chosen profession, although it is not for everybody. You must be happy in your environment, wherever you may be, as long as you are healthy, safe and comfortable. Out of the 23 years that I have spent at sea, 19 were either on Passenger or Cruise Ships.

Working with the travelling or "cruising public" is very interesting. You will get to meet people from virtually everywhere. They are on Vacation and enjoying themselves, so most people that you meet will be fun and interesting to be around.
The countries that are visited by today's Cruise Ships are as varied as the vessels are themselves. This in itself is an excellent reason to seek a position on board these "Floating Hotels".

A good job for a young man or woman would be Cruise Staff on board any well-established Cruise Company. They must be of an outgoing nature, considering their main responsibility is keeping the passengers occupied and enjoying themselves. The hours will sometimes be long, although broken up throughout the day. Most vessels on a 7-day itinerary will visit 5 countries, and while in port, most of the Cruise Staff, as well as Casino and Gift Shop personnel will be able to leave the vessel and enjoy the many exotic locations that the ships will visit.

Most companies hire their Deck and Engine ratings from Foreign countries, making it very difficult for someone without an Officer's License to find Employment onboard these vessels. I was hired as Chief Officer, with 17 years previous experience to make the transition to this type of vessel simple and easy.

A cruise ship is much the same as a small town or community. It will offer much of the same services to passengers and crew alike. It also has the same inherent problems: people will always gossip and want to get into everybody else's business and life. Common sense and awareness of your surroundings, especially for female
staff, is the same onboard ship as it would be in any other environment.

I have had the pleasure of meeting crew from many countries covering all of the continents. Filipino and Indonesian deck crew, carpenters etc. have shown me that professionalism in the Deck and Engine department is not limited to North America. English, Italian, Greek, Croation, and many East Block countries produce well-trained Deck and Engine Officers. I consider some people from Central and South America that I have had positive professional experiences with, to be among the most competent seaman that I have worked with thus far.

Currently, I am employed onboard the Offshore Supply Vessels in the Petroleum Industry covering most of West Africa. It has been a very positive experience for me in that I have perfected my ship-handling skills, along with getting my Dynamic Positioning Training. Many new vessels, including some Cruise ships, are being built with the state of the art Dynamic Positioning Systems. I look forward to many more years in this Industry, and with my training and varied experience, the possibilities are endless as to where I will spend the next 20 or so years.

Happy Sailing!

about the author:

My name is Raymond Ouellette. I am a Canadian seaman, with 23 years experience in the Maritime Industry. In case of comments or questions, my E-mail: ouellette_raymond@hotmail.com

I am looking for an entry level position on a cruise ship that supplies
airfare, in any type of field. Please help me.

Hi S. K.,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Here's what I have in my database for cruise jobs:

My Cruise Ship Job.com www.mycruiseshipjob.com/joblist.htm
membership: $69/year, but you can access their message board free of charge.

Here's what that $69 buys:

International Shipping Partners - www.isp-usa.com
Visit this website for thorough details about deck crew and officer requirements aboard cruise ships. To send they your resume:
Attn: Human Resources Manager
4770 Biscayne Blvd., Penthouse A, Miami, FL 33137
Tel: (305) 573-6355, Fax: (305) 573-5177
mailto:resume@isp-usa.com

Please, contact: cruise@emax.ca or fill in the online application form
Have your credit card ready, the application fee is $38.95.
(This is reasonable and expected - you won't find a placement agency that is free.)

In This Issue

Feature:

A Life at Sea