A New Journey

You were a dreamy child and always followed your dreams to the end. And for good reason. You always dreamed of conquering the oceans, and now you're in your third year at the maritime academy. Thanks to your connections and your father's help, you were allowed to board an operating ship! The night before departure, you couldn't sleep with anticipation. In the morning, you headed to the airport. Car, plane, car again—and there you are, standing on the dock. Before you looms the large vessel that will take you on a long journey. Your breath caught in your throat with excitement.

In the distance, you heard your father's familiar voice. He was the ship's chief engineer, and you were very grateful for his help. As it turned out later, you were the only newcomer on board. The crew consisted of people between 20 and 40 years old, representing different nationalities and views, but you were undaunted, knowing this journey would not be easy. Before sailing, you called all your family and friends; their support made your heart melt.

Everyone on this ship has their own duties, their own bit of work. As a newbie, you had to follow the instructions of your elders, and you did your best. Washing the deck, cleaning pipes, checking chains, and everything else—that was your main job. Because of your father's position, you rarely saw each other anyway, even though you were on the same ship. But you were prepared for it. You often stood on the bridge, observing the watch, sometimes asking questions, and were even allowed to touch things! You were in seventh heaven.

On the ship, everyone communicated in English, as the sailors came from different countries, with different values, and English allowed everyone to understand each other: giving commands or exchanging a few words. The schedule was four hours of work, four hours of rest. Night and day merged into one. This voyage wasn't about comfort, but about gaining new knowledge and hard work. Who knows what you'll encounter along this winding path, but most importantly, your dream had come true, and you were striving forward, into the unknown.