Hello to everyone. My name is Mannes and I am the chief engineer on board the Esperanza. I have been on board for over 125 days now and my clock has started ticking. Four months ago when I left my house, Spring was just making its way up and now, by the time I get back, I have to start collecting fire wood to get me trough the winter. Its a funny thing, sailing. You leave your house to go to work and by the time you put the key back in to your front door, it's one or two seasons later.
Five years ago I joined Greenpeace after being a donor for ten years. It was in my head already for a long time, to join one of the ships and a discussion in a pub with a former Greenpeace engineer made me cancel my job interview for a factory fishing company and the next morning I was on the phone with Greenpeace. Five years... and not one single minute has been wasted. I sail around the world with the most strange selection of people, helping out were ever we are directed, from the northern hemisphere to the southern, from summer to winter and the other way around, changing our ships clock's forward and backwards as we make our way trough the time zone's.
This must be one of the most dynamic jobs there is. Not always easy, but never a dull day. My job on board is to make sure that all the technical systems are in a good condition and stay that way. Of course I also fix broken things, from the sandwich toaster to the main engines, from the boat cranes to dripping taps. It is a busy but very rewarding job.
Today has been a good day, the ship has been pitching and rolling a lot due to bad weather and the sun has been hiding behind the thick dark grey clouds for most of the day. Once in a while it is good to experience some bad weather, to look out over the ocean at the big wild waves, the white foam flying around..... It makes you realize how small you are and how nice it is to have good weather.
Ah, I said a good day, yes. This morning, during the coffee break I was looking out over the ocean, when I saw dolphins jumping out of the waves, having fun and eating. Thats probably all they want to do. They were jumping from one wave to another with no other reason than having fun and acting crazy. Seeing something like that while you drink your coffee......it turns any day into a good day.
Good..... I can sit here for another hour talking away, but as I said...my clock is ticking. Its time to prepare to go home, to get ready to see all the people that I have missed for the last 125 days and to get ready to leave all the people that have been so close to me for the last months. But before it is that time I have to clean my cabin, and count down the last seven days.
Thanks for your visit,
Mannes.
Comments
Today suddenly I realized that it was not necessary the Sun shining, that it was a good day.
The only rain that I do not wish is the one that slips for my face.
The letter as symbolic element that represents the existing contradiction of our lives, in the bottom the recollection and the last sigh, minimizes the recollections of the emotional and symbolic meaning.
Some time ago that we do not know of us,
but It Is enough that we are human and have heart.
Then I greet you this way:
Hello, my dear friend, makes me happy that you spend it well, And that you are find, like always.
A recollection,
A smile.
And all the best.
Cheers
All the best to the crew
Sometimes we can pass years without living, and suddenly all our life is concentrated in a single moment.
