Two weeks after I visited the fabrication yard, I visited the offshore platform. It was my very first time visiting a production platform. Hence, I anticipated all kinds of scenarios. Would I be travelling to the platform by boat, or by chopper? If I were travelling by boat, would I be carried on a basket, by the crane, or by jumping on a rope? I've taken the chopper before, but not the boat. I hoped and hoped, that I would be able to use the basket or the rope.
On the flight, I was seated next to a fair guy with silver streaks of grey hair. I was happily reading my book, until I noticed that he kept fidgeting in his seat, stealing glances at me every few minutes. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to strike a conversation with him.
"Umm... are you travelling to Labuan for work, or for holiday?" I asked.
"Hmm.. I'm travelling for work. I've been working here for the past 15 years!" he exclaimed.
"Wow! 15 years? That's long! What makes you like working in Malaysia?"
"Well, Malaysia's a very nice country to work in. It's not hostile, like Sudan, or Ghana. In the South African countries, oil workers like us, get kidnapped all the time. They love to point their guns to our heads. Our company often has to fork out a hefty sum to pay for the ransom."
"What's the most dangerous country you've been to?"
"The most dangerous country? That must be Brazil. I warn you. If you're travelling to any country, never venture out alone in the night. Once the sun sets, you better make sure you're back in your room. Once, when I was in Brazil, a guy approached me, pointed a knife at my throat and forced me to empty my wallet. Apparently, this is common. So, I've learned my lesson. Malaysia is a relatively peaceful country compared to the others. Plus, its people are very helpful too. Easy to work with, not very demanding. That's why I love it." he added.
"Oooh... " Now I know. Personally, I like to work with Malaysians too. We speak the same language, we reason and negotiate, when things don't go our way, instead of shooting each other at point blank range, when the deal goes haywire.
As we conversed, I learned that he was a New Zealander, who was almost 65, approaching retirement age. In fact, this hitch would be his last hitch. After this, he will be back in his hometown, playing with his grandchildren, looking after his orchard, harvesting fruits and having a great retirement life. Wow. I can't imagine myself, involved in backbreaking work, working on shifts from night to noon, and noon to night, consistently for 30 years! Perhaps, the reason that he could take it was because of the high salary that came with it, and the long stretches of holidays compensated after each hitch. I was impressed. In M'sia, we often plan for early retirement, or, work 'til 55, our etirement age. But this guy, he was 65, and still going strong. His zeal and passion to work, is really amazing. I shall strive to be somewhat like him. Desire to work and pass on his knowledge to the younger generation before he retiresl
On the flight, I was seated next to a fair guy with silver streaks of grey hair. I was happily reading my book, until I noticed that he kept fidgeting in his seat, stealing glances at me every few minutes. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to strike a conversation with him.
"Umm... are you travelling to Labuan for work, or for holiday?" I asked.
"Hmm.. I'm travelling for work. I've been working here for the past 15 years!" he exclaimed.
"Wow! 15 years? That's long! What makes you like working in Malaysia?"
"Well, Malaysia's a very nice country to work in. It's not hostile, like Sudan, or Ghana. In the South African countries, oil workers like us, get kidnapped all the time. They love to point their guns to our heads. Our company often has to fork out a hefty sum to pay for the ransom."
"What's the most dangerous country you've been to?"
"The most dangerous country? That must be Brazil. I warn you. If you're travelling to any country, never venture out alone in the night. Once the sun sets, you better make sure you're back in your room. Once, when I was in Brazil, a guy approached me, pointed a knife at my throat and forced me to empty my wallet. Apparently, this is common. So, I've learned my lesson. Malaysia is a relatively peaceful country compared to the others. Plus, its people are very helpful too. Easy to work with, not very demanding. That's why I love it." he added.
"Oooh... " Now I know. Personally, I like to work with Malaysians too. We speak the same language, we reason and negotiate, when things don't go our way, instead of shooting each other at point blank range, when the deal goes haywire.
As we conversed, I learned that he was a New Zealander, who was almost 65, approaching retirement age. In fact, this hitch would be his last hitch. After this, he will be back in his hometown, playing with his grandchildren, looking after his orchard, harvesting fruits and having a great retirement life. Wow. I can't imagine myself, involved in backbreaking work, working on shifts from night to noon, and noon to night, consistently for 30 years! Perhaps, the reason that he could take it was because of the high salary that came with it, and the long stretches of holidays compensated after each hitch. I was impressed. In M'sia, we often plan for early retirement, or, work 'til 55, our etirement age. But this guy, he was 65, and still going strong. His zeal and passion to work, is really amazing. I shall strive to be somewhat like him. Desire to work and pass on his knowledge to the younger generation before he retiresl
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