In 2008 we were living in London. In May we got a really good deal to go on a Mediterranean cruise. For 2 weeks we sailed around the Mediterranean and got to see ports in France, Italy, Spain and Tunisia. It was a dream holiday with small children, because we were able to see so many different places, but only had to unpack once.
Our cabin was cleaned immaculately every day by a sweet, young Filipino woman. All the cleaning staff were wonderful with the children, much better than the cross English women they had upstairs in the children's play centre. After a few days, the lovely Filipino maid showed me a picture of her family - her husband and 2 year old son. She worked on the cruise ship to support her family, and only got to visit her baby son once every 6 months. It seemed a common story, that many of the women working on the ship were mothers working hard to financially support their young children.
It broke my heart to hear that she only got to see her baby twice a year. That her baby son was growing up without knowing his mother, because she loved him so much and was sacrificing her time with him, trying to give him a better future.
She also told me how she lived in fear, she was terrified of sailing, and constantly worried that the ship would sink, and that she would never get to see her little boy again.
There are around 16 people missing on the Costa Concordia, and hope is fading fast. When I hear this, I wonder if any of them are crew; if any of them are mothers. Mothers sacrificing themselves for their children; mothers terrified they will never see their babies again.
That breaks my heart. The Concordia sinking is just so dreadful.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it in these terms, so thankyou!
What amazing, sacrificing people there are in this world.
It is dreadful isn't it Daisy? And it shouldn't have happened, but at the same time there are so many people around the world suffering or dying, who don't get any media attention at all. Our view of the world is pretty distorted sometimes, isn't it?
Deletex Sannah
Thanks for giving this perspective. It's so easy to forget the human faces behind headline news sometimes. It's not just war, accidents, storms; it's the people affected by these tragedies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Veronica. There are layers and layers aren't there? Of people affected, who are nameless, who suffer in ways we never think of.
Deletexx Sannah
It's such a tragedy. Boatman and I were watching it the other day in complete shock. But Veronica is right. Thankyou for giving us this perspective. It's too easy to forget the people. Makes me want to pray a little harder.
ReplyDeleteBtw I think uou're Facebook button is configured incorrectly. At the moment people will only 'like' Facebook Platform, and not your page.
Hey Jess,
DeleteThanks for your comment, and thank you so much for letting me know my facebook thingy was wrong. I think it is fixed now (I hope!). Might explain why not many people liked my facebook page ;-)
xx Sannah
The things mothers will sacrifice for the sake of their children... nothing is too much it seems. It is heartbreaking to think that someone who has sacrificed so much for their family would not have the chance to see the opportunities they have created for their children. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families affected.
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely heartbreaking Misha, isn't it?
Deletex Sannah
I read that mariners are really frightened of these megaliners: they are like reverse icebergs, with so much above the sea line and a very low draft/draught - 28 feet I read that the Concordia had - that they are hard to handle and experienced seamen regard them as very dangerous. Very difficult to handle if there is any kind of wind, as well.
ReplyDeleteA UK inter island ferry might be 10000 tons with 7.5 feet of draught. Concordia is what....110000?tons?
There have been many, many incidents, not quite as dramatic, which therefore don't get publicity.
They have never solved the problem of how to release the lifeboats if the ship is sinking, as Concordia. They are not interested in solving the problem of doors/passages/etc shut off by loss of power, as with Concordia.
Those emigre mothers are brilliant, and I hope that they get their reward. I honour them.
I've heard that the job of being a Pilot (the one who guides these big ships into dock) is one of the most stressful jobs there is, that they get paid bucket loads because it is so difficult, and can only work a few hours at a time. I imagine that one of the reasons it is so difficult is because they are so big, and unbalanced.
DeleteReverse iceberg - now that you put it in those terms, I'm not sure I'm in a hurry to get back on one.
xx S.
We are just so ridiculously blessed in Australia. We cannot even comprehend leaving our children like that for work. I complain that I will put my kids in daycare 2 days/ week (and come home to them each night!), let alone not seeing them for 6 months, or tragically maybe... forever.?
ReplyDeleteWe are ridiculously blessed aren't we Julie? We have so many choices available to us, and often don't see how lucky we are.
Deletexx Sannah
It is an absolutely tragedy. When I was living in London I worked with many Filipino nurses doing the same thing. You will never know their suffering until you got to know them and their story. I found it unimaginable. Thanks for sharing this story. xx
ReplyDelete