When Germ Invades Blood

Never ever begin something saying, “I can give it up, if I don't like it”. Particularly the shipping agent profession never!

The germ of this profession enters your blood slowly, and you do not become aware of it. Because it has no color, taste or smell, I cannot tell you to “Run away to the farthest corner if you come across it!”. You cannot see it from afar and pass by it without touching, for it is not visible. It looks quite innocent and modest in the beginning. The work seems routine. Even, a few days later, it is as easy as a pie for you to start thinking “How nice it is! I can do this even while I am doing a handstand.” Because there are not many documents around, you start thinking that the situation consists of only the ship files, and that you can learn their contents effortlessly. As you begin the day with the joy of thinking “How beautiful jobs there are in the world!”, you may even make plans for the evening. Then, as you slowly clear up the things and go out, you notice that there are some people behind still working busily. Even though you may not care in the beginning, your curiosity overwhelms you and
you make the mistake of your life by asking:
- Don’t you go home, Mr. So-and-so?
Knowing that she is a novice, Mr. So-and-so laughs up his sleeve
and says:
- No, the boss wanted me to have today’s watch.
Putting a bold face on for she cannot understand whether she is
being made fun of, the novice continues:
- How? Should we keep watch every day?
Because it is impossible to explain how, and further because he has
a lot to do, Mr. So-and-so cuts it short.
- I’m joking. I haven’t got through with my work yet.
- I see.
Well, it has not been understood well, but anyway, she will soon
understand it. Wonder they should begin informing this novice of the
realities of the profession. I think it would be better to do so.
- Work is endless here…
Because the novice is not cognizantof what is going on, she repeats her
target question;
- Well, I think I can go, can’t I?
- Of course… whenever you want.
- Actually, I would like to stay and help… but???
Mr. So-and-so feels he would get drown in boredom. Bills of lading from ports of loading have already been jumbled up. It would take ages for him to segregate the containers that were shipped and that were not shipped for they had been late for the vessel, and to write
them off the lists. He does not have the time to deal with this novice among all things he has to do. Take it easy; let this bird be free for a few days more. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Anyway, what did the boss say? “Do not scare Ms. Novice in the beginning. God forbid, she may run away. I want her to continue working here. You can train her slowly.”
He interrupted Ms. Novice in haste:
- No… No, please go ahead. There is no emergency.
The muscles on his face cranked up while he was trying to smile as he was talking. Once the novice went out, he began massaging his face, thinking:
“No emergency! Am I joking? I will see you tomorrow if these bills of lading are not delivered to the customs! If you are lucky, you can clear things up in a few hours and go home. Otherwise, you will have to stay awake all night to complete things, go home, have a shower and come back to the office again.
There is no choice other than clearing things up. Everything must be prepared before the arrival of vessels. Take it easy, you can stay up all night one more time. This is neither
the first nor the last.
Mr. So-and-so knows these things very well, but how on earth this novice shipping agent would know it. Just as him when he first began. Just as you gather yourself together and ask “What have I done?”, it is too late, the germ has already started wandering in your veins, heart, and every corner of your mind.
It is for this reason that your eyes begin to look for the sea first, and then the ports in every country you visit.
It is then that you begin seeing the vessels as old friends as you pass by a port.
It is then that you begin counting the containers, load and unload them, and even send supplies to ships in your dreams. A further stage of this dream involves rescuing a ship, whose master
has suddenly fallen sick (and there is no chief officer, but come on this is a dream!), from a storm. Having this dream is not a good sign. It means that you have gone nuts, and so we kindly request you
to keep your temper. It is then that you begin programming your life according to the departure and arrival dates of ships. While others do nothing between two holidays and wait for the holidays to end without any activities, you wait for the ships to go and program your private life accordingly.
It is then you notice that this germ has dispersed all around your body completely.
Yes, our profession is difficult,but all difficulties are forgotten once you succeed. The
distresses you suffer are recorded as a victory and new experience in your brain.
It is not possible to explain it if you are in it, but it is inevitable for those who look at you from
outside to abandon. Working at a maritime-related business is beyond the depth of those average people.
You should have a high limit of patience, and you should be very big-hearted so that you will learn to save your life for your job and, if any, your family. Regardless of how much you like them, you will learn to
follow many social events only in newspapers, be capable of using time efficiently, and make it a principle to smile at the criticisms you receive. You will never think of, or even dream of, retirement. In my opinion, retirement of those in this business is like a womanizer getting older. Just as a womanizer cannot
accept that he has one foot in the grave, we, the shipping agents, cannot accept retirement after all this
busyness and eventful days. It is for this reason that many of us pass away with our boots on.
Don’t ask me how I know it, ok? May all the good days be yours and your families!
Love…