Floating Village
Where to start.
Transition is something else. I think usually I would insert something like “Time has flown by”, but in honesty, it hasn’t. It’s felt like 7 weeks. I don’t think the calendar will always feel that way.
Work has been great. Its been difficult settling into a job that takes place during Field Service (when the ship is in Africa, providing care and surgeries). Normally, I would be starting to figure out what patient’s stories we will focus on and tell, as well as navigating the balance of “National Office Requests” for resources such as specific volunteers to post about, or donated items to be captured in use. My role would be one of about ten on the Communications team (videographers, writers, photographers, director, liaisons, ect.), but for now, it’s just me here!
This has truly allowed for some needed personal growth and professional growth. I’ve been working on video and using some equipment I definitely wouldn’t normally be learning on. There is a lot of self-motivating as well as patience. I’ve felt stretched and had to have grace on understanding my capacity (especially within the throws of transition.)
Culture shock isn’t quite as obvious in this environment, because we are a combination of so many different cultures… however, there is a stronger bend to “Western” time and efficiency since we are not currently operating in Africa. Our majority nationality onboard is Dutch at the moment. Kings Day painted the ship orange, and it was a bustling day of events and celebration; the Dutchies had a blast. Some of my favorite memories have included miscommunications/mistranslations that leave us all laughing. Its been a joy to immerse myself into a community filled with completely different backgrounds, traditions, and lifestyles. The stories of childhoods, discovering who you are, finding Mercy Ships, falling in love, moving all over the world, travels, and/or passions/dreams are so thrilling and have cultivated many many late nights.
Life aboard the ship is much like moving to a small town. It is not camp. We all have routines, preferences for work/life balance and boundaries, best friends, workout buddies, chore lists with roommates, scheduled hangouts, and we ALL do laundry. It is an operating ship and community.