Text 23441, 92 rader
Skriven 2007-11-26 16:10:10 av Carol Shenkenberger (1:261/1466.0)
     Kommentar till en text av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: Norfolk Sailors  71124
==============================
 -=> Quoting Glen Jamieson to Carol Shenkenberger <=-

 GJ> The locals in Darwin are used to living with uniformed servicemen and
 GJ> women around, and a lot of them are families of Australian soldiers,
 GJ> so they understand quite a lot about that sort of life.  A few
 GJ> different uniforms and accents add to the general interest.

Yes, and there, they get US ships really often so the accent isnt as rare.

In Brisbane and Townsville (less seen places), folks kept smiling at our 'neat
accents'.  Especially me as a little tipple makes my accent slide south quite
a bit ;-)

 CS> A sane approach.  We don't give them any trouble and we get a chance
 CS> to relax and spend a few paychecks that gathered up while at sea.  I
 CS> call that win-win. 

 GJ> So do they.  :)

Oh yes!  Very much so.  I find it interesting at how the locals seem to find
out the never publicized reputation of our various ships on shore leave, and 
take very well to some of us.  Been in a few ports with other ships and I've
actually seen subtle hints like 'Welcome ESSEX Sailors' on bars (but no mention
of the other bigger companion ship).  Or 'Welcome ESSEX Battlegroup' (but
no mention of the other Carrier battle group with us).

On the rare (and it was very rare) time where an ESSEX sailor caused trouble
and any damage, the ship always paid for the damages with no questions asked.
Correction, we'd ask questions but only after clearly letting the owner know it
was only so we could suitably deal with the sailor later in holding them 
accountable.  Sometimes it wasnt 'really' the sailors fault, but the local 
place would have held them accountable for the damages.  Like the time one of 
my guys sat on a rickety toilet and it fell over (he was sober).  Local rules
there held him accountable but of course the ship didnt.

Funny on that one, so I digress.  It was common in that country to not fix 
guest plumbing until some luckless person had it totally fail, then they had to
'pay for their damages'.  Bit of a racket, but just how it's done there.  We
got the owner back gently by refusing to pay for a contractor to do the work
and instead, we sent over a team with a new toilet and installed it right.
Fixed
the sink too <g>.  Noticed some rotting flooring so put down some treated
plywood and topped it with nicely trimmed electrical matting before the next
customer could fall through and get charged for that.  I think the toilet cost
50$ or something and the rest was spare stuffs from the ship needed.

We called it a 'COMREL' (Community relations volunteer work) and actually did
things for a few other nearby businesses.  They were happy, and we were very
welcome back because we not only spent money, we spent a little of our time
helping them improve their places so they could be safer and make more profit.
(They could charge a little more as customers knew the risks of a toilet etc
falling over and them having to pay for it, were reduced greatly).  Yeah, we
are sneaky like that <g>.
 
 GJ> It is likely that the Essex was a happy ship, and its commander took
 GJ> pains to make sure the crew did nothing to spoil its reputation with
 GJ> the locals, wherever it called.
 
 CS> I think all the ships 'try' but the Blue Ridge seems to not try as
 CS> hard. 
 CS> It's the Blue Ridge you have to watch out for.  Something wrong at her
 CS> upper  levels as they are noted for not being welcome back.

 GJ> In an organisation like a ship, there is only one man or woman at the
 GJ> top, and that is where the buck stops.

Yes.  They are trying to fix it.  Sasebo Mayor asked them to not come back.
I am told on their last trip, they were restricted to the base?  Since they
have to berth same place as ESSEX, they only come in when we were out so I get
this heresay.
 
 CS> I've been to subic 3-4 times since.  It's an open area now more used
 CS> as a sort of resort along the waterfront.

 GJ> I have been through there on the bus to Baguio, but so far have never
 GJ> stopped.  I prefer to avoid the sleazier bars where the young, male
 GJ> tourists hang out - particularly the Australians and Americans.  When
 GJ> I am in the Philippines I feel more Filipino than Australian,
 GJ> particularly when I see and hear drunken Australians being
 GJ> objectionable.  Then I prefer to fade into the background.

Same here when I see drunken 'anyone'.  I like my party time but I rarely 
drink enough to get more than a little giggly.

                   xxcarol


... Sorry, the dog ate my Blue Wave packet.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]

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 * Origin: Owl's Anchor (1:261/1466)