11.Self-Introduction - The Captain's Cabin

(After knocking at the door of the Captain's Cabin)

C/Off: Captain, Third Mate Conrad Cruz and Third Engineer Manuel Santos are here, sir.

Capt: Come in. I've been expecting you.

C/Off: Let's go in. Captain, I'd like to introduce you to Third Mate, Mr. Conrad Cruz and Third Engineer, Mr. Manuel Santos.

Cruz: Nice to meet you. Captain. I'm Third Mate Conrad Cruz from Manila. I am 22 years old and I am determined to do my best.

Santos: Nice to meet you, sir. I'm Third Engineer Manuel Santos. I'm also from Manila. I am 23 years old and I hope to do my best, too.

Capt: (Shaking hands) Nice to meet you both. I'm Captain Shimoda. Welcome aboard The Persian Adventure. Please have a seat.

Cruz/Santos: Thank you, sir.

Capt: Is this your first time on a Japanese ship?

Cruz: Yes, it is, and I'm a little nervous. I've never been on such a large ship.

Capt: Oh, don't worry. Everyone is nervous the first time. Just watch your step and don't get into any trouble. I expect everyone to work hard, but if you don't understand something, just ask one of us. In Japan, we have a saying: "Asking for help is a momentary shame, but never asking for help is a lifetime shame". The worst situation is when you pretend that you understand when you really don't, and then you fail to do your work right.

Cruz/Santos: We'll keep that in mind, sir.

C/Off: Chief Officer

expect: wait for...., to look forward to something

.. .determined to do my best: will try hard to do the best I can

nervous: worried, uneasy

watch your step: be careful, look where you are going

get into trouble: have or cause problems

saying: proverb, adage, motto

momentary: short, brief, temporary

shame: disgrace, loss of honor

lifetime: for your whole life, until you die, throughout your life

pretend: act as if, make believe

fail: not succeed, be unable to accomplish something

15

12. The coc Room of the Tanker (cd 1-13)

2/Off: Hi, you're the Third Mate, Mr. Cruz, aren't you? Welcome on board. I'm the

Second Mate and my name is Tanaka. Nice to have you with us. Cruz: Nice to meet you. My name is Conrad Cruz. I'm 22 years old and I'm from Manila. 2/Off: Is this your first time on a tanker? Cruz: Yes, it is. I've been on a 20,000-ton bulk carrier before, and I received tanker

training in the Philippines, which was mainly lectures. I also trained using a tanker

simulator at one of the Japanese shipping company's training centers. It was quite

helpful. 2/Off: I did that simulator training, too. Training is different from the real job, but it's

quite helpful. By the way, I'm from Hiroshima. I have a wife and three children.

The eldest one is 13. He is a junior high school student. My family comes to see

me whenever my ship arrives in Japan. They have already been to my cabin and

made a big fuss. Cruz: That's great. I'm single and my parents live with my elder brothers. Both of my

brothers work for Japanese companies in the Philippines. There are a lot of

differences in culture and in social structure between Japan and the Philippines.

I'm dying to learn about Japan. 2/Off: That's a great attitude. Learning about each other's culture helps us understand

each other better. That's the first step towards having a pleasant and peaceful time

on board.

COC: Cargo Oil Control

2/Off: Second Officer also called Second Mate (the rank that comes after First Mate)

Second Mate: a friendly way of addressing the Second Officer

bulk carrier: large ship that carries raw goods in its hold

simulator: machine for practice

shipping company: large company that owns and operates boats

Hiroshima: large port city in Western Japan

... made a big fuss: made a big issue about something

single: unmarried

elder brother(s): older brother(s)

difference(s): things that are not the same or similar

culture: arts, philosophies, products of any society

social structure: organization of a society

I'm dying to...: want to do something very much

attitude: way of thinking, behavior and manners

16