大象传媒

Life on board started to get it's own routine: not much military "stuff" as long as we went to all the lifeboatdrills so we would know where to go in an emergency : like "ABANDON SHIP".
After all we sailed under convoy protection in case German U-boats did not know of Germany's surrender.
There were no chores for us apart from making our bunks,keeping the cabin in good order and the bathroom.
We had to press our own uniforms:slacks,shirts and skirts.
I used to put items under my mattress and sleep on it for a night or 2. As long as one was not a restless sleeper it worked.-more or less-.
But I did learn how to use an iron somewhat later.
The ATLANTIC had times of rough weather:
Some of the girls became green around the gills: they did not want to eat,even looking at food made them sick.People who ever have been seasick say they wanted to die.
I felt sorry for them. For me eating was NO problem.
On a trip to Holland on a freighter with passenger accomodation- a wonderull way to travel as many ports on the ship's list were entered that Mailships passed by - my parents told me that they dispaired I would ever eat as a normal child.
On this trip I ONLY would eat sitting on the desk of the captain in his cabin. He enjoyed trying to make me eat food I always refused before.
We had one big storm on that trip: it was so bad that even many of te crew fed the fish: but not I!
If the girls thought this was bad......they had something coming in the PACIFIC.

I always wondered whether this storm addled the brain of a compatriot.
I was sitting on the deck: my feet on the railing,enjoying the spray that the wind blew over me and looking at the change of colour in the water depending on the racing clouds and sun.
I felt somone standing behind me . I turned around and noticed a guy with the Dutch Lion emblem on his uniform.
He introduced himself and told me that he was on his way to the colonies to become a Highranking Govt. official going to put the dutch colonies back on their feet.

He never had been to the Dutch East Indies, did not even speak the language either he told me.
( Was I supposed to be impressed??)
After introducing myself more small talk ensued I really did not care about.
Suddenly he blurted out:" I want to marry you! The captain has authority to perform the ceremony".
I was dumbfounded and said:"NO WAY, I don't know you let alone love you!"
He raved and ranted and said that he would commit suicide by jumping overboard if I did not marry him!!!
I got up out of my deckchair looked over the railing and said:
"Go ahead the sharks are waiting for you!" and they w猫re circling at the poop of the ship.
He looked at me with a strange look in his eyes and suddenly left.
THANK GOD! he disappeared, I never saw him again.
I never heard the call:"Man overboard".So he must have reconsiderd his options.
In the coloies the natives would have said about him:"MATA GELAP:raving,rage or GILA :crazy!
I wondered what would happen if the hot tropical sun would fry the brain of this TOTOK i.e NEW COMER to this beautifull country

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