3 Things About Moving To An Artificial Island That You Ought To Know About

So you've heard some good things about working on an offshore oil platform

. Perhaps you've got the requisite skills, or perhaps you'd like a new challenge. The perks might be quite impressive, or there's something inherently romantic about the sea that tickles your pickles.

One thing about the "perks" though, specifically the one about working in a faraway site for seven or fourteen days a week: you have to recognise the fact that there's nothing particularly nice about this arrangement, however good it may sound on paper.

You don't have to go on reading if you've been in the military or a maritime profession before, perhaps a travelling salesperson or a frequent business flyer... essentially, anyone who's worked away from home for extended period of times, because you know what it's like out there. But if not, read on.

*The Small World Lie: On an offshore oil platform, crew members are provided with free internet, free phone calls, and free cable TV - all the essential amenities of the 21st century. It seems like there's nothing stopping you from getting on with your own life even if you have to be at sea. Unfortunately, it's just not true.

There are basically two options on the table, even though most crew members opt for a balance somewhere between. You can all but forget your old life and treat the platforms (multiple, because who knows where you're going to be sent to in a few months' time?) as your new home, just like most people who're trying to sort out a new life in a strange city. Of course, as cities go, this would probably rank amongst the top three, but at least there's a land base for your 'copter.

*What about My Kid/Girlfriend/Boyfriend/Spouse/Cat? Alternatively, you could hang on to your old life with every fibre of your being. If you've got, say, a relationship or a family to raise, obviously the first option is out of the window. But however highly we think of Skype, instant messaging and other virtual interactions, they are no match for the real thing. Real life consists of popping by at your mates' place to moan about things and fix their leaking faucet, of bickering about groceries with your partner, of the offhand comment your parent makes when the two of you are watching the telly in silence.

*The Communal Life: On an oil platform, you will have to feel comfortable or die trying. For the same reason that limits helicopter commutes to once or twice a month - necessity - you'll get along with your colleagues and build a new life over yonder because it's required of you. Some people can hit it off with everybody, even the cashier at the mall whom they've never met before, and others take a year before they say a word to their neighbours. You know who you are.

by: Susan Bean

POST COMMENT

Long Island Document Scanning Mocko Jumbie The Colorful Spirits Of The Virgin Islands How To Choose A Long Island Plumber Philippine Islands Paradise On Earth Most Beautiful Places In The Philippine Islands Precisely How Temperature Range Is Utilized As A Pest Exterminator In Long Island Reasons Why Not All Long Island Moving Companies Are Created Equal Underwater Film Festival To Take Place In The Cayman Islands Phu Quoc Island, The Best Vietnam Destination For Honeymooners Find Gyms On Long Island Picking The Best Long Island Exterminators Opt For Best Tour Packages For The Galapagos Islands The Galapagos Islands: Have A Great Time & Unforgettable Moments