Conform

I woke up today and I quickly grabbed my cellphone. What time is it? With my eyes half opened and my whole body still wrapped in the comforter, I braved myself to look at the time. 6am. I'm still okay. Wait, what? 6am?!! Feeling hungry with parched skin, chapped lips and my voice couldn't even come out from my throat, I asked, "What happened?"

Overslept happened.

The reality was I need those sleeping hours. Being the only one here, there is no working shift for me. I'm on my own. Whatever happened, I'm accountable to answer those questions. So, I had minimal sleep. I was up all night to monitor logging. And the night before, I was on guard for drilling. Though I may steal some hours for my beauty sleep, I didn't. Instead I went around studying things and understand all the things related to my work. Seriously, I felt accomplished.

I never actually wrote about my experience offshore. Some say it is exciting to be out here. Some say I must be one tough chick to survive living offshore. The truth is, it is only tough as far as your mind would put it and not to forget, it's men's world here. I cannot escape this truth because in the end, I'm the one who has to "fit in" with the boys. This time around, I'm the only girl here and so guess what? I'd prefer to write it out from a female point of view.

I'd would say just from the surface, living offshore is interesting. Depends on which rig I went to, I always feel I get the best of everything to make me feel at home. Here, my room is spacious! I got a bunk bed, a 24" flat screen TV with a few Astro channels, a dvd player and a mini refrigerator. Then, in my office, I have a phone and my own internet cable. Seriously, what more can you ask for? Get this, I hate doing laundry. It's the only so-called-female-stereotype-chore that I hate doing! Even I don't hate ironing clothes that much. Here, the housekeeping guys wash and fold your clothes for you. They even clean your room. It's like you're staying in a hotel. You come back from work with your clothes ready and room cleaned. Oh, I don't make a lot of mess, mind you :)

Then, the food. Ahh, food in general is always good. It's a trap, I know, with all the good, yummy food around, but I cannot say no to steak, can I? ...I'm trying to imagine my life in Canada where I was a vegetarian for the most part...how did I survive, then? I don't have the answer, hihi. They always have western and local dishes everyday, so whatever your heart desires that day, just please help yourself. Today for lunch, I had rice with beans, sambal terung and steamed fish with a hint of cencaluk ;) then, I had chocolate cake. I've been craving for chocolate cake somehow...

Of course, other than that, staying offshore means I don't use $$; instead I get $$. With me being a big spender, this is a good set back. I don't have to get up everyday thinking what should I wear today cause for all I know my outfit is either my yellow coverall or tshirt+yoga pants. But the big one hooray is, I don't have to wake "early" cause the roads/LRT will be packed if I were late. That is a +1 for me.

Surething you'll find my story to be somewhat compelling up until now. Like I said, that is what's on the surface. The real challenge is more like how do I fit in?

With Johnny and Jonathan at the Mudlogging Unit

p/s: Been watching American Idol here.