Everything started with the cargo ship voyage from Finland to Holland where Elisa worked for three months in the Rotterdam Seamen’s Mission. There the dream about a career as a seafarer was awoken.

When Elisa returned to Finland, the notion was not allowed to be laid to rest. Elisa began looking for information about maritime education from the homepages of Rauma’s School of Maritime Management. Her intention was to ask by application for more information. However, Elisa was quickly contacted by the college’s teacher who asked if Elisa would be interested to start studying at the college the following Monday. It was the beginning of January and Elisa’s belongings were still partly unpacked in boxes in Helsinki after her return journey from Rotterdam.

”I called to my friend because I was confused about what to do after the phone call from the teacher. However, my friend encouraged me:” go, go, don’t wait for someone to clap you on the back! If it feels right to you, go on make your life as you want it to be. Be brave!”

So Elisa began her watchkeeping studies in the Rauma College of Maritime Management in the so called: “adult education line” in 2007. Elisa then chose to continue her studies in the repair work line in the autumn of the same year.

 

Freedom from prejudice is in Elisa’s opinion one of the forces which carries you forward in life. The first practical training aboard Godby Shipping’s M/s Miranda was the decisive turn toward a maritime career.

”I thought, that I will see if this is my thing, and if not then I will not go into this branch.”

Elisa trained for four weeks and worked both on the deck as well as in the engine room. 

”It was good to see both sides. The engine room fascinated me more as it was possible to see how “the heart of the ship” was beating. However, I don’t mean in any way to disparage the deck work”, Elisa emphasizes.

My upcoming profession of watchkeeping engineer demands skillful hands, but it is also a multi-faceted profession, which offers appropriate challenges for active women.

”I am that sort of practical person; as busy as a bee. I like to go here and there. The work done in the engine room offers its own kinds of challenges.”

 

Plunging into the unknown, traditionally male-dominated world has demanded some getting used to.

”I admire the men’s straightforward thinking: the matters are dealt with from A to B. They also often have experience about e.g. working on cars during their youth, which helps with this branch’s studies.”

However, a woman can also manage where a man does. 

”Your attitude towards life is up to you. You can choose, if you want to be that sort of moaning, envious always comparing person or you can look at matters with an open mind; do you want to learn and enjoy”,  says Elisa who has started her studies from the beginning.

It has not always been easy. Elisa admits to sometimes feeling like being “Alice in Wonderland” in her studies.

”For example, a watchkeeping engineer must manage many different areas from electrical matters to diesel engines and the ship’s machinery. Yes, there have been many times when the books have nearly been thrown to the wall and I have got the feeling that I just don’t understand!.” Elisa admits honestly. “But when you allow yourself some time and accept that you must study this issue a little bit longer, then the pieces start to fall into their places.”

You can always ask for help and advice from other people, if you do not know how to do something.

”It has been nice to notice, that even though many of my workmates have been the same age as my father, they have been willing to share their know-how”, says Elisa as she praises her work mates.

In Elisa’s opinion giving positive feedback is important in working life.

”This is especially true when someone is looking for his/her own place and is uncertain. It feels good when somebody – even one person – comes and encourages you, hi well done, keep it up!”

 

”You only get one life, so there is no point doing things under duress if there is no feeling that “this is mine thing”, the soon to be watchkeeping engineer deliberates. .

Elisa has in her own opinion a quite realistic picture of seafaring work.

”Seafaring work is multi-faceted and it has its own freedom, even though nowadays seafaring can now longer be compared and romanticized with the old golden times, which you still sometimes hear talked about.”

Elisa has during her training time worked in passenger ships-, in cruise ships-, in cargo vessels as well as in tankers and during one summer in a water-bus off the Rauma coast.

”During my college time I have deliberately wanted to try different types of vessels because it has still been possible to try to find out what is my own thing. The ships have been different and from every workplace I have got something new.”

 

In May, Elisa returned to work in the English Channel aboard the Bore’s M/s Norqueen, where she worked last August.

”I will return to be the hostess of the scrap metal hold”, Elisa laughs.

This pet name she has received from the vessel’s chief. The mop and tools seem to swing in her hand for a while in fast tempo.

”I had to for a while, seriously wind the crank arms, e.g. when opening the valves. However, the old lady operated well for her age”, Elisa says.

 

Elisa got to know Philippine people while working in the English Channel. Despite the cultural differences the work went well, according to Elisa.

At Christmas, everyone gave a hand at decorating the Christmas tree and the mess room. Elisa tells that when the other people began putting enthusiastically more lights on the tree, she took a few away, “so that there wouldn’t become a too restless feeling”, she smiles now afterwards.

Interactivity between different cultures must always begin from mutual respect, Elisa thinks.

”Differences in culture could be seen, e.g. in the eating habits and general way of behaviour of the Philippine people.”

”If the other people have different habits, it is important to know that we are not frightened even though they act in a little bit different way than we do. Often concerning different habits, no harm is meant. It is just in different cultures there are own cultural boundaries and learned habits in which to act and live, but people are still the same”, says Elisa as she sums up her own experiences.

 

 Elisa joined the Finnish Seamen’s Union as a student member immediately her studies began.

”An official of the Finnish Seamen’s Union visited her college to tell about trade union matters. I became interested and joined as a member”, Elisa tells.

For Elisa membership of a trade union means security.

”In working life I have not yet met any adversity, but membership of a trade union provides a feeling of security and someone to defend you. It is good that on a ship there is a shop-steward, to whom it is possible to ask for help and it is also possible to phone the Union if necessary.”

Elisa knows that “the Union offers membership discounts, education and unemployment security”.