I grew up in South Africa, just like most of the crew. It has been helpful to know about South African cuisine and music because I can use my personal experiences to bond with the crew and create positive relationships. I always think that it is very important to listen to people and learn their background and stories. This has helped me build trust and mutual respect with everyone onboard.
Working on a ship can at times feel quite confining. As Captain Knowledge Bengu said in our first video conference, we are on "a very large floating hotel" with the same guests for two months! We do not have the luxury of going home after a long day to our parents to unwind. Therefore it is very important to be patient, calm and friendly. Understanding everyone's culture aids in building relationships and having fun together!
Do you know what the word "empathy" means? When you are working with people who have different backgrounds and perspectives than your own, it is really important to put yourself "in their shoes". If you can understand where they are coming from it can help you work more closely with them. Here aboard the ship, we think that it is very important to understand each others backgrounds and cultures. As we continue to explore and conduct ground breaking research here in the Weddell Sea, it is more important now than ever to work as a team and help each other to be successful. This is why we have created a culture aboard of listening and respecting one another.
