Well, I'm sure you're all wondering now about all the hubbub, Bub. I realize that I shouldn't keep you all in the dark about my job situation. People have been asking me about my plans for ships, and I've been giving everyone a different answer.
Well, the good news is that I've MADE MY DECISION!
THE SHORT: I've decided not to return to ships (not right now, anyways).
Okay. Any questions, thusfar? No? Good.
THE LONG:
Some months ago, I had signed my second contract with my company, planning on doing my next contract in Australia sometime in July, giving me 36 days to spend at home with friends and family.
Over the last eight months, I'd had great deal of stress related to being gone from home for the Holidays, with the various people that I had encountered on my contract, as well as being away from religious affiliation and my church family. These are things that I've realized that I don't do well without.
Last Monday, I finally realized that I don't want to go back to ships right now. But what problem do I have? OH, RIGHT! I had signed a contract! God? How is this going to be possible? Is it too late? Should I look for a loophole in my contract?
While I was rolling in my misery of the hopelessness of my future 6-month contract, I got momentarily distracted by the familiar *ping* of my computer, indicating a new incoming e-mail. Picking myself off of the ground, I plopped down in front of my MacBook and opened up the new message.
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Hey!
I need your signed agreement back please. I have attached it again to this email.
Thanks!
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What's the heck? Checking on my past e-mails with my boss, I recovered the e-mail that I had sent her. Sure enough, I HAD sent the contract back in the end of February, and I even had an e-mail from the following day in which my boss confirmed that she had received my signed agreement.
Somehow, within the last 4 months, the signed copy of my contractor's agreement had been misplaced or lost. Digging up my snapshot of the signed contract (I didn't have a scanner, so I had used a digital camera), I opened up a new e-mail.
"But wait..." I think to myself. "This might be my out!" After all, it was only a FEW HOURS from my cry to God for help before he gave me an answer, and the biggest contractual loophole ever!
There was no thought needed. This is God's Will! So I began writing a letter to my boss. Something like this.
Well, EXACTLY like this.
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I'm not sure if you remember, but I did send you the signed contract back in February, and you acknowledged its receipt.
I've thoroughly enjoyed my last contract, and the steps that you went through to help me extend my contract from its initial three months. I also appreciate that you've done so much else to help me along the way, like when I didn't have my Brazilian Visa, and I risked getting disembarked in Africa (fun times, I tell ya). But I've since had a change in heart in regards to my second contract.
It may have been the long duration of my first contract (and the short break I requested), but I've since been reconsidering returning to ships. I assure you that the factors in my decision are not related to [insert company here] in any way. I've just had a great deal of emotional stress in the last couple months of my contract, related to being gone from home for the Holidays, (not to mention just being gone for 8 months), and with the various people that I've encountered on my contract, as well as being away from religious affiliation and my church family. These are things that I've realized that I don't do well without.
When you sent me the e-mail today, requesting the signed contract again, it gave me a great deal of hope that I have a choice about how I want to spend the immediate future. I'm not saying that I wouldn't love to do another contract, I just think I bit off a bit more than I could chew the first time around.
I hope that you don't see my decision as disrespectful or inconsiderate, but if you find the signed contract and wish to hold me to its obligations, I'd be willing to honor that. But I'm withholding sending the signed contract again, as I need some time to recoup from the stress. I hope that this doesn't cause too much work for you to reassign a new instructor to the ship, but I feel confident in my decision.
I wish to be able to use [insert company here] as a good reference or future jobs, so I hope that you don't take my actions as being hostile. I'm not asking for any deals or any change in compensation to return right now, I simply want to stay at home for the time being.
Sincerely,
Scott
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Half expecting her to find the contract and hold it over my head, I was astonished when I received this reply:
Hi Scott!
I know this was hard for you but I totally understand. Not to worry about me asking you to do this. Your heart is not in it so that would not be right.
I wish you all the best and please know that you are welcome back at any time and I would love to give you great references if you need it.
So that's it, folks! Until further notice, I'm staying home!
Thank you all for praying for me!
Ciao for now!
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