Showing posts with label USCGC Polar Star. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USCGC Polar Star. Show all posts

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Well, color me embarrassed.


Suva, Fiji, mid-80's. 

My icebreaker, the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10), had just pulled in to port in Suva, on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. 

It was a beautiful austral summer day, and we were welcoming visitors from the local community aboard for tours of the cutter. Many of these visitors were local dignitaries and politicians.


I was on duty, standing watch on the Quarterdeck, welcoming everyone aboard the ship. Most of the people were speaking perfect English (naturally enough, since Fiji was a British Crown Colony and is a member of the Commonwealth) and I'm enjoying answering questions about the United States, the Coast Guard, Antarctica, and the Polar Star; and also asking them about Fiji.  It's important to remember that I have serious social issues, and it's difficult for me to interact with people face-to-face, but in this instance, I was having a good time.

Suddenly, with the Quarterdeck - and the rest of the ship - packed with excited english speaking visitors, the Executive Officer comes over the 1MC (think of a public address system broadcast throughout the entire ship, interior and exterior) advising us all to be careful and use condoms, because 70%* of the adult population has sexually transmitted diseases. I almost died of embarrassment.
* 70% isn't the precise percentage given, but it was in that general area.