One doesn’t normally think of 6:30 in the morning as a time for great news, but today was one of those days. My phone rings and it’s some odd number that clearly isn’t from the US. I was thinking that it might be the UK office from my company, but it turns out it was Tino, my previous photo manager on the Ryndam. Turns out he’s going to be the manager on the Volendam! I’m super excited to get to work with him again. I already know what to expect from him so it’s going to make easing into this contract a whole different story from last time. Also I know other crew members on the ship so all around I feel more comfortable at the start of this contract than the last. I guess it makes sense but it’s making a significant difference to how I feel about it.