Here I am back to this spot of cyber space. My silence wasn't caused by sudden laziness,- I was away. That was a business trip to rich and beautiful and yet troubbled Ukraine. One of my Unkrainian colleagues described the mobern state of his country in a very vivid way- "Ukraine is like a glamorous woman in an old and durty dress". Unfortunatelly I had to agree with him. Well, for now, of course. The dress surely will change into a gown of a rare and precious fabric, and that will happen with assistance of people like my odessan hosts.

Yes, I spent four short and very memorable days in port of Odessa that overlooks misty and cool in this time of year Black Sea. In fact, when I saw it's slow waves licking the shore, from the 8th floor of Maritime Hotel, normally dark water seemed pale with the cold metallic shine. Heavy cargo ships resembeled silent arctic islands and seagulls above them cried as if asking for help. HELP!I'm almost certain that this word echoed in minds of all people who observed this picture. That was the reason that brought me here, the force that created organisation very much like ISAN in Ukraine.

It was difficult to believe that problems are so serious and deeply rooted in this strikingly unusual city, charmed by the approach of early spring. However honesty and willingness to share that my colleagues desplayed inabled me to sense the situation quite clearly. Their work has one specific feature that differs from our office routine,- seafarers can simply drop by, pop in to talk about their concerns. To me it was fascinating: instead of trying to feel person's condition only through their voice I suddenly saw expressive, dark from the touch of sun and sulty oceanic breeze faces, caught sparkles in visitor's eyes and read lively gestures of their hands. So much easier, but at the same time so challenging!

I admired bravery and intelligence of young people who work in newly opened office. They will overcome shiness and obtain the experience, in few months their voices will start to sound calmer, their knowledge and trust in own abilities will rise rapidly, they WILL succeed! Actually they have all that already, and by being who they are they giving hope to seafarers and any other fellow human beings that they meet in their daily life. After sharing some of my work experience with them, there is one thing I would like to wish to this talented new collective- luck and lot's of it.