My adopted daughter from Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

My adopted daughter from Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

Shing is my adopted daughter from Taiwan, as a matter of fact that

she is the first Taiwanese staff whom I meet on board. She was at

the atrium bar area to greet the new passengers, an assignment for

her department, cruise activity directors. I lost her for my first two

weeks on board due to her assignment on Deck 12 for the kids and

the poolside activity and until the second back 9 days. She is a very

attractive, young, good manners, and courtesy person like all the

ship employees. She lives in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan where

I was from. I sat behind her and her colleague one day afternoon on a

shuttle bus from the downtown, St. Kitts to the pier and I didn’t bother

her at all.

I am always wondering why Taiwanese youngsters would not look for

the opportunity on board. Of course, I understand that with the same

qualification, they may find a better pay jobs in Taiwan; however, as

my understanding, Taiwanese TV talk shows indicate NT$ 22K monthly

for fresh college graduates if they are lucky to be employed. NT$22K is

about US$700. I believe that the minimum pay on board is higher than

that amount and with room and board plus transportation on contract

break, etc.

There is only one exception with a strict Hawaiian labor law enforced

that cruise ships sail on Hawaiian sea must be domestic employee.

That means U.S. labor laws applied and also employee fringe benefit

and pay, etc. I have been to that ship called, Pride of America and seen

not only green cards employees but also citizen from many States. I

have thought of this ever since I was preparing to come to U.S. For

instance, my salary was equal to US$100 a month back to 1975 as a

full time senior high teacher while my graduate school chemistry department

provided me a part time teaching assistantship for US$375 per month.

A foreign labor works in Taiwan gets US$1000 per month less 10% fee or

commission to the agency.

This is why I encourage Taiwanese youngsters get out of Taiwan to find job

opportunity. Working on cruise ships is also a training like a military service

experience, cruise ship likes naval vessel and the officers even wear naval

uniforms.