I moved to Hawaii about 8 months ago when my Mom got married, she told me I had to find a place to live so I went to stay with my Dad. He moved there about 3 years ago. Anyway, I applied with NCL, Norwegian Cruise Line, and after about 6 months (I had to get my G.E.D.) they sent me to Piney Point Maryland for training. I was there five weeks, I had to take a lot of classes and work a lot, but it wasn’t too bad, it kept me occupied. Part of the training is applying for your MMD card, Merchant Marine Document. It takes different people different amounts of time to get it, as it’s one of the most extensive background checks you can have. At the end of my training they gave me a choice, I could stay there, and work 12 hours a day for 50 dollars a week, and wait for my MMD, or I could go home and wait. I didn’t have the money to go back to HI and wait, but staying there was driving me crazy, I was in a hostile work environment and extremely anxious all the time. It made my OCD very bad. I needed to find a way out of there. I called my mom in Georgia, and she said they would loan me some money to fly there and stay until I got my MMD. So I flew here to Georgia and have been waiting for it about 3 weeks now. It’s been nice to see my family, as once your on the ship, you are on for 5 months at a time. Anyway, I’ve been worrying a lot that I messed up with the paperwork, or that I misspelled something, or numerous other things, and that I wouldn’t get it and end up with no money and no place to stay here in Georgia. I got the call this morning though, and my MMD was issued, I am very happy right now. They fly me out tomorrow morning, I stay in a hotel tomorrow night, then I’ll be on the ship by Saturday. I am very apprehensive about it, but I know it will be good for me. How will I know unless I try? I know I will work a lot, 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so my mind will be occupied. I will make good money as well, since my board and food are payed for. I plan to save all the money I earn, which should be 2 thousand a month at least. I hope I have access to the internet, this website and all the people here have really been helpful, and I have felt better lately. I hope everyone else is having a good day today, I need to start packing and saying good bye to my family.