Hi Jim
Well this is a point. I was never one to be in the hierarchy in my every day life. The situation was kind of forced upon me due to protocol, but I have to say I had a very good rapport with the steward who took care of my cabin. He got quite insulted if I made my own bed. We had this understanding. If I got out of bed late then I made the bed. He was Chinese and a really nice guy. I treated him with utter respect and in return I got all kinds of gifts bestowed upon me - During the voyage we often got invited in the crew area for Chinese food and learned the way of life in their own country. It was a good rapport and I always felt the respect we had was worth the extra mile on my part.
The only thing I could never get used to was the way the African crew were treated at that time. When you look back it was actually quite shocking in today's values. Again I always gave the utmost respect despite the white guys making racist remarks. But it was what you guys did, a way of life. Our thinking was different then.
So yes I often asked myself - these are human being like me. So why should they be treated like this? If I had told anyone my thoughts at that time I think they would have read the riot act at me.
Lin x