Monday, 1st of december 2025, 1815 hours
I left Bucharest to learn how to face difficult situations myself. Up until then, I have avoided them. You don't know me, but when I start something, I will do it at peak of my abilities. A few important ones I re-did until my heart was happy with them.
I knew I was being unprepared for what followed. A month ago I enrolled for a three day training course for offshore personnel.
Tuesday, 2nd of december 2025, 0805 hours
I entrered the classroom with no paperwork, second to last in the day. Found a place next to V███████. After me arrived N█████, a tall ukrainian about the same age. At this training it was me and 14 others. A woman and her husband, three others from Ukraine, and the rest of people from all places.
In the first day you learn fire fighting. I had no notebook with me and search in the backpack a few minutes for a pen. After two hours I started noting keywords in midair to be able to memorise what they were teaching. Automations. That place was different from any other classroom which I've been to until then.
The clock there was always backwards, never ahead. I spotted the sickest of them all right away. He was the one assigned to introduce us to the theory, observe and give grades.
Theory session ended with a test in which we were looking together in the open book for answers. This was the first compromise. At practical each and every one of us had to raise the fire alarm and we learned in teams of five to extinguish different types of fires.
The day ended with us exiting individually and in teams from an enclosed space in case of fire. They learned us if we lose one, we let them there. Did the practical with my mask cracked. They laghed. We were exercising death.
Wednesday, 3th of december 2025, 0755 hours
Day was supposed to be about standards, first aid and survival at sea. I went with all my heart. Got a notebook. N█████ was late on Wednesday, upset. He understood what they were actually doing.
The instructor talked to us about how safe the industry is due to certifications like this. He continued with information about associated risks and how to normalize them. About not overlooking anything today and how important it is to say something to them if you saw something. The consensus was that a disaster has to involve at least five human casulaties. They were checks. V███████ handed me the menu to pick something for lunch.
We learned about first aid and recovery positions after resuscitation. We practiced first aid in turn, but none of us checked the pulse. At lunch there was a divided atmosphere. Everyone knew they had come there to leave. Many no longer believed otherwise; they had been promised good money.
The instructors planned the practical trial before lunch so we wouldn't get stomach sick. We had two pairs of suits. One thick one for outside and one thin one for the pool. We put on the thick suits and life jackets to board the evacuation vehicle. They lowered the boat empty so it wouldn't get scratched and showed us that it only takes one person to do it.
We changed to the pool suits. Their pairs were smaller than the thick ones, creating an uncomfortable tightness in the groin area. I looked for a larger one, but I understood from the nervous atmosphere that this was the plan. The proudest were able to find them.
At the pool, we were aligned in the order in which instructors trusted us. I was number two in the right of the woman. The instructor wanted to adjust my helmet, saying it didn't look good in photos. This was the peak of my abilities and he was testing.
A diver showed up to demonstrate how to jump into the water, find the life raft, and position ourselves so that he could rescue us by the helicopter. I was among the last to reach the water, after which we formed a circle together with the diver. Some people may call this a spiral. Afterwards, we climbed onto the life raft. It was covered, and we couldn't see what was happening outside. They took them one by one.
The instructor insisted on lifting the woman first so that there would be enough time for her to wash afterwards. Her husband asked those in the boat to let him be next. For some, it took longer to prepare. Most of the us knew, others started thinking of the third day.
The divers tried for more than ten minutes to arrange my life jacket. I got up with an immense pressure on my testicles. They quickly moved away, and I received a vicious blow to the groin. The instructor was standing on the ladder, watching and enjoying himself. I took a shower, had lunch with the Ukrainians who didn't know what to think - and left.
That evening I went into the sea too cool off. In my path I passed a few meters away from a gray Opel with a number which I've seen the day before. After 30 seconds, the driver started driving uneasy. I did a flash salute to him with the lantern in my jacket, hopefully it will help them someday.
Thursday, 4th of december 2025, 0750 hours
The calling for Thurdsay was to be there five minutes earlier. It was a helicopter baptism. I heard that attachment is formed through trauma, and that was the goal. The whole life had programmed me to always be on time and drew me there. Fortunately, I did not make it to training that day. At 0800 hours went to the park and stayed there to watch the sunrise. The others went ahead.
Saturday, 6 of december 2025, 2330 hours
On Friday, I left for Bucharest and now I am writing this because I received a gift and I am going to give something back.
It takes less than 50 pounds to crush a testicle, and the psychological pain was excruciating. Those who didn't get it mentally got it physically. These are the stories that keep them hooked and make the offshore industry on top of safety.
A person can have as many children as they want; it's not for anyone else to take that away.
Wear groin protection.
250,000 people work every year in the offshore industry.
Most OPITO certifications repeat every four years.