SAILING ACROSS THE PACIFIC MEMORIES FROM THE HIGH MARITIME UNIVERSITY 1969-1973
We invite you to read a series of articles that will take us back to the harsh reality of the 70's and 80's, known to most of us only from stories told by our parents or grandparents. Their author is Mr. Andrzej Buszke, a graduate of the Naval Academy in Gdynia, a sailor who worked 28 years of his life at sea. The stories are accounts and descriptions of subjective feelings of the author. The stories describe the reality of communist Poland, as well as the world, which no longer exists, seen through the eyes of an adept and then ETO (Electro-technical Officer).
We received such passes on Fridays. They allowed us to go outside the campus on Saturday and Sunday weekends. But that was only after we had completed our candidature and had been sworn in at Kosciuszko Square in 1969. Before that we were only 'candidates' for WSM students. I know that year 1971 is confusing, probably there were other passes before that, I don't remember...
usually enjoyed a higher standard of living than the average family. T he WSM w as cut to size and the teaching staff was supplemented in subsequent years by borrowings e.g. from the WSMW. The only professor
(of mathematics) at that time was the first rector, Bohdan Kowalczyk, Ph. They didn't know how to treat us whether as students or listeners. We were treated in the same way as before: in the barracks, having our hair cut, being issued clothes, i.e. working dreadlocks, khaki
Well, slowly, step by step. After graduation from the State Technical School (Public Television) in Bydgoszcz in 1969 I faced a dilemma: 3-year military service or further studies. I found out that PSM in Gdynia had b e en tr an s form e d into WS M w ith five faculties (Navigation, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic - later changed to Radiocommunication at Sea - and Administrative). For me, the choice was obvious. It must be remembered that during the communist era, work at sea enjoyed a high reputation. The Sailing Pass was a passport covering a wide area of the world and seafarer families 22 | Summer 2021 | Lifestyle
Passes, like the one shown, were given to us on Friday. They authorized us to go outside the campus.
