White and blue

My red anorak was too baggy but this was the smallest size available. Apart from that, I had to wear an orange life-vest like all the other passengers who were starting to quickly board the perilious-looking jelly-boat. Considering how South we were it was not that cold, but apparently the sunlight was extremely dangerous because everybody was using the highest solar protection available. Now I would find terrifying to sail among a bunch of icebergs, but at the time I was 5 years old and mostly concerned over deciding which one of them was the most blue. A scientist explained me that the older an iceberg gets, the darker and bluer it becomes – it's their way of ageing. I also learnt that we only see the tip of the iceberg, but that most of it remains underwater. I said then: Well, icebergs and people are very alike! He replied: Luckily people are not as cold. Soon after that, the boat stopped because a rare apparition occurred: a tiger-seal. It was quietly lying on a piece of ice - probably resting - before preparing her next attack towards an unexperienced or highly risk-taking penguin. Even if they are really rare to spot, all my attention was attracted by a blue wale's tail emerging for underwater and slowly descending. She waved goodbye! We got back to the cruise boat; we were directed towards our cabin when I spotted a person my age. I thought to myself, this can be an opportunity to make a new friend! I was decided to approach him and my mother, who always roots for my team said: look honey, what a pretty Chinese little boy! The boy's mother hastily replied: we are not Chinese, we are Japanese! Our friendship was banned for cultural and political reasons and we suffered the consequences generated by the lack of diplomatic relations between our respective mothers. My mother is great, but when I travel to Amsterdam, she still asks me how the weather in Hamburg is. I was sad because my friendship attempt failed – and at the time I did not know that growing up implied loads and loads more of disillusionment than that, I really thought that was the bottom – so I silently went towards the cabin. Then, while taking off my sweater, I noticed a chocolate falling from my pocket. I asked my mom if she had put it there but she said she had not done such a thing. I knew it was him! I never saw him again, but I was sure that I had a friend somewhere on board. I ate the chocolate and since that day I have desired to visit Japan.