See of Dreams

From New York to Hamburg

I just don’t get it. Get what you say? I don’t understand all of the commotion and fuss about ships. Ships sailing in and ships sailing out of Hamburg’s habour, to be more specific. I mean after all, if you’ve seen one ship, you’ve seen them all. Right? Apparently, not if you are a Hamburgian (a resident of Hamburg not to be confused with hamburger – that’s the thing you eat.) Anyway, Hamburgians seem to have a love affair with ships. Recently, there was a Cruise Days weekend here in Hamburg and over 150,000 people crowded the harbour to watch the parade of cruise ships enter the harbour. People described it as “overwhelming!”, emotional and even went so far as to say “a Gänsehaut experience!” The last time I had that “Gänsehaut” feeling was when I traveled to the North sea and stepped into the 18 degree water at the beginning of June!

It’s not only these mega events that draw Hamburgians out of their homes. No, Hamburgians are even willing to wake up at the crack of dawn, throw on a rain slicker, and run with camera in hand down to the harbour to wave, take pictures and even make a video recording of just about any sailing vessel that calls itself a cruise ship. Nowhere else would such a phenomenon occur! At least not in New York City, where I am from. In all the years of living in New York City, I have never gotten out of bed at the ungodly hour of 5:30 am just to wave to some cruise ship entering New York harbour. In fact, I don’t think any New Yorker would do so.

 

So, I began to think? What is it about cruise ships that attracts so much attention here in Hamburg? Could it be that Germans would rather be anywhere else but here? And dream of the day when they too can wave from a ship leaving Hamburg? I don’t suppose. In fact in recent years, more Germans have decided to stay home and travel within Germany to rediscover all the beauty and culture it has to offer. A new found patriotism that was rekindled perhaps by hosting the 2006 World Championship.

Maybe the reason for this fixation with cruise ships is because many Hamburgians are envious of those who can afford such an “extravagant” Holiday and dream of the day when they too can wave from a ship leaving the port. Well, with the current European economic crisis the good news is that affording that “luxury” holiday is becoming more and more reality for those who don’t necessarily belong to the “The haves” class. Cruise ship companies are learning that they too much reach out to the “The have somes” and even “The have nots” in order to stay a float economically.
Or perhaps it’s because of the service that causes many to long for a trip on one of these floating hotels. Where else, can Germans get 24 hour service and all you can eat in one place? We all know that Germany is known as a customer service desert, right? Needless to say, that this too is changing as Germany adapts the number one commandment long practiced in the states which says that, “customer service is number one!”, not your Chef.

But perhaps the real reason for this love affair with ships could well be the fact that waving to these larger than life objects allows us, “I mean Hamburgians”, to feel like children again. It gives us the permission to experience excitement and giddiness at a time when life is sometimes too serious. So the next time you are feeling overwhelmed by life’s everyday struggles, or are feeling too grown up, go down to the harbour and maybe you will be lucky enough to see one of these cruise ships entering the harbour. Stop and greet the ship, wave enthusiastically, at its cargo of passengers and I bet you will feel rejuvenated. You will feel young again, even optimistic. Hey, wait a minute, maybe we New Yorkers should begin a love affair with cruise ships as well? But I think it will take some time before we are willing to wake up at 5 am. Oh well, some things need more time.

Charles Anderson
Senior Trainer, Institute4Languages