Hard hats, steel-toe capped boots, and large overalls became our uniform for six unforgettable weeks.
In April 2016, at the Chantiers de I’Atlantique shipyard in Saint- Nazaire, France, construction of the largest passenger ship in the world at that time, was near completion. The Harmony of the Seas needed her finishing touches, before it could accept the thousands of excited guests. My wife Lauren and I were part of the Takeout Team, the crew members who work onboard during the launch of a new ship. While our days were filled with testing alarms, installing equipment, and just about anything your manager needed you to do, our nights were spent at a cramped but inviting bar near the shipyard. Le Trou du Fût, which means The Barrel Hole, normally played host to locals, but for a short time, people from all corners of the globe stepped through its doors. American, Brazilian, English, Romanian, Trinidadian, and Vincentian were just the nationalities represented in my team of eight. All of us were in a foreign country with a limited grasp of the French language, but the local people of Saint-Nazaire, from Le Trou du Fût to the supermarket, welcomed and conversed with us. There is a stereotype that English and French people dislike each other, which is ingrained in both cultures, but I found we were able to laugh it off and enjoy each other’s company.
Looking back at this microcosm, I find it a perfect example of how opening up your home and mind can richly benefit not only your community but yourself.
(Originally Published in July 2022)
Comments