American Women's Club of Hamburg Currents Magazine January 2014 | Page 23

MEMBERSHIP
Speech by Jess M.
My name is Jess and I have been a member of the
American Women’s Club of Hamburg for nearly the
last four years. As one of 23 Associate Members of our
Club, and one of only three Australians, I am here
to hopefully represent an international aspect of the
AWCH.
My six-year anniversary here in Hamburg came around
last week and, in so many ways, my time here seems to
have passed in the blink of an eye. But when I think
back at my first couple of years, I had it pretty tough.
We didn’t have any Internet. Facebook was not in our
daily lives and, as an Australian, it didn’t even occur to
me to google something like American Women’s Club
Hamburg. So my days were long, isolated, and full of
homesickness and sightseeing (Besichtigungstermine).
I could never have imagined how debilitating the reality
of taking away all forms of language would be. All of a
sudden, going to the bank, buying milk or riding the
bus, became exhausting mountains to climb.
After about six months, I stumbled across an online
forum for English-speaking people living in Germany,
and thought I had struck gold! Finally: people who
understood my need for baking soda and vanilla, an
explanation of the complexities of the recycling system
and why drinks always cost more at the Kasse, than on
the shelf.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to realise that
some of the most active members of this forum had
nothing positive to say about Hamburg, Germany, or
even living abroad in general. They spent their days
deliberately knocking people down, people like me,
who felt vulnerable and desperate for some like-minded
conversation. This was not helping me assimilate in
any way.
I did make two very good friends there though, one of
whom is now back living in Montreal and the other,
lucky for me, is not only still here, but was a member
of the American Women’s Club of Hamburg. Beth
G. soon introduced me to her fellow club members
and invited me to come along to Stitch’n’Bitch at her
place, which I can stand here tonight and say, without
a doubt, changed my life.
We underestimate the importance of belonging and
being able to relate to one another. When we stay in
our hometowns or countries, surrounded by family
and friends, who have known us all our lives, it’s not
something we think about. Those who never pick up
Currents January 2014

and leave ‘home’, have no idea what that’s like. The very
fact that my fellow club members have been through
this transition and come out the other side, with happy,
successful lives, is why being a member of this club is
so important to me. Your first-hand experiences trump
any understanding phone call home.
You remind me every day how lucky we are to live
here, how beautiful Hamburg is and what a privilege
it is, to experience this expat life, even if you’re only
here temporarily. I needed that more than anything,
to realise what I had, instead of constantly thinking
about what I was missing back home.
Even though my days in Hamburg are much less sunny
and colder than I will probably ever get used to, they’re
filled with more laughs than tears. I feel more equipped
to handle anyone trying to push in front of me in a
line and have triumphed over Pfand, HVV and my
DHL Packstation. I am an active host and participant
of Stitch n Bitch, where I’ve learnt valuable vocabulary
like “Fluffer-nutter”, “PB & J” and “FBAR”. The
inevitable exchange of cultural differences makes living
life here that much richer. I think it’s ace that I can
tell my friends to “throw their bathers in the boot”,
“put on their sunnies” and “come to a BYO barbie on
the beach this arvo” - and they still understand what
I mean.
I am one of your Hamburger Helpers and was excited
to be on the Board this year, as your Membership
Chair, giving me the invaluable experience to witness
first hand, just how much time and effort goes into
running this Club. This Club has opened my eyes
to a life I’d never dreamed of, filled with life-long
friendships.
My husband and I fly back to Melbourne most years
for Christmas, for a much needed sunny recharge of
our batteries. There were years I couldn’t wait to go
home and dreaded the flight back to Hamburg – and
the 27-hour trek didn’t help. But as the years go by, I
am finding my heart continually in two different cities.
Melbourne will always be home…but now I can’t wait
to fly back to Hamburg either.
Thank you all for making this club a place to call home,
here in Hamburg.

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