I am always amazed by the emotional generosity of the crew members

[mndisfam]

We have been lucky enough to go on quite a few cruises. Without a doubt, we have always been amazed by the friendliness and generosity of the crew members ... especially our servers.

We take second seating. We love talking to our servers as the evening winds down. We chat as they start the cleanup. (And always tell them to kick us out if they need to! We have never been the last family.)

We are humbled by their stories, how hard they work, and how much they sacrifice for their families. As Americans, we all had the same beginnings - extremely poor immigrant families coming to America.

But I always wonder if they listen to our dining complaints, or whatever, and think how little WE know about hardship, sacrifice etc. Almost every crew member we have ever met tells us about their family back home, and how they don't ever see them, but their job provides money for a private school education for their child, or a better home for their family. And I have never ever encountered a faux subservience (I hope!) or a hidden hostility toward our "better" situation. (Once a head server was a total tool, but only once!)

We get onboard, ask for two appetizers, mention we missed a port due to weather, etc... And NO one has ever looked at us like "you have got to be kidding - they think THATS a problem? " I wonder so much how hard their conditions must be back in their home countries. And how hard it must be to be away from their family and yet they always have a smile and kind word to people who must seem so pampered to them.

Sometimes I wonder if serving mostly Americans is easier, bcs most of us aren't pretentious and feel very awkward having people "bow and scrape" to us. I have only witnessed a few passengers being ugly Americans.

One thing is interesting. They always ask about us, what education we have. They always seem so shocked that our great grandparents were poor immigrants, and how quickly families can better themselves in the U.S, that most of us came from modest backgrounds and worked hard.

Does anyone else ever think about this? Or have insight into how bad it must be in their countries of origin?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

They are people and like all people interesting and they work very hard.

 

[wcw57]

yep. since we have traditionally been the most advanced country, European countries fled here for their end of the rainbow experience...which is why you and/or your children went to college. Other countries, who still are struggling with electricity, water, etc. are only NOW experiencing the "chase the pot of gold" phenomena. That is, THESE workers are today's version of your great grand or grand parents....the cycle continues as people worldwide seek to better themselves.