The Hamburg Fish Market and Late-Night Volleyball

Sun Rising at Hamburg Fish Market

Today, we woke up at the crack of dawn to visit the traditional Hamburg Fish Market. I was equipped with some Euros as I planned on staying away from the fish, but getting much-needed souvenirs.

Before getting on the U-Bahn, my counsellors warned us that the area we were about to enter was going to be full of people who were coming home from late-night partying and could potentially be a distraction. We were also informed to stay away from people who asked for money, as they are usually trying to scam us. Because I see homeless people in large numbers in my hometown, I am often used to being asked for money, but it seems somehow more directed here. We have had situations where we have had to walk away from conflicting situations because of that. It depends on the area, of course, but it was nothing too different from what I've experienced before. If you are planning on traveling to Germany, Hamburg, or Berlin, keep in mind that there's a party culture, and always be aware of your surroundings.

Another thing to be aware of is the infamous "German stare." As an American, staring seems rude, and most of the time, awkward. However, I have noticed, especially on public transport, that Germans often engage in intense eye contact with us. I've chalked it up to either being American and speaking English or perverse reasons. So it's important when traveling to find a safe space, be prepared for everything, and make the distinction.

Once we arrived, I felt immediately drawn to a coffee stand. We got ridiculously over-priced coffee, then sat by the edge of the water. It was perfectly serene. Behind us, a bustling market filled with a wide variety of fish, seafood, coffee, handcrafted items, and inexpensive Hamburg souvenirs. In front of us, the bay was full of glistening water from a subtle sunrise, chirping seagulls, and a load of boats. A man with an accordion played a familiar melody, and the view made waking up early worth it.

We sat for around an hour admiring the view. Then we made our way back into the morning crowd of the market, and I prepared myself to spend a lot of money. This was my last chance to buy some souvenirs for my family, and I knew they'd be mad if I didn't. I even bought a very touristy zip-up hoodie that read "Hamburg," a few magnets, and postcards.

After leaving the market with my coffee and gifts, we walked to the Hauptkirche Sankt Michaelis (church of Saint Michaelis) and bought a ticket to the top. After flights and flights and flights of stairs (not exaggerated), we finally made it to the top. The soft breeze at the top and the immense view below were worth it.

Lunch led into dinner after the whole hostel took a collective nap. Let's just say it's been a long week, but today's free time gave us some time to downwind. After lunch led into dinner, we got ready to join the others in a volleyball game in an indoor beach volleyball court down the street. After taking the wrong bus and waiting for 15 minutes, we finally arrived.

We played vigorous and productive volleyball for two hours, a little fun before bed. It felt great knowing we were a team, even if our competitive nature peeked through a bit. Our group has made it to the point where almost every single one of us is comfortable with each other, and I now feel like I am in a unique space, a bubble, with good people.

Today, I got the day I've been craving, a day full of quiet, tourism, and sightseeing. And it was everything I wanted it to be. This is true for most Germans on Sunday, which is known as their collective "quiet" day. It also gave me some time to reflect, because although the day was fun, it was also one of my last days here. Time has felt like it passed so quickly, yet slowly at the same time. I remind myself that one day I'll wake up and I won't see any roommates, or any Red Bulls, and I'll be back to a whole different world.

Today was chill, but tomorrow we get back to our workshops on "Marine ecosystems" and "Creating a Personal Action Plan." I look forward to it!