His experience is, uh, specific. But that's not going to stop him from generalizing it.

"Cramped," is the adjective that comes immediately to mind. His face scrunches at the memory, like tasting something curdled and sour. "Crammed in the hold with whoever else could fit. Rolling around in a storm, hoping the whole thing doesn't crack open like an egg and dump you out in the middle of the sea. Swore I smelled like dead fish for weeks, after we landed."

He's selectively leaving out all the seasickness, mostly because it's embarrassing.