"Finding My 'Home City'"
2
Etta had returned to New York and soon I heard from her mother that there is no problem with the visa and Etta will send my ship ticket. Thus on September 2nd I went to the American Consulate to pick up my papers. These were exciting weeks for me. Many of my friends could not believe that I am really taking a ship to America and plan to stay two years.
Thus on September 24th I went by train to Bremen in Germany and then the harbor in Bremerhaven. I had no hotel reservation and a woman, Mrs. Breda, who went on the ship offered me to share her hotel room. The "MS Berlin" was leaving in the evening of the 26th thus I had time to explore this city. It was the most marvelous experience to get on this ship and by having shared the hotel room with Mrs. Breda I had now a friend from the very beginning in New York.
Life on board ship was nice - this was not a big ocean liner the way as they are now and these ships did not have any stabilizers. When we had to go through a hurricane for two days on October 2nd it became really exciting. We could not go out on decks because it was too rough. The only place one could go out was up near the bridge. I just loved to stand there and enjoy the gorgeous waves and the storm. Fortunately I never got sea sick nor did Mrs. Breda. When the sun was out or even when it was cool we spent time on deck and I really fell in love with the ocean and ships.
On October 8th we arrived in New York. Etta picked me up and drove me around Manhattan and I decided more or less I want to stay here. From the very beginning I decided I have to speak English. I remember the first bus ride back from Midtown and I was scared to ask the bus driver when I have to get off.