Australia, my new home

had felt uprooted and never really had that feeling of being at home. Family and friends alone did not make a Heimat for me. I needed something more to give me that feeling of at-home-ness. At that moment I didn't know what it was, but I sensed that I would know one day. Somewhat bewildered I turned away from the railing, when I noticed that the sky was almost dark. The ship's lights showed me the way to my cabin.

It was only a short walk there, through the side door, down a flight of stairs and along a narrow corridor. I met my two companions with whom I would share the cabin for the rest of the voyage, a 12-year old boy whose name was Eckart, and a 19-year old, called Gerhard. Eckart was to join his mother in Australia, and a nurse from the ship's hospital was assigned to mother him during the trip. They had the bunk and I slept on a night-and-day behind a table. We had a wash basin in the cabin, and a small wardrobe each. There was also a port hole to see what the weather was like outside. Our steward was French and had only a smattering of German. As I spoke some French I thought we should get along fine. He told me that our dinner was being served at the dining room.

The head waiter showed us to our table. There were several tables spread across the dining room with the captain's table at one end. The Norwegian Captain Alf Fäste was flanked by the other Norwegian officers and two German doctors. The menu, all in French, didn't help my companions. I had to translate for them. The SKAUBRYN flew the Norwegian flag. She was owned by the Skaugen Company from Oslo, but had been hired by the French Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, and most of the crew were French, or Italian. The kitchen staff were all French, hence the French food and the French menu. Apart from some dishes, the food was excellent. Dinner was always served with red wine. Eckart was also expected to drink it, but he refused.

Opposite our cabin was a shower room and toilets. From here on I enjoyed a daily shower. In Germany this was considered a luxury, but it soon became a necessity for me.

On our first day at sea the First Officer Ellef Knudsen assembled all 20 or so paying passengers from the dining room on the upper deck in a small sitting room. He explained:

"Most of the ship is taken up by government funded migrants. They have their own quarters, dining rooms and lounges. The upper deck is reserved for you, the paying passengers, or Tourist Class, as we call it. This here will be your lounge. None of the migrants are allowed here. If you want to stretch your legs, you can walk all over the ship, but you will find that the rest of the ship is rather crowded. There is a purser on board who will exchange your money if you want to go ashore. He will also help you with excursions etc.

"This ship will take on more migrants from Naples. After that we will stop at Port Said, Colombo and Fremantle before we disembark all emigrants at Melbourne. Is there anyone going to Sydney?"

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