Australia, my new home

"You are game, to arrive in a totally strange city, not knowing anyone, and you don't even know where you are going to stay the night! Well, maybe I can help you. Before I moved here I stayed at a boarding house just down the road in Darlingpoint Road. A Mrs. Ehrlich is running the place. I'll give her a phone call, maybe she'll have a place for you."

After a brief telephone call, Michael appeared again. "You are lucky. She has a vacant room. She is very particular in choosing her boarders, but as I could put a word in for you, she wants to see you. How about we go over there right away."

"Thank you, that is very kind of you." Mrs. Ehrlich reminded me a little of the Dachs, the cook at our boarding house in Poznan. She was also small in stature and spoke rapidly in a fairly high pitch. After greeting us without shaking hands (for me this seemed rather strange) she invited us to come in. She showed me the front room with two beds.

"If you like you can have this room. It will be five guineas full board." I looked puzzled at Michael.

"Five pounds and five shillings a week, no lunch during the week, but weekends you will get three meals."

"That sounds fine to me. Thank you, Mrs. Ehrlich, I'll take the room." "Are you also in the wool trade like Michael?"

"I was in Bremen, and I hope I'll get a job here too." "That's good. There are two young Japanese wool buyers staying here, you'll meet them later. Where is your luggage?"

"I left it at Central Station. I'll go and pick it up now. Later I want to go and see my ship leaving. The trunk will have to wait till tomorrow."

"Well, that's settled then. Tea is at 6 o'clock sharp." With that we left Mrs. Ehrlich. Michael walked home and I went back to the station.

The SKAUBRYN was still at Circular Quay, when I arrived after dinner, but it had changed its appearance. Lots of brightly coloured streamers seemed to be holding the ship in place. I hadn't seen that custom before. Those on board held one end, whilst those seeing them off held the other, maintaining contact with each other until the last possible moment. A lot of shouting went on, and I found it hard to see any familiar face in the crowd. Then I discovered the doctors and nurses right up on top deck. I waved frantically and shouted to draw their attention. Eventually they saw me and waved back. Suddenly a strong feeling of loneliness came over me. Here was 'my' ship, my home for five weeks, my last visible link to Germany, and my friends, with whom I had shared a marvellous voyage. It was home-sickness, and had it been possible, I may have gone back on board. But the gangway had already been removed and slowly, ever so slowly, the SKAUBRYN was moving away from the pier.

"I have found a place!" I shouted up. "Write us your address," Sister Eva-Maria shouted back.

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