By Ship To Canada The ship on which we were to experience new adventures was ready to receive us and many other passengers, of course. It appeared to be a monster of a ship, even when viewed from afar. It was anchored offshore at Liverpool, England, because it was too big to enter the harbor. We had all gathered on the pier to board a ferryboat to take us to the ship. The ride in the ferry was an adventure in itself. The sides were very low, and the memory of the rough North Sea and its high waves created an uneasy feeling in all of us. So we huddled close together and boarded the ferry, remain[ing] close together. If we were to be swept overboard, all would go together·
However, we arrived safely at the side of the ship. There it was -- steps suspended over the side of the ship, water all around. To step from the ferry onto this unstable stairway [was] unthinkable! Thus a new problem had been created· Mother had never stepped higher than the height of a stool, and now she must climb a flight of stairs much more steep than the ones on the freighter in which we had crossed the North Sea. And on the outside, yet. This terrifying experience for Mother was made somewhat easier with the aid of at least four crewmen, two in front, pulling, and two at the rear, pushing·. I am sure Mother closed her eyes while the crewman did their duty. Finally, with tense nerves, they reached the deck.
On the deck of this most elegant ship everything was clean and colorful, and there were chairs on which to sit. Mother immediately occupied one and eventually regained her composure. For us children, just climbing the stairs was another scary thrill. We did hold tightly to the side rails of the stairs as a safety precaution and reached the deck with much relief. We brought chairs close to Mother and together appraised everything in sight with astonishment.
In contrast to the freighter on which we had crossed the North Sea from Riga, this ship was truly “a floating palace” and well worth waiting for. The food was delicious-fresh bakery goods every day, and with the aid of a Jewish sailor, we were able to get some of the freshly baked goodies at midnight as well.
[original page 43] We ate on long tables covered with tablecloths, and we were served by waiters. We were told by the Jewish sailor that the meats were kosher, which we ate. Mother would not touch the meat, but she did eat the fresh bakery goods and fruit compote, which we brought to her in our third-class stateroom. Our stateroom consisted of four individual bunks, all this for only six people!...
Imagine coming from our semi-primitive Visoko, Litovsk, and having an objection to anything, with all of the above-mentioned satisfactory features. But one phase of life on that real luxury liner did not please me. I had an unpleasant odd sensation and felt disturbed whenever I entered the large men's room on our deck. There were always many men standing in groups, smoking and talking. In the center of that large room was a square of partitioned sections with toilets. The heads, shoulders, and feet of each occupant [were] exposed.
Then, during my romping around on other levels of the ship, I discovered that on the second level there was a room where the toilets were completely enclosed. After a few trips to that newly discovered luxury, I thought it strange that only women were using those facilities. They did not object to my presence, and I welcomed their smiles.
We crossed the Atlantic Ocean in six and one-half days, less time than it [had taken] for us to cross the North Sea from Riga. The crossing was pleasant, and the passengers we met were friendly. We children had fun romping up and down the higher levels of the ship. We could not understand why Mother would not join us…
