23 - Diary Entry - 7 June 1936

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Story so far: Grandma Cecile had planned her trip to visit her relatives back in her home village of Nieder-Mohrau, Czechoslavkia. She had crossed the country by train, from Oregon on the Pacific coast to New York on the Atlantic coast. In New York, she had transferred from the train at Grand Central Station, spent part of the day walking in NYC, then boarded the Europa and set sail for Europe.

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Grandma Cecile settled into life aboard the ship. This is her next diary entry, her second day at sea:

This is Sunday, JUNE 7. How the time is fleeting! We had Mass at 7:00, High Mass [1] at 10:00. There were so many in the chapel it was filled to every corner. There were 2 ushers; Collection for the disabled Catholic Seamen. After church, Te Deum [2] was sung. They rang the bell just like at home, only I believe it was something like a graphophone behind the altar. 

This ship carries a crew of 1000, and 1800 passengers. It is all filled. 

I am sitting at a writing table in the writing room. There are such deep soft carpets and such wonderful furniture.[3] The sea is so quiet, nobody is sick, and if it would not be for the machinery down below, (the vibrations) we wouldn’t know we are on water. I would be perfectly contented, but there is a tingle of homesickness mixed with it all. If Betty and Papa would be here, or at least one of the boys, such you are almost unable to have it alone in spite of everybody is very kind. 

We are 4 in a room[4], I would rather I'd be alone. I heard the trumpet. Do not know what it is for, but everything has a meaning and you have to get acquainted first. 

It is warm and the windows are open all around the ship. One thing I notice is the german doorknobs, European style. That’s what I have not seen for 35 years.[5]

[1] - High Mass - a solemn service where most of the Mass parts are sung, not simply recited, and this was back when the Mass was all still in Latin. From my experience as a child, the High Mass was the later service of the day, as here in her diary. All the singing made it a longer service.

[2] - Te Deum - a special hymn of praise 

[3] -  to see some of the furniture, check out the pictures in the brochure here

[4] - to see an example of the room for four, check out the photo of the stateroom in this brochure 

[5] - german doorknobs, I couldn't see any in the photos in the brochures, not sure what it was that she had missed

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Story to be continued......

To read Post "24 - Diary Entry - 8 June 1936" Click here