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(1948) Rinells to Sweden and America

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In January the Rinells had to much time on their hands. [Why is this? Because of the war?]. "Gerda writes, "We don't have anything to do - no schools or very little mission work - but I keep busy from morning to night. Of course I sew and prepare for our trip home, but all the same. We perhaps sleep too much!! It's awful to live like this."1

Lally graduated in May 1948 and continued on to high school.

Egron, Gerda and Kids to Sweden

Lally and John's parents, Egron and Gerda, decided to leave Kioahsien, which they hoped was temporary. Before they left the communists went into their home and said what they could or could not take. And, they really could not take much, just what they could carry, and a trunk of things. Upon reaching Tsingtao the trunk was shipped by boat and almost didn't make it. The ship nearly sank and was listing, and partially filled with water, but fortunately their possessions did not get wet. Egron and Gerda met Lally and John in Tsingtao, and they all left the city possibly at the beginning of June.

Egron, Gerda, Lally, John, and Margaretta flew in a small plane to Shanghai, where they stayed for a day or two, and took a different plane to Hong Kong where they stayed stayed for two or three days more. They then took a Norwegian plane of the Braathens airlines to Bangkok and then on to Calcutta and Bombay. They flew during the day and stayed in hotels at night. The sweltering summer heat in India was relieved occasionally by rain. Between Calcutta and Bombay the plane flew into a big storm. The plane was tossed around like a toy, lightening strikes flashed outside the plane's window. Not only the passengers, but the crew, also, seemed concerned. The pilot was worried that he would not be able to see a plane in the storm that he knew would be flying in the opposite direction, so he mae a 180 degree turn and returned to Calcutta. No room was available in the hotel in Calcutta so they stayed in the women's quarters of women's club [YWCA?].They had all afternoon and evening to look around the city.

After the storm they they continued on to Sharai [spelling?], Pakistan where they refueled and took off, which was fine since the weather was hot anyway. They continued on to Cairo, Egypt where they got in late and saw little. They continued on to Rome, Italy where they visited the catacombs, and then on to Oslo, Norway. All this was done on the same plane. [All the way from Tsingtao?] Upon approaching Oslo airport the Norwegian pilot circled his home before landing. When they arrived in Oslo the first thing thing that Johnny noticed that everywhere there was nothing but white people, a strange sight after so many years in China.

From Oslo the family took a train to Sala, Sweden [via Stockholm probably] their home town.

Oscar writes that in 1948 'Principle Wang repr. Kina-missionen vid Svenska Baptist's 100 year jubelee. [This may refer to something I heard that Wang visited Sweden and spoke there. LJH].

Bud and Dollan Re-establish Relationship

Bud suggested Dollan come to America and meet his family. They could talk about getting married. If she decided she did not want to he would pay for her way back to Sweden. With the possibility of getting married Dolland would need a sponsor with sufficient funds to support her if needed. Bud asked his father, John, to do so. On 30 September John submits an Affidavit for Support providing details on his employment and financial resources. Dollan is listed as 'son's fiancee'.

Hellen Rinell Visits Holmquist Family

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Hellen Rinell visits Holmquist Family
Chicago, Illinois, USA
January 1948
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Dollan in America

There were many "first timers" onboard the Mauretania , but only two war brides. There was also Alex, a short Italian, had left his girl back home in Italy to find his fortune, and bring her over.

It was a sunny late afternoon when over the loudspeaker a crewman announced that they had finally arrived in New York. When the Statue of Liberty came into view everone rushed over to the left side of the ship to see her. Dollan was surprised that the ship didn't turn over sideways from all the weight. Some cried. Dollan had seen her before on a previous trip, but still she was a splendid sight. They all then went to the right of the ship again to see the city of New York. The Italian, Alex, standing next to Dollan was thinking of his girl in Italy and started singing,:"O, I wonder who's kissing her now?!"

Dollan put her hand on his shoulder and said, "No one. She is thinking of you!" Alex looked up at Dollan and said, "Are you sure ?" Dollan said, "Yes I am!"

Tugs chugged out to the ship and gently guided her to the docks. [See Dollans sketch of her at the terminal].

Arrording to Dollan's passport she arrived in America on 20 December 1948.

Mady McBride, the other GI war bride from Estonia was on board too. She was on her way to Tacoma, Washington to marry her fiancee. She also left from Göteborg. Mady was delayed at Customs, because she did not have her "bond -papers" for $500. She was kept in "custody" until those papers were telegraphed to the authorities. She and her fianee had met during a street shoot out when he threw her down on the ground and fired back at the enemy with his rifle. In New York Mady was met by two ladies. Mady wore a tan coat with fur collar and long blonde hair.. They welcomed her but said that the first thing they needed to do was to cut her hair.

Dollan was ready for New York and America. She wore a grey A-line flannel skirt, a pink pullover, a strand of crystal beads, brown platform shoes which was the style, a brown veiled hat, brown gloves and carried her guitar.

Some friends of her fiancee, Bud, met her at the dock and took her to a hotel above Grand Central Station, that huge cavern of a building with walls, floors and ceiling made of stone. A huge beautiful Christmas tree stood center, decked with thousands of brightly shining electric lights. Dollan had never seen electric lights in a tree before. Her Christma trees in China and Sweden were lit with live candles.

She boarded the train for Chicago for a two day and one night cadenced clacking journey aross hundreds of miles of America. She had little money and precious little food with to eat. She did not have enough to go to the dinig car. However a porter came through with a basket of sandwiches. She reached down and grabbed a cheese sandwidish and paid fifty cents. The black porter commented:

"I shore can see that you not from this country. No one puts their hand in MY basket. I hand dem the sand." Dollan could not remember her reply.

The train car was freezing. Dollans teeth seemed to chatter in time with clattering tracks.

When the train and she arrived a the Chicago train station there he was, Bud waiting for her on the platform in civilain clothes. She had never seen him out of a marine uniform, and it had been two years since she saw him last in China. She had rolled into another world, and other world was perhaps exciting, but not altogether secure and safe. What exactly lay in store for her she was not certain. All she knew was this was not Sweden, and this was not China, her only points of refernces in her world. This world was not her own, but she was running headlong into it.

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Mickleberrys Restaurant
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Dollan being hungry, Bud took her to dinner at a restaurant called Mickleberrys, the Holmquist family's favorite restaurant. She ordered a plate spaghetti, but she ate little of it because she was so nervous and stressed.

Martin and Anna Jansson

Left China never to return.

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Footnotes

  1. Letter from Gerda to Edith, Kiaohsien, January 6, 1948.

  2. See Oscar Rinell's document, "I Experienced the Tragedy of the Bamboo Curtain", page 5.

CHAPTER

Foreign Devils: A Swedish Family in China 1894 to 1951
© 2012-14 Lennart Holmquist
Lorum • Ipsum• Dolor • Sic Amet • Consectetur

Updated: 10-Feb-2017

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