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(1948) Dollan Emigrates to America

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 the 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, 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 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 John 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].

Dollan in America

[Following written by Dollan. Incorporate into chapter]

It was late afternoon and it was anounsed (sp) over the loud speaker !
There were many "first timers" but ONLY 2 GI war brides ! It was a sunny afternoon . I am surprised that the ship didn't turn over side ways ,because everyone got over to the left side of the ship to see her . Some of us cried ! I had seen her before since we always had to go to NY to get to SWEDEN ! Then we all went to the right of the ship again to se the City of New YORK ! The guy next to me was thinking of his girl , in Italy and sang :" O . I wonder who's kissing her now !!!"" I put my hand on his shoulder and said :" NO ONE , she is thinking of you " He looked up at me ( he was a short Italien named Alex ) and said :"Are you sure ??" I said Yes I am !
Then we docked with all the tugs tugging us into place !
I drew a sketch for you so you sort of can see me at the terminal .
I wore a grey A-line grey flannel skirt , a pink pullover a strand of crystal beads . Brown platform shoes (That was the style) . and is now ,,also a brown veiled hat , brown gloves and carried my guitar ! What a sight that must of been !!
I am sure that you have 100 more questions !!!
IF you can Google MADY MCBRIDE , GI war bride fromEstonia and was heading for TACOMA WASHINGTON to marry her GI it would be fun to see if she is still alive She also left from Goteborg ,but was delayed at Custums aboard on NY,because she did not have her "bond -papers from her husband of 500:- to-be and was cept in "custody " until those papers were Telegrafed to the authorities . They met under a street shoot out when he through her down on the ground and fired back with his rifle or automatic weapon . That's how they met . She was met by two ladies and she wore a tan coat with fur coular (sp) and long blondish hair . but not as blonde as I was . I think that hers was died . They welcomed her and said that the first thing they needed to do was to cut her hair !!!!!!!
That's all folks ! Mamma

Dollan arrived in America on 22 December 1948.with the object of becoming a GI bride by marrying Bud Holmquist. She sailed into New York harbor on the Mauritania. The Statue of Liberty looked beautiful. Most of them [who is them?] let out thier pent up emotions and simply cried. ¹⁰¹ Brown, Doris. "Arrival in the USA." Emails to Lennart Holmquist. 30 Nov. 2008. 11:06:24 PM EST, and December 1, 2008 1:28:11 PM EST. Emails from Kingston, Washington to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.É

Martin and Anna Jansson

Left China never to return.

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