The Promised Land

CHAPTER 1.    Only in America.

All around a sea of humanity was pushing, jostling and talking loudly to each other in a dozen tongues. Every one was looking for someone, and this included me. I was looking and hoping to find a familiar face. While looking, I was also moving slowly towards the exit from the pier. A bus was to be parked in front of the docks with a sign ‘JOINT’ on the windshield. I lost my three friends. They disappeared at least temporarily. I did not see Cornelia either; I was all alone in the great United States of America.

 The heat and humidity were particularly oppressive. I was unaccustomed to this type of climate. My head started swimming, and there was a persistent, low-pitched ringing noise in my ears. Heads were bobbing in front of me, and endless lines of cars on the highway beyond, were, what appeared to me, racing each other aimlessly. Probably in response to the press of the bodies, the heat, and the car exhaust fumes I was getting nauseated. In front, I spotted a monstrously long queue. People were apparently lined up to pick up their documents. There was not much discipline among them. Everyone was trying to get to the head of the line at the same time. It turned out that the only document we were given at this time was a receipt from the customs office. I had with me some personal clothing and the binocular microscope. It was a good thing that there were interpreters at the customs counter; otherwise, I would have faced a major problem. I could not believe it when the interpreter informed me that I would have to pay $36 duty for the microscope. I pointed out to him that it is a used microscope and that I did not have $36. The customs agent smiled and finally waved his hand for me to go on. This was the total extent of the formalities upon disembarking and entering the United States of America.

Suddenly I felt a strong grip on my shoulder. Turning around I saw Mendek, my cousin, standing there with the biggest grin on his face and, despite this horrific heat, a huge black hat on his head. He hugged me and kissed me and danced with me. It was quite a reunion. I had millions of questions; he had thousands of answers. At his side, a tall, somewhat heavyset man was standing. Mendek introduced me to him. “Meet Max. He is the husband of our cousin Frieda from Belgium. He came with me to meet you and keep me company. Frieda is back in Belgium for a few weeks.”

Max gave me a big hug and grinned. Mendek said, with a grimace on his face, “He wants to speak only English. He came to the USA eight months ago and he thinks that he is an American. He claims that he will not speak any other language but English until he learns it perfectly.” With this he punched Max playfully in his ribs. I laughed and kept up with the charade by responding with a wise crack in German: “Oh yes? I will certainly also speak English in a few weeks”. Taking Max’s hand and pumping it, I kept repeating: “O.K., Yes?”, “O.K., Yes?” Max placed his hands on my shoulders and started laughing. In no time, all of us laughed and could not stop.

Mendek informed me proudly that he also had learned a considerable amount of English since his arrival to the USA and that he would be my interpreter. I readily agreed and told him that HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) was providing accommodations for me at the Marseilles Hotel on Broadway and 103^rd Street in Manhattan. Possibly we could meet there later and spend some time together. He talked it over with Max, and they agreed to do so. Turning back to me he said, “We will come up in the afternoon, spend time together, and then we will take you for your first American dinner.” Then he added with a grin on his face. “In America it is a ‘big deal’ to take someone out for a dinner!” At that time, I did not catch the full meaning of his comment.  In the meanwhile, we kept on moving slowly towards the street to find the bus.

Indeed, a bus with a sign ‘HIAS’ on its windshield pulled up. I could see the three of my friends running to the bus with Bolek in the lead. I shook hands with my newly found cousin and with Mendek, admonishing them as I boarded the bus not to forget our meeting in the hotel. The bus took off.