Grosvenor House

20 March 1939

Dear Daniel,

Today we took a trolley bus to the Bund to organise the last of your travel papers to send to Dachau. Herr Gruber sent word that your passport and visa are not enough for your release, we must provide a valid ticket to Shanghai. We went to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to withdraw some money for your ticket.

The bank is easy to spot as it has a huge dome. Mutti insisted it is the grandest building this side of the Suez. The facade is stone, with Greek-style columns and windows that are several storeys high. Inside the walls are panelled with dark wood, like on the Conte Verde. What I liked most about this place was the ceiling. I have no idea why every grand building in Shanghai has a fancy ceiling! This one has bright frescoes painted with the zodiac, sun and moon.

When we finally got to the Italian shipping office we were in the queue forever! Most ships from Italy to Shanghai are full for several months, but Mutti begged for a single economy berth and paid a little extra. The good news is the manager seemed to think we could get the paperwork for you to exit Dachau and sail from Italy just like we did.

The man had a promising smile, and three gold teeth, which I took to be good luck. He said he would be able to confirm the berth and date within four weeks—Mutti says Dachau should be receiving the paperwork from the shipping line in three months.

Mutti was so happy she actually did a waltz with Papa when she got home.

There’s so much to tell you about Shanghai. We live in the Frenchtown and all the street names are in French, like Rue de la Tour, Rue Lafayette and the main street, Avenue Joffre.

It is a strange mix. Trolley buses run down the middle of the road, with electric wires spun like webs between the buildings. Then there are the cars, plus rickshaws weaving between everything. I always expect a crash as no-one makes room for anyone. But I’ve not seen one. Yet!

The buildings are tall and remind me of Vienna, with many cafés and bakeries. Papa says the bread here is better than any he has sampled at home. Lots of the signs are in Russian, and others are in Polish. There are tailors galore where men get three-piece suits made and ladies go for the most beautiful ball gowns, like the ones on the covers of French Vogue. The department stores stock the latest in furs, gloves, woollen hats, silk stockings and scarves. People seem to be richer here than in Vienna. You can eat at any kind of restaurant—French, Italian, American or Russian. Nobody much likes the British ones.

Forgive me if this information is too much. I just want to prepare you for when you join us.

The most important fact is that I have a new friend, Li. She has a dimple in each cheek when she smiles, is quick with a joke and is the most popular girl in our class. Possibly in the whole middle school. Li’s much smarter than annoying Haughty Helena from my class last year. Remember her, the one with the lisp? I wonder what my old class is learning now. Even though I wasn’t allowed to go to school before we left, I still miss Rachel and Lola. And Papa has promised he will take me to see my friend Nina more often.

Li lives in the apartment opposite and has one older brother, Jian, who seems very shy. Her father is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Li’s mother Wilma knows where to find the best dumplings, ones with the sweetest pleats twisted into the top called baozi. On our way to school each morning we often join the line to buy them from a hunched old man with white hair and no teeth. His shop is a hole in the wall, no bigger than my cupboard. He hands it to you on a napkin, and you have to bite a tiny hole in it to slurp the soup before you stuff the rest into your mouth. My favourite is the mushroom, Li’s is the pork and shrimp xiao long bao.

Li speaks Chinese, English and French. She also speaks Japanese because there are more and more Japanese soldiers in Shanghai. They are trying to take over the city, and the locals are quite afraid of them. Don’t worry, though, we are fine and it is much safer than Vienna. I’m teaching Li German and she is teaching me to speak the local Shanghai dialect. I am also learning pidgin English. Here’s a list of the words you will use the most:

Chop chop: quickly

Chow: food

Catchee: have, bring

Maskee: never mind

Kumshaw: a tip (very important for the rickshaw drivers!)

It is very pretty here and we live in an apartment as nice as the one at home. Papa is working hard at the Jewish hospital and I have started at the French middle school.

I have to finish now as Mutti says I must work at conjugating my verbs. Lucky me. I was hoping I might get to miss a bit of school, but they have every kind of school here in Shanghai.

Mutti has promised to send this letter with hers. I hope I hear from you soon. Herr Gruber had written to Papa and said he had no news of you but was still trying through his German Red Cross contact.

It will be okay, Daniel, because not all Germans and Austrians support Hitler. You will be in Shanghai soon enough.

Your loving sister,

Romy