Talk To The People

We were told on the boat we could not get our boat out of Shanghai for about two weeks - we were anxious to be on our way. We did some sight-seeing by rick-shaw, and Monday Clary went down to see about our boat. He returned at noon with the startling news we were taking the Empress of Russia to Hongkong, sailing that night. So we had to quickly hurry up and pack our bags, already unpacked for a long stay in Shanghai, and get them on board by 6 P.M. Boarded the Empress about midnight. This was a Canadian Pacific boat and now we know what a blackout is. The boat was painted a dark gray, and not a sign of light on board after dark. It happened about 9:30 - the siren starts to peal and the lights flicker out one by one. Then you hear the planes over head, and I couldn’t help but think of the poor people who go through this night after night, and the planes flying overhead are not friends, but foe. We ferried over to Cheung Chau Island the next day. We have rented a bedroom, bath and study in this place on the island. We study three hours every morning from 8 to 11, and then usually have to put in about three hours preparing our lessons. It is fun though to recognize a word now and then when we hear these natives talk. The only trouble is, we are studying Mandarin, the northern China dialect and most of the people here speak the Cantonese, the south China dialect. We get a little impatient already when we think we’ll have to be at this for several years before we can even talk to the people right. - Annette, April 1940

Annette continued her journey to her new home in China. The Asama Maru arrived in Yokohama on March 30, with a brief stop in Honolulu. She wrote about all the colorful leis and blossoms. When I was little, I remember she loved to walk around the yard and look at all the beautiful flowers, and from her letters, I can see she always has. They spent a few days in Japan, visiting Tokyo, Gohra, Kyoto, and Kobe. They boarded another boat and headed to Shanghai, where it seems they though they would have a few weeks to settle in. Imagine that surprise that instead of two weeks, they had just one day! Talk about a surprise! I am guessing that Annette had to get used to being ‘ready for anything.’

The Empress of Russia was a passenger ship between World War I and World War II, and what an experience to be on board during a blackout. Annette thinks about what it would be like to have enemy planes flying overhead. Little does she know that will soon be her reality.

But before they headed inland, they spent part of the summer with other missionaries on the island of Cheung Chau, just a two hour ferry from Hongkong. It sounds a bit like that was their ‘training' area. Lots of Chinese studies, fellowship, and making new friends. It is here that Annette starting playing the organ and learning to knit - skills that would serve her well once they started their work in Enshih.

Imagine you are in a brand new world with your brand new husband. Keeping your bags packed and ready, just in case the situation changes. Learning a new language. Learning new skills, like making your own clothes. What an adventure. What a brave woman.