November 9, 1938

November 9, 1938

Dear Puppiken, so you want to know the address of a newspaper, and you've already asked for it twice and I didn't respond, and that's why I don't ever read your letters and I haven't responded to any. Hopefully, you will be here soon, then I won't need to write letters to you anymore and I will no longer receive reproaches – i.e., because of unanswered questions – and you will write my other letters. Oh, but you said you wouldn't do that. Perhaps you will anyway? For instance, I haven't written one word to Mrs. Weill since I arrived. She certainly expects one written by you. I almost congratulated Miss S. to her anniversary, but since you said in your last letter that she acted so mean yet again, I didn't do anything. You hadn't mentioned that Brühl is closed. But why? I understand that you can't go to Nieheim for a few weeks.

But you should definitely go for a few days. And of all ships, you chose to book on the Deutschland! There have been issues with this ship a few times. But I'm not afraid and neither should you be. Was it especially cheap or why did you choose this ship? And why only on January 19th? Wouldn't you be able to come 10 days earlier, but a few days don't really make a difference now. I was just saying that. You don't need to worry about getting seasick. Just don't eat foods you don't know, no matter how good they look. Please note that I would like some Doramad, 3 tubes of Posteirisansalbe and laxative pills from the Engel pharmacy. The last package that I have has the number L6782 and the date November 3, 1935, printed on it. If you tell them both, the pharmacy will know what you need. 100 pills. And a large package of Lespillen(?). Most importantly, I want to tell you that today,

I spoke with a lady who is learning shorthand here. Since you definitely need to learn it, you can make provisions by buying a book over there that explains English shorthand as a system that builds on what you already know. The lady told me that there is such a book for all common shorthand types, so there will also be one for the type you use, and I think that it should be easy to get in Leipzig. I haven't received any mail from Germany yet this week. You can imagine how I am waiting for it after the recent incidents. The incident in Paris is yet again something terrible for us. I am tired and will close for now; I am well, and I hope you and everyone else is, too. I am looking forward to the day when I can kiss you again. For today, 1,000 paper kisses from your Fritz.

Say hello to everyone!

Miss Grünberg sends her regards, as does Miss Krummbein. They are in Kolomea.

Zablotów, November 9th, 1938

Dear Eva, we were very happy to receive your dear letter and the two pictures. Remember I had a little picture of Fritz in my little album, and [our] relatives here took it from me. We received suitcases, blankets, and my winter coat right at the train. I shortened the coat myself. We live in a small apartment here, which has a large room with three beds (my fountain pen ran out of ink), in which dad, mom, and I sleep. There's also one table with chairs and a nice warm stove. Joachim, Simon, and Bertha sleep in the small room. Felix sleeps with relatives. Then there's a large kitchen that we use for cooking our own food. There are always 7 of us for meals. Food here is very cheap. But people here eat very differently. Almost exclusively farmer's cheese, eggs, butter, and poultry. There's a farmers' market every Tuesday. The farmers, who are Ruthenians and Poles, sell their products here. And this is where you buy groceries for the entire week. We bought: butter, eggs, cream, farmer's cheese, 2 roasted chickens and 1 goose. Those are the cheapest foods here. Every day, the people here visit us and bring us some things. They are all really nice to us. If you saw the town here, you would certainly enjoy it. There are only small houses along a long road.

A small part of the road is paved only on one side. There is dirt everywhere else. The majority of the population in this small town is Jewish. Then, there are Poles and Ruthenians. The Ruthenians, also called Ukrainians, wear their national costume in fur coats and jackets in summer and in winter. Right now, they are wearing the leather to the outside, and in the summer, they turn the fur to the outside. They walk barefoot in this season. You can't really describe what it's like here. Thank God, we are all in good health and hope you are, too, dear Eva. Might it be possible for you to send me my hair curlers as a sample without value? They don't have anything like that here. You can imagine what I look like with my hair. I'm glad that Helga wants to help you. Go ahead and accept it. I expect her letter and will write her myself then. I will close now and send both you and Löwensteins my love and kisses.

Gisela

Bottom: I will write you soon. Much love and kisses

Side: My blue dress with the white insert is still with Miss Thieng. [bottom line is cut off]

Top: N.B. Our lordly apartment is illuminated by kerosene because there is no electricity or gas here yet.