12 August 1930

I arrived in England a few days ago, after a long and nauseating haul across the Atlantic Ocean. When we pulled into the harbor in Portsmouth I had just thrown up over the side of the ship for the twelfth time that week, and I must say that I had never felt more relieved in my lifetime! Every time a wave would come crashing over the side of the boat during the journey my mind would flash to the many newspaper articles that father used to read to me a long time ago, about the Titanic sinking. He kept all those articles thinking that Majahem and I would benefit from the knowledge of the disaster, but it did not prepare me very well for the boat ride over here!

I plan to stay here for a few weeks. Currently I am in London, staying with a kind man by the name of John. I am having trouble starting my family tree. I was hoping that on the way over I would have discovered a distant family member that serve as a starting point for this seemingly impossible project; alas, no such luck. Anyways, Mr. Keynes is putting me up in his small apartment for a while, as I figure out my travel plans. He is an extraordinary man. Before I came to England, I was under the impression that I would step off the boat and feel . . . uplifted. That’s not to say that I expected to be swept off my feet by welcome and good cheer, but I suppose I was praying for something better than Michigan. However, I was greeted by a sight that was all too familiar; men with the same grim looks etched on their faces as the men in Michigan. Worried looking women cradling hungry screaming babies . . . if I didn’t have such seasickness, I would have had half a mind to turn right back around and get on the boat again. Mr. Keynes has explained so much to me; just last night we sat in his study (which was littered with various books and papers), drank tea and spoke about England’s situation. I will not lie, at first I judged this man to be a raving lunatic. “We must spend our money!” he said to me, “Saving pennies will be the ruin of the working man!” Well, I was about to make some excuse to go to bed at an early hour, when everything he was saying began to make sense. So, we delved into deeper issues about the unemployment issue in England, and I found out just how interesting a man he really is. He told me a lot about the book he is writing (which explains the crumpled papers on the floor), “General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money”. He hopes one day to speak on the radio, to spread his message throughout England, for he thinks that this is the only way out of the slump. I would tend to agree with him!

Mr. Keynes suggested that I begin my hunt for family in Germany. He said that my blond hair and blue eyes might indicate that I have German roots, though Father and Mother never spoke of them. I intend to take his advice, and make sure that I buy and extra packet of peanuts for the journey, to do my bit for England's economy!