Page - 82 - in Mobile Culture Studies - The Journal, Volume 1/2015

82 Mobile culture Studies. The Journal 1 2015 Ursula feldkamp | Sea travel experiences from two travel diaries 50 years later, charlotte Schreiber, 37 years of age and daughter of a merchant, emigrated to Baltimore. She was accompanied by her younger brother, who had set his hopes and visions on a new start in America. With the help of two older brothers, their arrival was prepared. Before the Schreibers left Quakenbrück, Ludwig had to promise his parents that he would do “his duty for charlotte”. This promise was the only perspective his sister had and could rely on, and she spoke of no other. Even though he was eleven years younger than her, she accepted to be guided by him during the voyage and in America. What did the authors tell about their thoughts during the crossover to America? caro- line von Aschen and Ludwig Schreiber perceived the entering of the ship as a turning point in their lives. But in actual fact, Ludwig’s turnig point had been his personal decision for the emigration, while charlotte’s had been her parent’s decision that she should accompany him. caroline’s break with her old life started with her father’s death. from that time on, her support and guardianship was laid into foreign hands. Leaving their homeland, Ludwig and caroline felt agitated thinking they might never come back again. Embarking her ship in bad weather, caroline feared to never sleep on land again, but to find her grave on the ship. While Ludwig remained optimistic that God would not let his rage come upon the Schreibers, caroline was ready to accept God’s will even it meant her death. charlotte left the first part of writing up to Ludwig, so that we do not know her first impressions on the ship. Seasickness kept her from writing, and when she finally recovered she already had adopted ship life. The Schreibers booked a first class journey that allowed them a greater comfort than they were used to. This made them feel safe in their status and superior to the emigrants living in the room of the barque “Goethe”. charlotte and Ludwig comment on their life on deck, cast aspersions upon them, for instance call them “pigs”, thereby emphasizing their own comfortable and modest middleclass status. caroline does not report much about the social community on the ship. She was occupied with reflecting on a tough voyage with plenty of storms, seasickness and personal depression. Moreover the people on the “Batavia” always had to look out for capers because England was in war with france. Nowadays it appears striking that women had to bear such risks for reasons that seem to be so insignificant. But as caroline’s journal indicates, some merchant women got used to voyages between America and Europe, even during the turn of the 18th century. her companion’s home was Baltimore, and obviously she was on her way from Bremen back there. While caroline spent her time on the ship and in Baltimore longing and waiting for her return to Bremen, charlotte enjoyed the everyday life on board of the “Batavia”. She reflects on fond memories of her parents and of home, uttering no own comments on America but her joy to see her brothers again. In comparison to caroline, she appears optimistic and does not quarrel with a fate that lays in the hands of others. charlotte left the first part of writing up to Ludwig, so that we do not know her first impressions on the ship. Seasickness kept her from writing, and when she finally recovered she already had adopted ship life. The Schreibers booked a first class journey that allowed them a greater comfort than they were used to. This made them feel save in their status and superior to the emigrants living in the room of the barque “Goethe”. charlotte and Ludwig comment on their life on deck, cast aspersions upon them, for instance call them “pigs”, thereby emphasizing their own comfortable and modest middleclass status.