Page - 106 - in Mobile Culture Studies - The Journal, Volume 1/2015

106 Mobile culture Studies. The Journal 1 2o15 Sabine August | Swiss people on the way to America a sequence of extraordinary situations which had to be immediately dealt with. Only in times of relaxation or during leisure hours was it possible for the emigrant to express his emotions, thoughts, and considerations about the past and the future. Because of the situation on board, which presented multifaceted threats, risks and challenges based on weather and sea conditions, sea sickness, hygienic circumstances, other sorts of illnesses, stress due to a lack of personal space, and other events, the author argues against regarding this EXPERIENcE as a transition. But it is possible to feel it in the moments of preparation for the voyage or at the farewell, and also later if the transition ends and a new state of being is achieved. The author asserts that the only chance to feel the transition in real time, is for it to be accompanied by rituals. The ritual process helps members of traditional societies in a state of transition to realise what is happen- ing. The different stages of the ritualized procedure generate a consciousness of the transition. The ritual itself only symbolises the transition but is nevertheless not the transition itself. References Schelbert, Leo, und hedwig Rappolt (eds.). 2009. Alles ist ganz anders hier. Schweizer Auswandererberichte des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts aus dem Gebiet der heutigen Vereinigten Staaten (Zürich: Limmat Verlag) hasler, Eveline. 1985. Ibicaba. Das Paradies in den Köpfen (Zürich: Nagel & Kimche) Der Colonist. Organ zum Schutze, Beistand und Belehrung schweizerischer Auswan- derer». Bern 1851-1853, weekly. from 1854 on: Der Kolonist. Organ für die schweizerische Auswanderung. Lichtensteig 1854- 1857, weekly. Extended Abstract of: Sabine August, ‘„Kein Mensch auf dem Lande kann sich vorstellen, wie es Einem zu Muthe ist, wenn die See hoch geht“ ‒ Schweizer auf dem Weg nach Amerika’, Mobile Culture Studies. The Journal 1, 2015. <http://unipub.uni-graz.at/mcsj> Author’s address Sabine August MA, sabineaugust @ bluewin.ch