MY STORY – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
Written By Irene L. Mueller

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 4 – In Book, Page 8

Our Trip To Africa — March 13, 1957 through March 27, 1957

OUR TRIP TO AFRICA

March 13 (Wednesday), 1957 – At 12:00 noon we took off in a Capitol Airline Viscount. It was a big thrill. Dad’s Grandma, Uncle Art, Aunt Tabea, Uncle Bill, and Aunt Violet came to see us go. We felt very sad to see those faces as the plane taxied away from the airport, knowing we would not see them for three years (it turned out to be four and a half years) or never see them again. As the plane took off we prayed. Debbie, two years old, said, “Grandma, I got airplanes in my stomach”. (Dad’s parents went with us as far as New York). It wasn’t long before we were across Lake Michigan. We were served lunch – potatoes, meat, peas, salad, coffee. After lunch Debbie and Dickie fell asleep. We made a stop at Cleveland. It was wonderful to see the houses, roads, cars, lakes, trees, Allegheny Mountains, and clouds below us. We arrived in New York at 4:05, our time, at LaGuardia Airport. There were millions of buildings below us and lots of water. We went to the Hotel Taft, 16th floor, Room 1649. We ate at Child’s Restaurant. Dickie made lots of noise in the restaurant. Walking down the sidewalks of New York, Debbie said about the moon shining between the buildings, “Mommy, there’s a movie star up there”. We went back to the hotel and to bed early – the end of a very exciting day.

So that was the first day of our trip to Africa. Dad was 28 years old and I was 27 years old.

March 14, 1957

We were up about 9:00 a.m. Debbie woke up with chicken pox (my sister, Janet, 9 years old, had them when we stayed with Ma, Pa, and her before we left). You can imagine how we all felt. She didn’t sleep very well either, so we lost pretty much sleep. Dick, Dickie, and I ate in Hector’s Cafeteria while Grandma and Grandpa stayed with Debbie. Had a horrible experience at the Cafeteria. We asked for a boiled egg and got one that was still raw. Neither Dick, Dickie, nor I could eat it. Guess this day just had a bad start. When we came back Debbie and I went to sleep while Dick took Dickie walking. We ate dinner at Toffenetti’s. Grandma and Grandpa went to Cinerama “The Seven Wonders of the World” in the afternoon. We saw the “China-Dor”, a dancehall on fire. Got the doctor for Debbie, Dr. Kaufer. We didn’t like him. He said he thought we would still be able to go Monday as planned. Grandma and Grandpa went to see the Jerry Mahoney Show. Dick and I went out after they came back for a long walk.

Note: Dick was taking a picture of a skyscraper when a man came up to him and said, “Why don’t you take a real picture?” He meant Dickie sleeping amid all the noises of New York City.

Friday, March 15 – Monday, March 18, 1957

About all we can write for these days is that our little Debbie was very sick with chicken pox – just covered – and even her eyes were all puffed up. We were pretty worried about her. We took her to Dr. Kaufer, who is in the Taft Hotel. He charged us $6.00 for doing nothing. Then we called Pastor Neibacher of St. Luke’s church. He recommended Dr. Koenig, a woman doctor. She told us to get calamine lotion. Saturday Dick’s folks went on tour around New York. They saw the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, and everything else there is to see. Saturday night Dick and I went to see Jan Murray in “Treasure Hunt”. One woman got No. 3 chest and got the $25,000.00 chest. Sunday Dick went to church at St. Luke’s with his folks. Sunday night Dick and I went to see “You’re On Your Own”. The program wasn’t very good; in fact, it was its last night on TV. We also got to see the Rockettes at Radio City. It was just beautiful. The orchestra came right up from the floor. Radio City Music Hall is immense. They wouldn’t allow us to take any pictures. Dick’s Mom and Dad also saw the Rockettes. Monday afternoon Dick and I went up to the Empire State Building – 102 floors. We went to the very top. We could see all of the city of New York – United Nations Building, Statue of Liberty, all the rivers, bridges, and buildings. The thing that impressed me the most was that there was complete silence up there – no horns blowing, no street noises at all – just utter silence. There was a guard all around the balcony. We could see the ships, “Queen Mary” and “United States” docked at the pier. Monday night Dick’s folks went to see the “Robert Q. Lewis show on radio.

Tuesday, March 19, 1957

Debbie and Dickie are back to normal – fighting again. Debbie’s eyes are much better, and the chickenpox are drying up. Dickie didn’t get too many, and he’s been eating all the while. That makes us happy. Dick has been going out every day to get something for Dickie from the Automat. This noon we had room service so we could all enjoy a meal together before the folks leave. That was something – turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes, and rice pudding. Didn’t cost too much either. It was nice to eat together again. We took pictures of all of us – even with chickenpox. (Note: our windowsill is our refrigerator for milk and what have you.) One day there was a wind and everything fell sixteen stories down. We are getting a little used to this way of life now. Am doing our washing in the sink. Sent it out once and it cost $9. That was the end of that. Dick took his folks to the airport after dinner. Debbie and Dickie don’t realize they won’t see their grandparents for three (it turned out to be four and a half) years. It’s hard to realize ourselves. We are leaving Monday, March 25th now. We may get to Northern Rhodesia in time to celebrate my birthday, April 17th. I hope this week goes fast. We are so anxious to get there

Wednesday, March 20 – Sunday, March 24, 1957

About all we’ve done now is go out walking with the kids. They loved feeding the pigeons at Times Square. Took a boat trip around Manhattan on Saturday – didn’t work out at all with Debbie and Dickie. Sunday Dick went to church alone. I finished the packing.

Monday, March 25 – Tuesday, March 26, 1957

Left New York 1:45 P.M. on a KLM plane (propeller). Nice day. Coastline was beautiful. Debbie and Dickie liked the plane ride. We ran into a couple storms. Debbie and Dickie slept, but we didn’t. The engines shot off flames every hour when they burned the carbon out, and Dad had to watch to make sure the wings stayed on. Eating all the time. Stewardess very nice. It took 14 hours to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Got to Prestwick, Scotland Tuesday at dawn. All green. Ate breakfast – ham and eggs. Took hour and a half to get to Amsterdam. Holland is beautiful! Big green tulip beds separated by little irrigation canals. Hundreds of bicycles. Everything is so green. Daffodils blooming. We love it. Went by bus to Hotel American. The “ceiling was going up and down” when we got there. We needed rest. Took baths and went to bed for a couple hours. Beautiful big room with a bidet in the bathroom. Little cribs. Room overlooking street. Long-tailed waiters – no tips (in New York one waiter told Dick “that was not the correct way to tip”. It wasn’t enough). Mothers ride bicycles with babies behind them – husbands with wives behind them. Streets narrow – cobblestone. Bought souvenirs. Ate supper in room. Went to bed at 10:00 P.M.

Wednesday, March 27, 1957

Left Amsterdam for Kano, Nigeria. Left at 11:30 for the airport. Our plane did not take off until an hour later because of radio trouble. We ate dinner at the airport. We had a wonderful trip to Rome. It was beautiful and clear as we flew over Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy (in those days the planes flew lower than they do now with jet planes, so we could see a lot more). The plane followed the Rhine River. Saw all kinds of towns below us. Everything was green. Made a stop at Zurich, and bought a doll. From there on the Alps began. They were breathtaking!!!! It was hard to believe – one of God’s wonderful creations. The snow and ice peaks shone like diamonds in the sunlight. Then we followed the coastline of Italy. Saw Corsica and Elba. When we came over Rome, we saw all light-colored buildings. Saw the Coliseum and Dick saw an arena. Airport far ways from city, so didn’t get to see Rome (this time). We ate supper at airport because our plane’s radio still didn’t work. Left Rome and went to sleep. Slept all the way to Kano, Nigeria (on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. When I woke up and got out of the plane, it was like a dream – Africans all over the place, hot, humid weather. Dick had to go through customs. A terrible ordeal, but we did get through without having our suitcases searched. Took us to hotel in Kano in a bus. There were huge piles of groundnuts (peanuts) along the way. Debbie giggled all the way. We took off for Port Harcourt (on the south coast of Nigeria) in an open flying boxcar, very uncomfortable, hot, and noisy. It was very unreal, and the worst part of our trip. Gave us a lunch of guinea fowl eggs (which Dickie devoured), meat pie, and very small African tomatoes. We were all very hot and dirty when we reached Port Harcourt (made one stop which was very uncomfortable – kids really got dirty). Were ashamed to meet Missionary (Dr. William – “Uncle Bill” as our kids called him later) Schweppe. When he met us, he took one look at Debbie and said, “What happened to her?” We told him that all the scabs on her little body were from a very bad case of the chickenpox. He took us to a “rest house” while he and Dick shopped and we cleaned up. What a difference in Debbie and Dickie. As we drove the 85 miles to the Mission I was all mixed up. It was like some giant hand (we know it was God’s) had plopped us in this place. It was unbelievable. It seemed as though everything was dirty and unhealthy as we passed the ”native” (in those days they said that) huts, ant hills, markets, the people, and bush. Debbie threw up along the way, which was probably an aftermath of the plane ride. We were so very happy to see Missionaries Helen and Ed Greve, and their children. We all took baths, ate, and felt much better. It was a long day.