Originals in University of Rochester Rare Books & Special Collections. Not to be reproduced without permission. Suzanne Jagel O'Brien '59 Papers A Very '50s Adventure Suzanne Jagel O'Brien '59 NOTICE: This material is protected by copyright law (Title 17 US Code) Originals in University of Rochester Rare Books & Special Collections. Not to be reproduced without permission. Suzanne Jagel O'Brien '59 Papers On board the Flandre: 25 septembre 1957 Dear Mom and Dad, Rolling back and forth here, I cannot guarantee the looks of this letter. Yesterday was beautiful. We went in to eat shortly after the last goodbye to the city of N.Y. Now I see why they say the French Line is known for its food. There is a menu, but this just tells you the names of all you eat. Starting with hors d'oeuvres, you go on down through soup, fish, main dish, salad (eggs back a bit), cheese, pastry, coffee, and fruit (to eat between meals). I'm determined to get to like the coffee, but as of now, it bears a strange resemblance (the ship rolled more than usual) to turpentine. We spent most of the afternoon sunning ourselves on the deck chairs. Got myself a burn. We don't eat dinner till 8:30-- and finish about 10:15! Considering that we must put our watches ahead every night, this is rather late. Spent a while on deck after dinner. Perfectly beautiful star filled sky. Hooded coat great! Slept well. Felt like the ship was a big cradle, rocking me to sleep. Today is quite dreary and a little rougher, tho' still quite smooth. Nevertheless, we spent the blowy morning on the deck chairs wrapped in heavy blankets. Boullion and crackers served to us there. Have met many people. French people talk French to us and are very helpful. 80 Fulbrights aboard! People really nice. Everything's quite informal and friendly. One of our roommates is from Virginia- thick southern accent. The other is a French middle-aged woman who speaks no English. Don't see her much as she's with her French friends most of the time. Writing almost illegible. I'd better stop. Nothing more to say after only 24 hrs. on board. Much love, Sue P.S. American Express 11 rue Scribe Paris, FRANCE On board "le Flandre," 29 septembre Dear Parents, 2 NOTICE: This material is protected by copyright law (Title 17 US Code) Originals in University of Rochester Rare Books & Special Collections. Not to be reproduced without permission. Suzanne Jagel O'Brien '59 Papers Tomorrow we'll be in England and the next day in France, and what a marvelous trip we've been having. The weather, as far as the ocean waves are concerned, has been extraordinary and the sun shines quite a bit too. The last few days have been exciting, though not restful. Today is Sunday. Friday, I'll briefly describe my adventures. Dinner to movies (French) to Bingo game. Sat there with Bobbie and two men we've been sort of seeing. Both are Fulbright winners going to Paris. "Bobbie's" is in English lit and "mine" is in law. Both are very nice, but we're not interested. Les, "my" boy, won 8000 francs ($20) in the Bingo game. Came to the cocktail lounge to celebrate (me with a ginger ale). Played hearts until about 2, when about 30 of us there started singing. This continued till 4:30. Decided to go (illegally) to the bow deck and (illegally) had to go through 1st class quarters to get there. Were greeted on deck by a ferocious blast of the fog horn which nearly knocked us overboard. Finally found our way back down and started a meeting in the lounge. Decided to stay up all night. Elected Bobbie first commissar and she led the whole thing. She's well-liked by everybody on board. Quite a girl. Played silly games till breakfast at 7:30 then fell heavily to bed. Arose at 2 on Saturday and slept on deck and fiddled around till dinner. The Captain's Dinner-- dress affair. Delectable food, as usual. Went to the movies (Disney true-life fantasy- Perri). Met our Fulbrights, went for a drink (7-Up for me) and then to the "gala dance." Danced and clowned around till 4. By this time, Syl met her own Fulbright. They're a dime a dozen on board and we all feel rather stupid not having one (fellowship, not men). At 4 we left our companions who presumably went to bed. We wandered around deck, and met some other people. Dad-- I've met someone who looks like Louis Jourdan, is extremely nice, the only hitch being that he's studying to be an R.C. priest. Too bad. Womenkind should mourn. Anyway, at 4 o'clock we met this priest-to-be who tried to convince us to stay up again. He had the night before but was again. Oh, this shipboard life! We made it till 6 o'clock, then just staggered to bed, to arise today at noon. Don't imagine we'll do that again. Have just been chased off the deck by the rain. Might go back to check conditions now. Write! Much love, your tired daughter, Sue Oct. I WRITE TO ME AT THE AMERICAN EXPRESS. PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO BOB & NAN. Dear Mom and Dad - Our first day a Paris! C' est magnifique. I've never had so much happen in one day. Arose at 5 to pack my bags which I as usual let go to the last minute. We ate at 6:30 this morning, as we had been in port half the night. About midnight last night we came toLe Havre. 3 NOTICE: This material is protected by copyright law (Title 17 US Code) Originals in University of Rochester Rare Books & Special Collections. Not to be reproduced without permission. Suzanne Jagel O'Brien '59 Papers Our "group" (Bobbie, Syl, myself and the 3 Fulbrights) watched all the activities, then went to bed at an early 1:30. Oh what a life. After goodbye's and passport inspection, we walked from the ship to the train, which was waiting right there. A real foreign-intrigue type, complete with compartments. Our trip was beautiful, as we passed through bright green farms which were spotted with farmhouses and each one of which had a garden. Even saw a beautiful rainbow, evidently there just to welcome us to Ia belle France. Miss Hill, the French teacher from the U of R, met us at le Gare St. Lazare - very kind of her. B. and I got a taxi to take us to our hotel, and we conversed in French with him as he took us through Paris. It was unbelievable-- PARIS! The hotel, though called the Grand Hotel Moderne, is hardly that, but it meets our needs. It seems they turn the lights out in the hall at 8 o'clock, as electricity is expensive here, so we had quite the time finding the john. Once we got there, we discovered that the French consider ripped-up newspaper-- like that for Henry-- as a unique substitute for toilet paper. When we returned here tonight, we couldn't figure out the lock situation. After a confused consultation with the concierge (hotel keeper) who speaks only French, we discovered that .3. turns plus a violent shove proves to be the key! This afternoon was really marvelous. B. and I set out from here (which is nicely located on the left bank) to the Boulevard Saint Michel to find somewhere to eat. Stopped at a genuine sidewalk cafe, inhabited by genuine Frenchmen. Asked a "flic" (slang for gendarme) directions to La Place de I' Opera because we were headed for the American Express. We didn't have the slightest notion how to board a bus, but met a very nice man who spoke English. He told us about the necessary tickets, etc., and gave us a description of the passing buildings. Saw the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph, le Sacre Coeur, and the Madeleine from a distance. At the American Express B. received rather disquieting news. It seems that the owner of the Paris house (Alex only rents it) wishes to build another room over the master bedroom. What with dust, hammering, and carpenters during the day, it seems rather doubtful if we'll be able to live there, at least now. We'll see Alex in about a week and find out definitely then. Now we're keeping our eyes open, and are not particularly worried. I'm sure God won't leave us stranded in Paris. Off that subject. On the bus on the way back we met more wonderful people. Our struggling French, which we speak 90o/o of the time, attracts their sympathy, it seems. They also acted as guides -- really marvelous. Met Syl, and ate in a restaurant near here. Struck up a conversation with the woman next to us (in French, naturellement). She speaks French excellently but was raised in Rome, NY. She is inquiring about rooms for us. She went way out of her way to answer our many questions. Our French has improved very much just today. We are very optimistic. Tomorrow we register for the ESPPPFE. Can't tell you how happy I am. Much, much love, Sue 4 NOTICE: This material is protected by copyright law (Title 17 US Code) Originals in University of Rochester Rare Books & Special Collections. Not to be reproduced without permission.