Stories Survive: Erika Estis

This program’s original recording transcript is below. This transcription was created automatically during a live program so may contain inaccurate transcriptions of some words.

Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Hi everyone, my name is Sydney Yaeger and i'm the public programs coordinator at the Museum of Jewish heritage, a living memorial the Holocaust.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Now, in its 24th year the museum is committed to the crucial mission of educating our diverse community about Jewish life and heritage, before, during and after the Holocaust.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): As part of that mission our programs are meant to illuminate the stories of survivors broader histories of hate and anti semitism through time and stories of resistance against injustice.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Today we are honored to be joined by Erica justice Erica was born on November 14 1922 and Hamburg Germany in 1938 Erica sent on the kindertransport to England where she lived for six years, during which time she survives the blitz in 1946 Erica immigrated to the United States.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Before we continue, I would like to thank Eric his daughter Denise for all of her help with this program.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So I will interview Erica for about 45 minutes after which there will be time for audience Q amp a.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So please put your questions in the zoom Q amp a box throughout the program and we will get to as many as we can, at the end of the hour Thank you so much for joining us and i'd like to welcome Erica So if you can turn your camera back on and unmute that would be great.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): All right, and then i'll just have you unmute okay so hi Erica Thank you so much for joining us today.

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Erika Estis: Thank you for inviting me.

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course.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So i'd like to begin with your childhood so like I said you were born in Hamburg Germany in 1922 so, can you tell me what, what do you remember about the years in Germany before Hitler came to power.

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Erika Estis: They were entirely normal you're not had three older sisters who actually my half sister and but I I adore them I love my mother to pieces, we had a perfect thing on lie.

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Erika Estis: You know, we blocked out all the bad news I think that's really where we were good at.

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Erika Estis: And even as things got worse, we just knew they were going to get better.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right so um so like you said that you had three older sisters So could you tell me a little bit more about them like what were their names for you close growing up.

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Erika Estis: My oldest sister was anger blog and she was a chemist my father was a farmer says, and she was also a pharmacist and he would have liked her work.

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Erika Estis: In the pharmacy but she she wanted to be a chemist my next sister was a teacher, she would became a Montessori teacher and she became a professor of Montessori.

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Erika Estis: Education at Harvard University in Cincinnati and my youngest sister was an artist she lived in Geneva, she worked for the United Nations, she spoke Esperanto normal there.

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Erika Estis: They will my half since I was my Martin nisha.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): I see so, can you tell me a little bit more about your parents Paul and irma so Where were they born and.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And how they met.

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Erika Estis: My father was born and pauses.

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Erika Estis: In every now and.

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Erika Estis: Then, when it was or Germany or no and he went to the University of what was then breslau its current process, possibly to pronounce name today Polish.

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Erika Estis: them.

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Erika Estis: Then he he he married his first wife I.

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Erika Estis: And it was born 1911 so it must have been 1912.

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Erika Estis: Now i'm.

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Erika Estis: sorry about that, and my my darling fifth day was deputy 1910 or nine something like that it was very much older than my mother, he was.

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Erika Estis: He was for the when she was.

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Erika Estis: She was just magic and ended up marrying my mother, because his.

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Erika Estis: three children really needed her mother she had walked out on them you're now on become a cab like and down all kinds of naughty thing and and they were desperate for them, so my father Barry my mom and they love to everybody.

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Erika Estis: And, and we have a perfectly normal activity required year of traveling.

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Erika Estis: In this we rented a house at the seashore.

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Erika Estis: In the winter, we went to the mountains skiing and doing all of that.

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Erika Estis: lead normal and even when he was starting to show its ugly Putnam, we know that I think that was our our main talent.

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Erika Estis: That we managed to block out of the reality out we couldn't believe what this was that this was happening, you know my father had been an officer in the First World War.

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Erika Estis: And, and he belong turn officers organization and he he didn't think they meant they definitely didn't mean it, but they did you know so with bad they could also pharmacy That was a.

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Erika Estis: Baby decided choose cordon on pharmacies, because they were poisoning that good pure German people and as part of the Nuremberg laws, you know so.

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Erika Estis: So he was at loose ends at home.

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and

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Erika Estis: These are bad times you're alone, and if you choose chose to believe this was all going away and that was a mistake, but a lot of Germans did.

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Erika Estis: But they told me to England on the kindertransport where was your mother friend or my mother was from one space, which is.

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Erika Estis: which was in those days as sort of a suburb of time book.

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Erika Estis: It now part of the you know these little suburbs are not part of this much bigger city.

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Erika Estis: And, and she was from there, and he married a really because he needed a mother for children.

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Erika Estis: right that was that was a big race like you had grandparents.

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Erika Estis: grandparents Oh, and then my grandparents, of course, loved him and big and we went every weekend and have a lovely Chai and a lot of good good cookies and.

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Erika Estis: kegs and we had a could ever surgeon normal life, you know.

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Erika Estis: And who knew it was all going down the tubes.

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Erika Estis: Even terminal there.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Did you.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Do did they come from religious families and were you religious growing up.

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Erika Estis: My father was religious.

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Erika Estis: and

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Erika Estis: I mean, he he couldn't believe his wife left him, not only did she leave him, but she converted to Catholicism so it was the ultimate, no, no.

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Erika Estis: I was just dead and embarrassing care of one religious fun, will you religious people very religious yes my.

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Father.

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Erika Estis: He did.

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Erika Estis: He did.

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Erika Estis: pesos so BA BA BA BA BA.

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Erika Estis: Nobody.

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Erika Estis: Right.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): mm hmm.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So you, you know you talked a little bit about this, but so you were 10 years old, when Hitler came to power.

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Erika Estis: By the way, I have to tell you, because.

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Erika Estis: When he came to power in about March, and soon afterwards, he said.

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Erika Estis: He eat.

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Erika Estis: People to destroy their Jewish stores and there was a boy, not just a boycott, but also destruction.

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Erika Estis: At that point and.

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Erika Estis: Beside the pharmacy in those days, and it was an old building above the pharmacy.

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Erika Estis: And and and they had written on that there was some men steps in front of it and they had written the word you day.

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Erika Estis: And what they wanted to do was.

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Erika Estis: mark that your store so people wouldn't go there anymore, and also, I am a bad father had his.

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Erika Estis: Employees down there try to clean the euro off the steps with promise I remember all of that.

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Erika Estis: And that was frightening and it's a new was a glimpse into the future, but they didn't take it seriously.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Where his employees Jewish as well or did he have non Jewish employees.

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Erika Estis: Anyone not enjoy.

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Erika Estis: Okay pretty much thing one one of them was with no they won't choose okay yeah but.

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Erika Estis: i'm at peace, I hear no not everybody wasn't Jewish wasn't that she right.

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yeah.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So what did so, it sounds like you were pretty aware of what was happening around this time, but what did your parents tell you, and did you know about the norm.

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Erika Estis: It was.

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Erika Estis: It was all going to be all right it's very sad.

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Erika Estis: I mean I don't I even think he might have believed that and he my father was an officer and the first or more.

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Erika Estis: Right a proud Jewish office, and he had his uniform that he was saving and the end a big long sword, and he had or have that that he would take out a piece of iron show me in and he was in charge of a field hospital and Belgium.

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Erika Estis: And then.

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Erika Estis: He didn't think he he pretty much thought this would all go away and he didn't.

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Erika Estis: They didn't want to frighten you.

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Erika Estis: know they didn't want to fry me.

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Erika Estis: But your laughter why we couldn't help but nowadays so.

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Erika Estis: They had to they use.

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Erika Estis: The kids used to run after me and they had this thing that they said, you did take liberty.

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Erika Estis: Had caches next use the expression Marty Marty pan is all good song you read his benchmark.

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Erika Estis: And what they just say.

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Erika Estis: We will have the street network behind us.

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Erika Estis: Say beats really darling words.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): But.

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Erika Estis: we've assure is.

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Erika Estis: So.

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Erika Estis: Nice country and so gonna be alright.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And we are.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Sorry go ahead.

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Erika Estis: No, you go ahead.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): we're we're your sisters at boarding school at this point and Switzerland in Paris or where they still at home with you.

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Erika Estis: My sisters.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Were they at boarding school are they still at home.

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Erika Estis: No, no, they.

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Erika Estis: They will so much older than me.

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Erika Estis: All in university.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Oh, I see.

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Erika Estis: My youngest sister was in Geneva.

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Erika Estis: Esperanto she actually worked for the United Nation right and then my oldest sister.

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Erika Estis: Was ensue right.

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Erika Estis: There, she was studying chemistry.

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Erika Estis: And then my middle sister was in France, he was studying Montessori education so right now in Germany anymore and.

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Erika Estis: They are.

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Erika Estis: They burn university.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right right.

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Erika Estis: My father made sure they weren't in Germany.

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Erika Estis: I was the only one left.

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Erika Estis: And I was supposed to leave because I was a baby.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right, so I so you know you were not supposed to leave them, but they were making plans for your family to leave Germany, so I know that they applied for a visa and thought about maybe escaping over the border into France but were you let in on these plans or is that something you.

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Erika Estis: know I don't know that.

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Erika Estis: They applied for a visa, they actually had a visa for America, but you used to get a number.

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Erika Estis: And we had saturate number, it was never show up.

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Erika Estis: They got you they they really didn't want us let's face it, they didn't want an American they didn't want shoes.

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And you.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah and that.

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Erika Estis: We were lucky, the British arrange the kindertransport.

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Erika Estis: And I could get out of Germany by myself, no pair.

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yeah.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Before we get to the kindertransport though I do want to ask you, because in 1938 during Kristallnacht you were still in Hamburg.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So do you remember, do you remember that night and.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): You know sort of the ramifications of it.

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Erika Estis: You know I remember that very well, because my book today is November the 22nd.

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Erika Estis: And I was turning 16 that year was.

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Erika Estis: 14 November 14 on November 14 I was turning 16.

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Erika Estis: And my mother said I could have a very.

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Erika Estis: Beautiful store board dress yellow a seamstress who made all my dresses.

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Erika Estis: And I wasn't ready so she said, I was old enough now I could go to a fancy store and she would buy me a nice red and so we've added into the city.

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Erika Estis: And she bought me a really beautiful breath, I still have that it's not beautiful anymore, but I, you know you save stuff I know, no.

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one.

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Erika Estis: But why we will end town that day.

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Erika Estis: And remember, it was.

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Erika Estis: em Christa was November 9 or 10 and we weren't.

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Erika Estis: They will hawking newspapers say shoe kills German this is how.

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Erika Estis: How this started it's both.

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Erika Estis: Jews and imprisonment and all of that, because.

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Erika Estis: I think a jewel whose parents had been.

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Erika Estis: reported so Paul and.

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Erika Estis: They had gone to the French Embassy and he hadn't killed a German official they're.

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Erika Estis: All right.

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Erika Estis: And so that was their reason.

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Erika Estis: For.

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Erika Estis: For Chris Donna.

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Erika Estis: And so, when I heard that newspaper article being hard I got scared you know I said to my mother, what is it, she said let's just go home.

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Erika Estis: You know that cause that whole krista.

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Erika Estis: The every and dates they it was so well prepared they had prepared it.

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Erika Estis: You know it wasn't bad, but it gave them a good excuse.

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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right.

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Erika Estis: And I remember I got the next morning, what do you went to school my parents sent me to school, it was the only one, I went to a Jewish school.

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Erika Estis: And I took my bicycle and this spiritual quiet totally quiet.

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Erika Estis: And I wrote past our synagogue and I saw that had been partially destroyed, you know the we had gorgeous beautiful building with stained glass windows and they had paid they had been broken the doors were hanging on the hinges.

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Erika Estis: And I thought holy marriage shame, they must have federal five oh.

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Erika Estis: I didn't know anything my parents will never tell me anything I was supporting it.

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Erika Estis: And that I wrote to school and I tried to get into the courtyard where we always lagging jobs.

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Erika Estis: Elsewhere, La.

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Erika Estis: And I know what what's going on, so I went to the front door, which we weren't allowed to do, but I mean I didn't know what to do and I rang the bell and one of the teachers came on and she said to me, what do you do here.

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Erika Estis: Okay i'm coming to school, we were having a math test, then I wasn't very good at it, I slept with the book.

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Erika Estis: So, and she said well you better go home.

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Erika Estis: Right now it's minute don't stop anywhere and go home.

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Erika Estis: So I went home.

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Erika Estis: My parents want to play.

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Erika Estis: And I went to my friend's house outcome becky I went home and I because I saw I saw fs people picking up the men, I had seen that coming down, I mean I lost my innocence, after a while.

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Erika Estis: And I wanted to warn my father, but he wasn't home, so I went home and stayed with my dog and man They ran their dog then answer it finally they came home.

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Erika Estis: It will you I was so scared my father said he had a sore.

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Erika Estis: On his unit for.

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Erika Estis: Your entire night and a cat camera, if any, Joe at filed with any kind of a weapon, they were elite in Libya in prison for 20 years.

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Erika Estis: And he had this weapon, I mean you couldn't get better with that sort so anyway, so it took us this is a crazy story, but just to show you how crazy people were told him so he wrapped it in newspaper.

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Erika Estis: And he and my mother said we should school they didn't want me to be on.

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Erika Estis: If somebody came to the House or anything.

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Erika Estis: A they took a taxi and they took it to the police.

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Erika Estis: department and the station.

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Erika Estis: And my father's walking in with this or read the newspaper.

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Erika Estis: And he met a police man whom he knew.

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Erika Estis: And he will we had befriended and he said him already doing here is i'm delivering minds art.

192
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Erika Estis: And the policeman said to him, you have to be crazy to be doing that Okay, the effing so on sword sword and throw it in the purchase in the park and go home and stay there.

193
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Erika Estis: Very good, with this or in through our end abortion and when.

194
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Erika Estis: Did you go to work for the sword, well, we were first that we went back jambo I send my kids to the park that's effective.

195
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

196
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Ah.

197
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

198
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Erika Estis: That doesn't that show you how people transform in living in this world that didn't get it, they really.

199
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right.

200
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So.

201
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Sorry, what was that.

202
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Erika Estis: You were law abiding Oh, we have a variable by Dr happy.

203
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah um so you, you know you mentioned that you were still going to school at this point.

204
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And you were attending a Jewish school and was that something.

205
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Erika Estis: I was no George school.

206
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Okay, was it was this something that you think your parents have chosen for you or were you forced to go to a Jewish school.

207
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Erika Estis: Well, I will say willingly from this, they want to go to a.

208
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Erika Estis: Very good school and I was much way.

209
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And was a.

210
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So what were did did they kind of where you made aware of what was happening in school or did they also try to kind of keep.

211
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): The students sheltered.

212
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Erika Estis: cool change because at Jewish as students were thrown out of the regular school and they are to us and suddenly we had huge number of students.

213
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Erika Estis: Please avoid noticing.

214
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Erika Estis: Something was going on, you know for a huge classes everybody all the Jewish students.

215
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Erika Estis: came down for now.

216
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Okay, and so a teacher at your school is the one who suggested, from what I understand is the one who suggested to you that your parents sent you on the kindertransport to England, so how did the teacher bring this up to you, and then, how did you.

217
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Present that idea to.

218
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Erika Estis: Your peers.

219
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Erika Estis: And some.

220
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Erika Estis: And she said, you should tell your parents to send you Jane and.

221
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Erika Estis: Canada transport you won't get a much better education there and that will sort of the secret word she said much better education there.

222
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Erika Estis: Right and I asked my parents, because, by then, I was frightened I really wanted to get out of Germany, it was frightening living there, you know I mean it calling your names.

223
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Erika Estis: You saw what was going on, it was very frightening yeah and I was willing to go rain and I candace child, but never thinking that I would never see my parents again you're not.

224
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Erika Estis: And that's an eighth.

225
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Erika Estis: grade relax because you're not my sister's home they more me to stay home but.

226
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Erika Estis: Right wanted the best for me, so my oh.

227
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And so you left Humber on December 14 1938 and then arrived in Harwich England, the next day.

228
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So So what do you remember about sort of preparing for the journey and then the journey itself.

229
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Erika Estis: And you know what I had very little time because, by the time I saw but applied for me to go it was maybe a question of days.

230
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Erika Estis: He had.

231
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Erika Estis: What I found out afterwards is he had to go to some German agency and pay a lot of money, and for me to leave your money.

232
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Erika Estis: And, and it took time to organize it.

233
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Erika Estis: Right very fast.

234
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And it.

235
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Erika Estis: was a good thing, because that might be a killer transport that lab you know they were very if.

236
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Erika Estis: They came gravy and Berlin and so on.

237
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Erika Estis: So I was just lucky so like you're in a second.

238
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Erika Estis: I don't know I thought I was on the second actually not know.

239
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And, and where you where you want to train with other children or.

240
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Erika Estis: What was all the children who, on this kindertransport.

241
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Erika Estis: Had like a capper of compartments on the tray.

242
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Erika Estis: To them, you know, and we had chaperones with us some of these children, only three it was for children from 317.

243
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Erika Estis: And a chaperone.

244
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eBay.

245
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Erika Estis: So, but, but they did a good job or goodnight thing.

246
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Erika Estis: To heritage.

247
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Erika Estis: And from there if we hadn't if they hadn't organized a home for us a place to go to bed for the young guy children.

248
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Erika Estis: But not around the world, and so we went to a summer camp over there and East Anglia, which is we're here riches.

249
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Erika Estis: And it was a summer camp, it was winter, it was cold, it was nasty that's where we assemble why they while they found places for us today.

250
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Did you so did you know English at this point and did you.

251
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Experience called our shock.

252
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Erika Estis: yeah to be corrupt fantastic education and we learned Latin we met French, English, I thought I knew engaged, but you don't know English if you learn.

253
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Erika Estis: The grammar I mean I remember the time, this is an English book nanny sent it to me, you know that society's.

254
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Erika Estis: It wasn't English you had already English from scratch.

255
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Erika Estis: Just be you.

256
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know.

257
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Erika Estis: And that didn't take long, I mean what's good at it, because I wanted, I wanted to speak English forget about the job and i'll speak English from now.

258
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Erika Estis: Right, you know it was just I decide all of those things you decide for yourself.

259
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And so you were eventually sent to a girls school in London.

260
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Erika Estis: From what I understand the.

261
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Erika Estis: idea was my parents sent me away because I was going to get a better education.

262
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right.

263
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Erika Estis: And so they must have somebody knew that they should send me to school.

264
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Erika Estis: to learn English school was called damn hours on.

265
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Erika Estis: It was it today it's a boarding school out in the country itself, live.

266
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Erika Estis: But then it was a score and easily turn and and and and.

267
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and

268
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Erika Estis: It was a really high school and it wasn't I was evacuated with them.

269
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Erika Estis: right in the middle and.

270
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Erika Estis: No Sam can shoot.

271
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): huh.

272
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Erika Estis: But then I took a shower and I couldn't stay.

273
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Erika Estis: Now I was 18 and I was an enemy alien.

274
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Erika Estis: And and.

275
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Erika Estis: It was all just billeted Canadian soldiers and I will see enemy out as well.

276
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So.

277
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Erika Estis: I had to go back and and at that point.

278
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Erika Estis: uh huh, which was a shame, but you know, I was growing up.

279
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Erika Estis: One hell of a job growing up that data.

280
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Erika Estis: And said.

281
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Can you talk a little bit more about the evacuation to the countryside, though, and did you know that did you know that war was about to be declared did it.

282
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Erika Estis: Did it seem pretty obvious at.

283
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Erika Estis: That point yeah good, I think we knew there was going to be a war.

284
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Erika Estis: I think, no question, it was going to fail, for there were just too many sign.

285
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Erika Estis: yeah.

286
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Erika Estis: practiced what you practice we practice.

287
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Erika Estis: Every day, when we were in school.

288
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Erika Estis: With an edge linkedin and it's a big.

289
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Erika Estis: underground station, they are called the angel.

290
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Erika Estis: So, have a day before war started, we came to school and now you're not forms and we had a little snack and our they gave us a little snack.

291
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Erika Estis: And then every day we practice going to the station, because the idea was if war breaks out, we will be back to Aden, and we have people go to this station.

292
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Erika Estis: And they.

293
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Erika Estis: End as out of London.

294
00:32:03.990 --> 00:32:06.180
Erika Estis: To wherever they didn't say.

295
00:32:07.410 --> 00:32:11.490
Erika Estis: But yeah them and they did send us out of London.

296
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Erika Estis: With your gas mask without getting them out, yes, we had a little.

297
00:32:20.490 --> 00:32:24.270
Erika Estis: cardboard thing that like a little sandwich.

298
00:32:24.870 --> 00:32:26.430
Erika Estis: Then we had asthma.

299
00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:34.590
Erika Estis: They know what to expect they figured they would drop bombs on us right away.

300
00:32:36.780 --> 00:32:37.560
Erika Estis: They would cry.

301
00:32:39.090 --> 00:32:47.580
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And when you were when you were in the countryside, so you stayed with the school in the countryside correct.

302
00:32:47.820 --> 00:32:57.270
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Yes, so was that what was what did they try to sort of continue, you know regular life or was it a completely different routine.

303
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Erika Estis: What happened we went we can let me think baby bear legit have on people they had all volunteered because to take children now I was foolish and so was.

304
00:33:15.390 --> 00:33:28.380
Erika Estis: I hadn't Jewish friend they really didn't want us, let me particular in particular they didn't want me because they knew I was Sherman you know unconscious so.

305
00:33:29.610 --> 00:33:32.220
Erika Estis: At trouble finding and family for me.

306
00:33:32.850 --> 00:33:36.030
Erika Estis: But they farm ultimately a very nice family.

307
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Erika Estis: And then we live in a hostel some of us and that's where I ended up living and pleasant experience being evacuated over there was sorry when I had to come home.

308
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Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right, so when you when you were back in London were you scared to return to the city or.

309
00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.840
Erika Estis: Did you think of is going to.

310
00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:02.100
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Be sort of life as normal.

311
00:34:02.610 --> 00:34:04.530
Erika Estis: I not let me think.

312
00:34:05.550 --> 00:34:09.090
Erika Estis: I was at the bottom said started to go forward yeah.

313
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:12.270
Erika Estis: And they didn't stop to Florida, I was scared.

314
00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:21.360
Erika Estis: The most enormous racket right and noisy as part of the anti aircraft guns.

315
00:34:22.680 --> 00:34:26.280
Erika Estis: Okay did near where I live, I think, in those days.

316
00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:39.930
Erika Estis: and never tried ningbo we're just anti aircraft this doesn't know it's like the cooker for me it was so fried name so try me but to your work, you can't use to me.

317
00:34:41.010 --> 00:34:53.460
Erika Estis: After a while I said to myself, now the hell with it i'm not afraid i'm definitely not afraid I was plenty scare, but I said, I am not afraid.

318
00:34:54.300 --> 00:35:09.270
Erika Estis: I didn't even go to rush out on anything I just stayed in bed when it started you ever in a building where a bombshell yes actually we love bombed out wise, as I live, my first hostile.

319
00:35:10.680 --> 00:35:16.890
Erika Estis: But in the basement you know, during the night always sleeping in the basement.

320
00:35:17.430 --> 00:35:18.150
Erika Estis: And then, what.

321
00:35:18.990 --> 00:35:37.110
Erika Estis: A bomb said in the backyard and a landmine and you know the ceiling fell the the wards caved in, but we were in the basement so they choked out of there and then they sent us so another hostile.

322
00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:38.280
And then.

323
00:35:39.570 --> 00:35:40.440
Erika Estis: really hard.

324
00:35:41.580 --> 00:35:42.060
Erika Estis: and

325
00:35:44.190 --> 00:35:51.810
Erika Estis: And I was sitting in the I remember sitting in the shelter across the street underground they had to send a grandchild.

326
00:35:52.710 --> 00:36:11.460
Erika Estis: And I said to myself, this is it you're not scared you just can't be scared don't be scared it's a very debilitating emotion when you're scared you can't do anything except bit scared right, I decided I wasn't scared.

327
00:36:12.210 --> 00:36:12.570
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): I think.

328
00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.230
Erika Estis: I did.

329
00:36:14.310 --> 00:36:14.730
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

330
00:36:14.850 --> 00:36:21.210
Erika Estis: We tended not to be scared I wasn't a real not scared when the war was over.

331
00:36:22.080 --> 00:36:22.560
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): mm hmm.

332
00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:25.740
Erika Estis: yeah I was only pretending, but it was.

333
00:36:27.540 --> 00:36:27.780
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

334
00:36:28.410 --> 00:36:35.550
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah right So what do you remember actually about the end of the war and like what would.

335
00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:39.990
Erika Estis: I knew for sure.

336
00:36:40.770 --> 00:37:01.680
Erika Estis: I would be reunited with my parents may have been sent out with on July, the 11th 1942 my father had sent a letter to my oldest sister lives here in America and shut up don't Eric if you see a change of address for.

337
00:37:02.850 --> 00:37:05.790
Erika Estis: She is unhappy enough I don't want to FRY.

338
00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:15.630
Erika Estis: My sister's listen to him, so I never knew they were deported, which was not nine.

339
00:37:17.040 --> 00:37:29.340
Erika Estis: And then my sister my sister had put in, there are required enter German newspaper was called out well and it said anybody that are up Orlando.

340
00:37:31.080 --> 00:37:41.520
Erika Estis: Florida, who were deported on such and such a day July, the 11th 1942 sheets thought they were sent towards so.

341
00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:59.580
Erika Estis: They were sent Auschwitz and killed that very day I had no idea, so I tell you my sister that's meant well but they didn't do their heads, and you are up fried somebody you know.

342
00:38:01.290 --> 00:38:01.710
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): When.

343
00:38:02.100 --> 00:38:05.220
Erika Estis: We I couldn't take it, they figured out works by.

344
00:38:07.350 --> 00:38:11.070
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): When did you find out what had happened to your parents.

345
00:38:11.190 --> 00:38:15.900
Erika Estis: I found out my my assistance put that little advertisement in the paper.

346
00:38:17.550 --> 00:38:23.160
Erika Estis: And it was much later, you know they've already dead for some time.

347
00:38:23.520 --> 00:38:25.080
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And what about the last.

348
00:38:25.770 --> 00:38:41.940
Erika Estis: Well, they months they liberated the concentration camps, they posted this in London and at the booth at bloomsbury house, this is still there and it's.

349
00:38:43.290 --> 00:38:57.930
Erika Estis: And it's womb space Square and rooms very is that Nice area of non and a beautiful area and it's scary house, which has a lot of German Jewish.

350
00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:14.580
Erika Estis: Of men's in any way, this is where they post this the live, so I call it a day and try to find my parents, because nobody told me that, but you poor little I thought they were alive.

351
00:39:15.630 --> 00:39:18.090
Erika Estis: Right, so my sister's.

352
00:39:19.470 --> 00:39:31.200
Erika Estis: make it hard for me that that meaning well but not using their head, you know I wasn't a baby anymore, I was 20.

353
00:39:36.060 --> 00:39:43.680
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So, in the next year in February 1946 you immigrated to the United States to live with your sister.

354
00:39:45.030 --> 00:39:49.020
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And so, when when did your sister arrived in the US well.

355
00:39:49.080 --> 00:39:53.130
Erika Estis: My oldest sister went to the University of two ways.

356
00:39:53.820 --> 00:39:54.660
Erika Estis: where she started.

357
00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:59.040
Erika Estis: Chemistry and watch it was the edge she met an American.

358
00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:16.680
Erika Estis: was studying medicine and Wendy finishes studied he went back to America and she followed him and they got married here so she has been in America, since.

359
00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:21.270
Erika Estis: All foreign before the war and everything.

360
00:40:22.410 --> 00:40:22.860
Erika Estis: yeah.

361
00:40:22.920 --> 00:40:24.870
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Well, she living in New York.

362
00:40:25.470 --> 00:40:29.880
Erika Estis: She was living in New York, yes, the open a practice on the lower east.

363
00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:37.320
Erika Estis: They were learning and then, when I when she sent for me, you know.

364
00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:56.640
Erika Estis: I couldn't come the normal way to come to America and those days was purple, but it was the middle of the winter weather was terrible that no ships were going and my answer was exploring so she sent me actually an airplane ticket.

365
00:40:57.630 --> 00:40:58.620
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Oh wow.

366
00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.220
Erika Estis: How does.

367
00:40:59.250 --> 00:41:00.450
Erika Estis: was so I.

368
00:41:00.660 --> 00:41:01.710
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): was like your first time.

369
00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:23.070
Erika Estis: But the weather was so bad It took three days to get here at this day in bournemouth for a couple of days from every mentor Shannon and a meal and had to stay there and then come back to Newfoundland where we had to stay or so and, finally, we came to England it.

370
00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:26.190
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Was that your first time on an airplane.

371
00:41:27.990 --> 00:41:29.910
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Was that your first time on an airplane.

372
00:41:31.260 --> 00:41:35.130
Erika Estis: Oh yes, I mean nobody knew through on it, this was.

373
00:41:35.160 --> 00:41:35.790
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): A right.

374
00:41:37.080 --> 00:41:37.620
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

375
00:41:38.430 --> 00:41:39.300
Erika Estis: We play.

376
00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:41.370
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right right.

377
00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:43.410
Erika Estis: yeah nobody.

378
00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:43.830
fun.

379
00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:51.750
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And so that was the first time, you had seen your sister in 10 years right.

380
00:41:51.990 --> 00:41:55.590
Erika Estis: And 10 years we had all been together in Switzerland.

381
00:41:57.360 --> 00:42:02.160
Erika Estis: Leo my three fifth and I and my parents, you know.

382
00:42:03.720 --> 00:42:14.850
Erika Estis: We had all taken a vacation my father had insisted that together and I had this one really crummy photograph of that trip but.

383
00:42:15.870 --> 00:42:20.130
Erika Estis: I met my assistance again you wouldn't have known they were the same people.

384
00:42:20.940 --> 00:42:21.300
Erika Estis: And that.

385
00:42:21.660 --> 00:42:30.270
Erika Estis: For me, probably when I was an adult you took a picture before you left Oh, I took a picture before I left England.

386
00:42:30.990 --> 00:42:41.640
Erika Estis: And my sister I said I want you to happen so you're recognized me when you see me I sure didn't look the way I did you know.

387
00:42:41.670 --> 00:42:42.750
The last time.

388
00:42:48.090 --> 00:42:50.310
Erika Estis: I have them i'm sure it's.

389
00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:51.870
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): too long time.

390
00:42:52.410 --> 00:42:53.070
yeah.

391
00:42:56.850 --> 00:43:06.270
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah did you so did you experience culture shock upon arriving in the US was it was it really different for you, at that point, I.

392
00:43:06.510 --> 00:43:09.990
Erika Estis: couldn't believe what was happening in America.

393
00:43:11.430 --> 00:43:21.450
Erika Estis: Through war every day was it will concerned with the wall bombs rope or link, we were we could die any second.

394
00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:26.160
Erika Estis: It will hold industry, you know I mean.

395
00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:30.900
Erika Estis: Ship creative everywhere.

396
00:43:32.160 --> 00:43:38.010
Erika Estis: Hopefully, here they didn't have the focus notion, I mean they win the war two.

397
00:43:40.110 --> 00:43:44.850
Erika Estis: was not a personal goal for us it was a personal war.

398
00:43:46.650 --> 00:43:47.700
Erika Estis: Americans.

399
00:43:48.450 --> 00:43:51.420
Erika Estis: My mother in law had one main company.

400
00:43:52.230 --> 00:43:55.110
Erika Estis: She couldn't get need flower, and she did.

401
00:43:55.680 --> 00:44:01.110
Erika Estis: may be able to show some things she couldn't get such as us that you know, like.

402
00:44:03.060 --> 00:44:08.760
Erika Estis: I said Okay, and she lost this endless war, no, no let's kill.

403
00:44:09.960 --> 00:44:10.260
But.

404
00:44:11.280 --> 00:44:19.140
Erika Estis: The idea that's not what was about you can't get sugar flour whatever to shame.

405
00:44:22.620 --> 00:44:29.880
Erika Estis: yeah it's very difficult very different away in America paper, I had no idea, no idea.

406
00:44:30.810 --> 00:44:44.730
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah yeah um but you know you, you spoke about your mother in law but, and you, you married your husband Samuel estis pretty soon after arriving in the US what's the purpose.

407
00:44:45.990 --> 00:44:46.320
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): of it.

408
00:44:46.560 --> 00:44:55.470
Erika Estis: I was, I met this nice guy I was, I was riding the train home from kingston you're not going to visit.

409
00:44:57.630 --> 00:44:59.760
Erika Estis: And they live in kingston.

410
00:45:00.150 --> 00:45:12.750
Erika Estis: And I was on it and there was a cute guy and they used to whisper with my whisper and they and they want to talk to me.

411
00:45:13.980 --> 00:45:15.720
Erika Estis: And he was really cute.

412
00:45:16.620 --> 00:45:17.070
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah he.

413
00:45:17.670 --> 00:45:19.260
Erika Estis: gave me his phone number.

414
00:45:21.330 --> 00:45:26.130
Erika Estis: i'm a thicker so he said, make sure you call me I said sure.

415
00:45:27.750 --> 00:45:28.260
Erika Estis: So.

416
00:45:30.210 --> 00:45:39.900
Erika Estis: I must have given him my phone my phone number two anyway, I wasn't about to call me or know that that would have been over the top.

417
00:45:40.470 --> 00:45:41.850
Erika Estis: haha we.

418
00:45:42.630 --> 00:45:45.780
Erika Estis: need said why didn't you call me.

419
00:45:49.500 --> 00:45:51.720
Erika Estis: It was my engine.

420
00:45:53.340 --> 00:45:55.410
Erika Estis: Listen, Nice and very come forward.

421
00:45:56.070 --> 00:45:57.450
Erika Estis: And more of a normal.

422
00:45:57.480 --> 00:46:03.180
Erika Estis: person I know all these other people that will so traumatized and.

423
00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:04.920
Erika Estis: and

424
00:46:07.770 --> 00:46:14.040
Erika Estis: and share, nor have that incessantly people's show.

425
00:46:15.690 --> 00:46:16.200
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

426
00:46:16.620 --> 00:46:18.510
Erika Estis: I did not get to marry him.

427
00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:19.800
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

428
00:46:20.220 --> 00:46:23.940
Erika Estis: I really was because I got her lead a normal life.

429
00:46:25.590 --> 00:46:27.510
Erika Estis: know if I would have otherwise.

430
00:46:28.530 --> 00:46:28.920
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Right.

431
00:46:29.010 --> 00:46:33.150
Erika Estis: I found some some cooking like myself.

432
00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:36.240
Erika Estis: And he put up with me was like.

433
00:46:38.040 --> 00:46:38.820
No way.

434
00:46:40.590 --> 00:46:40.920
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

435
00:46:42.540 --> 00:46:49.950
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Can you can you tell me a little bit you know about your life with him and your kids and and I kind of thing so.

436
00:46:50.070 --> 00:46:50.700
Erika Estis: I you know.

437
00:46:51.540 --> 00:46:59.220
Erika Estis: I will I I really see I like the idea I think when I think about it afterwards it was all very deliberate.

438
00:46:59.970 --> 00:47:17.130
Erika Estis: I like the idea of of marrying an American person, because I was living in America, and I wanted to become part of the scenery you know i'd never been at above and in Germany way earlier.

439
00:47:17.880 --> 00:47:26.940
Erika Estis: Right so So when I very much wanted to marry if I was going to man American person.

440
00:47:27.930 --> 00:47:28.260
and

441
00:47:29.370 --> 00:47:34.320
Erika Estis: I mean, he went out every he came to visit me every.

442
00:47:35.370 --> 00:47:39.600
Erika Estis: Every Fridays are denied or not many when.

443
00:47:40.800 --> 00:47:46.350
Erika Estis: I finally said to have been known to marry me and he said.

444
00:47:47.580 --> 00:47:47.910
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Who.

445
00:47:50.490 --> 00:47:54.030
Erika Estis: Go home that's where you don't have to go home can stay.

446
00:47:58.290 --> 00:48:05.730
Erika Estis: sober I really must have gotten after him I was normal person than a normal lie.

447
00:48:07.470 --> 00:48:07.800
Erika Estis: That was.

448
00:48:07.920 --> 00:48:13.530
Erika Estis: Clever me I thought that was really very perceptive of me.

449
00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:26.550
Erika Estis: with him, I could have a normal life, like any other American and, yes, I really wanted I didn't want this exotic existence, whatever that was.

450
00:48:28.230 --> 00:48:36.690
Erika Estis: And it was lucky that i'm married Gemma, which are very lucky, he was night he had a family.

451
00:48:37.410 --> 00:48:43.170
Erika Estis: yeah Aaron I mean finally had children, but she didn't believe and.

452
00:48:44.940 --> 00:48:52.830
Erika Estis: Talk them into one shot and that took a long time, but then second no way Jose but.

453
00:48:53.940 --> 00:48:55.290
Erika Estis: I have three children.

454
00:48:59.340 --> 00:49:02.520
Erika Estis: And it was nine, I was so lucky man.

455
00:49:03.600 --> 00:49:06.300
Erika Estis: i'm ready I realized that.

456
00:49:07.260 --> 00:49:09.060
Erika Estis: yeah yeah.

457
00:49:10.050 --> 00:49:13.470
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Well that's I I love that that's so lovely and.

458
00:49:15.600 --> 00:49:18.030
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So i'm going to move into some audience.

459
00:49:18.030 --> 00:49:29.580
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): questions that we have for watching so, can you tell us where in humbard your father's pharmacy wasn't and where you were living originally what area was in.

460
00:49:30.030 --> 00:49:32.340
Erika Estis: It was in i'm circle.

461
00:49:33.600 --> 00:49:36.000
Erika Estis: It was like a low income area.

462
00:49:36.690 --> 00:49:37.110
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): mm hmm.

463
00:49:37.560 --> 00:49:37.830
i'm.

464
00:49:39.450 --> 00:49:52.710
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Okay, and then another question we have is um were you when you first arrived in England on the kindertransport were you able to maintain any contact with your parents or.

465
00:49:53.910 --> 00:49:54.510
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): I didn't.

466
00:49:54.930 --> 00:50:00.690
Erika Estis: have in fact I have their letters which I kept every last one of them.

467
00:50:01.830 --> 00:50:04.140
Erika Estis: And then the.

468
00:50:05.730 --> 00:50:06.840
Erika Estis: board so agree.

469
00:50:08.040 --> 00:50:18.120
Erika Estis: The Jewish music yeah, why did you choose all the cure right at the Jewish museum and Berlin Jeff and through the lab says and.

470
00:50:18.450 --> 00:50:20.370
Erika Estis: He took some of them for.

471
00:50:21.330 --> 00:50:25.440
Erika Estis: For there and you're not so they could have them that.

472
00:50:26.580 --> 00:50:32.550
Erika Estis: they're very wonderful because my father was a wonderful letter right and.

473
00:50:34.020 --> 00:50:37.110
Erika Estis: And ethan nice letters so yeah.

474
00:50:38.310 --> 00:50:38.670
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

475
00:50:39.690 --> 00:50:49.110
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And so, when your children were growing up, did you share what it happened to you with them, or when when.

476
00:50:49.650 --> 00:50:50.250
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): You tell them.

477
00:50:50.580 --> 00:50:53.670
Erika Estis: The truth, I never told anybody and.

478
00:50:54.720 --> 00:50:57.690
Erika Estis: Most of all, my husband, I never told him and he.

479
00:50:59.190 --> 00:51:02.160
Erika Estis: made up my mind I wouldn't tell my story.

480
00:51:03.060 --> 00:51:13.380
Erika Estis: To anybody who wasn't really interested in deeply interested and you need to hear this, for some reason, maybe.

481
00:51:14.070 --> 00:51:22.380
Erika Estis: But I was never, never going to talk about it and I didn't my children didn't have any idea.

482
00:51:23.340 --> 00:51:27.960
Erika Estis: And my husband really didn't want to hear it was the door too depressing, you know.

483
00:51:29.760 --> 00:51:33.510
Erika Estis: so well, one day, my rabbi said to me.

484
00:51:35.220 --> 00:51:51.750
Erika Estis: You should tell your story to your children, and I said no i'm not i'm not interested, he said was that you think they really are interested, they just want to ask me in case I get upset or that.

485
00:51:53.580 --> 00:51:56.130
Erika Estis: point that I started to talk about.

486
00:51:56.400 --> 00:51:57.210
To them.

487
00:51:59.310 --> 00:52:01.830
Erika Estis: know where I came from a normal that.

488
00:52:03.300 --> 00:52:07.290
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And when did you decide to share your story more publicly.

489
00:52:10.170 --> 00:52:14.280
Erika Estis: I I didn't think I thought it was important.

490
00:52:15.390 --> 00:52:16.530
Erika Estis: Historically.

491
00:52:17.910 --> 00:52:21.330
Erika Estis: know what can I can happen.

492
00:52:21.900 --> 00:52:22.770
Erika Estis: You know and.

493
00:52:24.120 --> 00:52:28.590
Erika Estis: What and I did tell it at the Center God for.

494
00:52:29.850 --> 00:52:32.610
Erika Estis: My rabbi thought that was a good variety.

495
00:52:33.330 --> 00:52:34.200
Erika Estis: And so.

496
00:52:34.620 --> 00:52:45.450
Erika Estis: I don't really know exactly when there was an eye toward parents taught us that story to begin with, they will open and already married.

497
00:52:46.170 --> 00:52:48.660
Erika Estis: Right, no one had children.

498
00:52:48.660 --> 00:52:49.170
So.

499
00:52:50.340 --> 00:52:53.910
Erika Estis: So it was very late, I had no intention.

500
00:52:54.840 --> 00:52:55.650
of ever know.

501
00:52:58.830 --> 00:53:13.800
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And I know you mentioned this briefly before, but you said that you had returned to Humber at some point in your adult life, can you talk about the decision to return and and what that experience was like for you.

502
00:53:15.180 --> 00:53:21.660
Erika Estis: I think i'm very much who I am i'm very German you know.

503
00:53:22.680 --> 00:53:29.340
Erika Estis: I never been really into American society, I was I knew I was different or whatever.

504
00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:30.660
Erika Estis: I knew there.

505
00:53:33.150 --> 00:53:56.100
Erika Estis: And, and I was chairman I thought at some point, I asked see I never spoke to my husband about anything but we were in in London once and I said to him, and we were waiting to go on a tour I said, would you be interested in visiting humbled maybe just overnight.

506
00:53:56.580 --> 00:53:58.110
Erika Estis: it's a short trip.

507
00:53:59.160 --> 00:54:02.550
Erika Estis: plane ride from London to humble you know.

508
00:54:03.690 --> 00:54:18.090
Erika Estis: He said Okay, he would like that so so we went to humble with him and I showed him around and showed him, where I lived, it was my house was like a heap of Robert in palm.

509
00:54:19.170 --> 00:54:22.380
Erika Estis: But my apartment building words then dang and.

510
00:54:23.460 --> 00:54:28.470
Erika Estis: And it's just an interesting very interesting town.

511
00:54:29.610 --> 00:54:30.810
Erika Estis: Here I did.

512
00:54:32.280 --> 00:54:34.890
Erika Estis: It was happy to see it.

513
00:54:36.540 --> 00:54:49.440
Erika Estis: Unless thorough started me and maybe maybe if we feel light and maybe people wanted to hear about my story, what about the other trips and the people you've met.

514
00:54:51.360 --> 00:54:56.040
Erika Estis: When you met Miriam and the other people you've met the other German people you've met.

515
00:54:58.170 --> 00:55:04.620
Erika Estis: I met a lot of nights German people believe it, believe it or not, i'm a citizen.

516
00:55:06.630 --> 00:55:08.580
Erika Estis: I became a German citizen.

517
00:55:10.230 --> 00:55:10.620
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): yeah.

518
00:55:10.980 --> 00:55:12.060
You know I basically.

519
00:55:13.380 --> 00:55:17.520
Erika Estis: I didn't mind, we have shrub I was gonna go there.

520
00:55:18.480 --> 00:55:18.750
yeah.

521
00:55:23.250 --> 00:55:27.030
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And so I just have we have time for a couple more questions.

522
00:55:28.170 --> 00:55:37.590
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): But I do want to ask how did you know how did the war and your experiences sort of influence, your relationship with Judaism.

523
00:55:38.970 --> 00:55:42.900
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Was that it sort of changed how you practiced or anything like that.

524
00:55:44.220 --> 00:55:46.170
Erika Estis: say that again I don't understand.

525
00:55:46.920 --> 00:55:55.770
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Like How did the war and your experiences, change your relationship with Judaism and you're sort of religious outlook.

526
00:55:56.760 --> 00:56:00.000
Erika Estis: i'm i'm first and foremost the Jew.

527
00:56:00.780 --> 00:56:05.130
Erika Estis: And I want everybody to know i'm a Jew.

528
00:56:06.900 --> 00:56:15.900
Erika Estis: I once belonged to a discussion group and and i've seen in charlottesville the person anti Semitic ag.

529
00:56:17.430 --> 00:56:40.260
Erika Estis: activity and and everybody became very nervous anti Semitism is raising its ugly head over here in America and i'd say listen guys I don't care they don't have turnover it just shouldn't kill us so they don't have to love it maybe they're not you know.

530
00:56:41.820 --> 00:56:46.050
Erika Estis: don't love me just don't kill me so that's all I care about.

531
00:56:47.580 --> 00:56:54.390
Erika Estis: And i'm a proud to that's what I really am you know what I am i'm wearing this thing around my neck.

532
00:56:57.060 --> 00:57:06.690
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And then I think, to finish out, I just want to ask what do you hope people take from your story and from listening to you tell your story.

533
00:57:07.380 --> 00:57:15.000
Erika Estis: Well, I think they need to hear that story, because things can happen all over again, you need to be vigilant.

534
00:57:15.750 --> 00:57:18.090
Erika Estis: really need to be vigilant.

535
00:57:18.930 --> 00:57:37.770
Erika Estis: And and make sure that this anti semitism doesn't raise its ugly head, if it does, furniture flied it, you can really, really care at this point, you can find your have there, and you have to be vigilant and courageous.

536
00:57:38.490 --> 00:57:39.450
Erika Estis: and face up.

537
00:57:39.510 --> 00:57:43.380
Erika Estis: Though what's out there and be proud of, who you are.

538
00:57:44.730 --> 00:57:46.020
Erika Estis: i'm a proud to.

539
00:57:47.100 --> 00:57:47.310
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): know.

540
00:57:47.970 --> 00:57:50.430
Erika Estis: What you saying i'm a proud to.

541
00:57:52.320 --> 00:58:08.820
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Well, that is amazing and Erica I want to say thank you so much for sharing your story with us and it's truly been a pleasure to get to speak with you and I so appreciate you spending your time with us, I also want to say thank you to Denise as well.

542
00:58:10.260 --> 00:58:16.740
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And I just thank you so much it's been honestly such a pleasure to get to speak with you and I really appreciate it.

543
00:58:18.660 --> 00:58:19.080
Erika Estis: yeah.

544
00:58:20.460 --> 00:58:27.690
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And I also want to thank everyone who joined us today out there and for, thank you for your questions.

545
00:58:28.680 --> 00:58:33.480
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And I also want to say that everything we do at the museum is made possible through donor support.

546
00:58:34.080 --> 00:58:43.770
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): So, to those of you watching me hope you'll consider making a donation to support the museum or becoming a member and joining us for our upcoming programs, which you can check out on our website.

547
00:58:44.340 --> 00:58:51.270
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): And I want to say, have a great afternoon, and thank you again to Erica and thank you again to all of you for joining us.

548
00:58:51.450 --> 00:58:52.050
Erika Estis: you're welcome.

549
00:58:52.800 --> 00:58:54.570
Sydney Yaeger (she/her): Thank you have a great afternoon.

550
00:58:54.900 --> 00:58:55.770
Erika Estis: Thanks Hello.

551
00:58:56.280 --> 00:58:57.420
bye bye.