October 2, 1950.
21 Overbury Avenue, Beckenham, KentDear Miss Turner,
Here at last I have reached England almost two weeks now. I came by plane from Hong Kong. It took only thirty seven hours with six stop overs on the way each one hour for rest. I started Monday at three thirty in the afternoon and got here four thirty in the morning Wednesday. The trip was unevenatful [sic] and I got to London safely with my hoestess [sic] waiting [for] me at the Air Line Terminal. Everything was dark then but soon we got a taxi and took us to suburn [sic] train for Beckenham. The little suburb is about twnety [sic] minutes on train from London to this place. It reminds me of New England subburb [sic] outside of Boston. I can hardly tell this is England or America only when I hear the English accent of speaking but otherwise I would say this is a college town of any American suburb. It is very quiet here and I am enjoying the quietness.
By this time my people in America would know that I am here in England. I have just had a letter from Mary Jean telling me of their recent visit to you. They were so happy to see you. You saw Abby Linda and Ting Ting at the same time. I was so happy to hear of this visit to you. I was so happy to hear from Mary Jean telling me that you look very well. How I hope to see you also if I can get a visa to come. I am trying to get one from London. I would let you know when I should succeed getting my visa. I think it is easier here than Hong Kong. I wasted too long time at Hong Kong on my vacation. The Immigration Officer delayed my coming for he was too lazy to look up my record which reached his office in July. He kept on telling me that it had [not] reached the office until I showed him black and white of the date and the number of the document. Then he looked over the record file and it was there. To make the story short I did not get away after wasted two months at Hong Kong waiting for the document. I am learning the lesson now so I am trying my visa right away so as to allow time for delay. I am praying that I may see you before Christmas.
From Miss Helen Calder I have learned that you were able to get away summer for a change I hope that you have enjoyed the change. Did you get a black silk quilted jacket this summer? I sent it thru a nurse who told me that she would mail to you for me on reaching San Francisco. Kindly let me hear about it. Kindly let me know if you need any woolen stockings or underwear for wear here. Do let me know the size. I shall be here for two more months then proceed to New York City from London by air plane if I succeed to get a visa. Since I have been here I have already felt the difference in my health. I feel much improved both physically and spiritually. Yesterday it was British Harvest Sunday. It was beautiful with so many kind[s] of flowers and fruits and vegetables to decorate the church. It is like American Thanksgiving festival. It was very nice church service. Some small tots even gave up their ration chocolate for children homes. The service was very good with so many children bringing thier [sic] baskets for the young and the aged in the homes. I am enjoying everything here.
In my quier [sic] moments I am jotting down interesting eveant [sic] of my life for our young generation certainly does not know everything of the past. They have gotten modern education and they do not know much about the education of my generation. I think our young generation are more Americans than Chinese now. I am not sorry but I think it would be nice to know a little of the past of this Ting family. I am happy for the change for it is all for the best. They all have their training so no matter where they go they can work. Yueh Ming has a very fine younger sister by the name Shirley. She was the only girl who could pass her examination for the senior third year in high school which is the last year. Most schools do not want students for last year. But she passed the examination so the school had to take her. She wants to be a nurse. She is such a fine worker. She is serious and she wants to study. Hong Kong is not a good place for there are too few schools with such influx of refugees from everywhere. While at Hong Kong I suggested all three sisters of Yuch Ming to get into a borading [sic] school for her mother has too many children to care at home. With two in America there are still six at home. So you can imagine this busy mother with many duties.
I am having a real change and I do not go out to see many people. England is full of communists also. They had one strike on gas now they are working on dockyard strike. It is too bad. I do not think workmen here work too hard. They work so slow and they deman[d] so much. I joked with my hostess Mrs. Tucker that she paid one pound for a man sventy [sic] years old to care her lawn one day a week. I can do it well for the old man is so slow about it. Public workmen on raods [sic] are very slow also. They wait so long before they start any work. One little pavement took two men whole day not more than ten feet long and three feet in width. May be people are tired after war. People do not look too happy to me either.
Just now Mrs. Tucker wants me to go to another town for Methodist Women's Fellowship meeting where the chucrh [sic] is trying to have or to teach chrsitian [sic] womanhood at home, at church and chrsitian [sic] citizenship.
With love
Yours lovingly.
Meiung