Hazel's First Trip to South America (June-July, 1918)
	(Written in 1972 from material found in her diary & part of a letter written home during the trip.)
	Saturday June 15, 1918 left Sumner; south by train Sunday through Oregon and California Monday San Francisco Tuesday Boat for Boliva sailed at noon...	On Saturday, June 15th, I left Sumner with my entire family seeing me off at the little home depot. It was very hard to leave them and five years seemed a long time. At Tacoma Anna Brown, going to Chile for the same Board, joined me and Elsie Schofield gave parting advice and a suitcase of gifts for her friends in Lima where her family had been missionaries. We arrived in Portland at 4:20 and were met by Mrs. Frank Rutledge and Pearl, Littlerock friends, who feted us the rest of the day with music and food. Boarding again at Portland on the Pullman train, "Mt. Massive", we found everything in darkness but managed to find our berths to have a little rest. Next day was Sunday and we did not get up to go to breakfast, having eaten a little too well the night before. Neither of us had traveled farther than Portland and found the scenery wonderful and got down at Roseburg to look about. Soon after lunch we reached the California border and enjoyed Mt. Shasta and the surrounding views. On Monday our train was ferried across to San Francisco and we had lunch in the ferry lunchroom. Train friends pointed out places of interest and directed us to "Travelers Aid" who sent us to the Methodist Book Concern to see if they could help us trace Anna's passport which she had not received as yet. They recommended rooms at the Hotel Herald for the night but Tuesday came and still no passport. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead did find us and said they were without passports. This was bad for me as I was to travel to Bolivia with them. The boat was due to leave at noon so we decided I better brave it and start out alone. So using a taxi I went to get my boat ticket and found I had to also have visas. A patient taxi driver seemed to know all about it and finally landed me with everything required at the end of the dock where the boat was said to be. I paid him and found myself quite alone with the extra suitcase and all. What to do now? I saw an official in the distance and called to ask him how to get help and he took me to the place where my trunks were waiting. I determined to get on that boat and soon had several little Japanese boys helping me get inspected and put aboard. They found the number of my stateroom but no key and there I waited for a half hour while they traced the key and found it with the other two occupants who turned out to be Helen Gilliland and Mrs. Hatfield, sisters going to Lima for the Woman's Board. At the last minute as I hopefully watched the dock, here came the Whiteheads and I breathed a sigh of relief as I now had company to the end of my trip. I fear I felt a little dismayed by all this and both home and Bolivia seemed very far away. Of course with such wonderful traveling companions who seemed to know all about everything I soon settled down and had an enjoyable trip. I did regret that Anna's passport never did come as we had made such plans to travel together. All around were hordes of Japanese employees and passengers, some even looking in our windows. The steerage smells were terrible and the stateroom very tiny and hot without even a fan but I knew all could not be perfect and soon found that their good food and deck sports and boat entertainment went far to disperse my first dismay and the strange first feelings. Two experiences only were hard to take, one when I found my little wooden trunk was quite mashed in loading and the other the night the lights went out and it was reported that a boat had not recognized our signal and we were all afraid for we were in war, we knew. But the helpful steward had me put the trunk contents in a box while they fixed the trunk even better than new for me to repack. We had no more war scares and the rest of the trip was good even if very hot. Finally the weather did cool and I could enjoy the lovely steamer rug my church had given me.
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	Tuesday June 18, 1918 The boat left San Francisco 16 days... Thursday July 4th Panama	We had one stop an the Mexican coast at Salina Cruz but it was so hot and we did not try to go ashore. It was always very noisy when we loaded or unloaded so there was little sleeping while we were in port. We reached Panama on the 4th of July and everything was decorated and American soldiers and sailors everywhere. The girls had a friend who took us around to see things of interest even to the Locks at Pedro Miguel. They took me to stay at the Hotel Tivoli as our boat was loading and coaling. While we were looking around here came two soldiers who had apparently been looking out for us and told us the boat was about ready to leave and the gang plank was up. They got an official and told the steward they would have to put down the gang plank and take us on. The boat was still coaling and not a clean place outside to sit and ever so hot inside. We had little sleep that night but by morning we were on our way and everything cleaned up again. Sunday we crossed the equator and it being my first time I got the red paint and ice down my neck. The men got dunked in the tank. The day before we were to arrive in Peru we were given a masquerade party. Helen and I went as twins with adjusted nightgowns and hairbows and Mrs. Whitehead took the prize as a black mammy. She was always equal to every occasion and I surely came to appreciate them and their eleven months boy who reminded me so much of my little nephew.
	Callao, Peru; 4 days in port: stayed at Lima High School	At Callao, the port for Lima, Peru, my roommates were to land and I was interested to see how they had to bargain with the many "fleteros" fighting to be the ones to take their trunks ashore. Whiteheads and I also went ashore to visit our work and here I met our wonderful missionaries working there. Our boat was here for four days and I was invited to stay at Lima High School and the other single people took me to see everything of interest and out to eat and see all the work. I was much impressed and thought it would be a fine place to work. They were of course interested that I was to be married so went back on the boat to see my wedding clothes and the lovely gifts I had.
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	Mollendo, Peru   train to Arequippa   train to Puno, overnight on Lake Titicaca steamer   Bolivia! Reunion with John Sidney; train to LaPaz	Then three more days and we arrived in Mollendo to take the train up into Bolivia. We landed in the famous chair from the small boat that had brought us from the steamer. Not too many ports in South America had piers at that time. In Mollendo I had my first experience with "Gran" Hotels but the Whiteheads saw to it that I was put in a room with them instead of with strangers as we later were on other trips. The next day we left for Arequippa where we had to stay for the night. Trains just did not run at night then. Then on our way to La Paz, climbing continuously and I began to realize what kind of country this was to which I had come, At Puno we transferred to a Lake Titicaca steamer where we spent the night in clean cabins and it was lovely and cool. Next morning I arose early for I knew this was the place where John was to meet me and he was there all right even though he had had to spend two nights in a "tambo" in Guagua to make connections with our boat. Needless to say I was very happy to see him and know I had someone who understood traveling in this still to me strange country. We soon boarded our train to go down to La Paz where we were met with a special coach with Mr. Irle, Mr. Washburn and Mrs. Merubia and the girls from the school which Mrs. Whitehead was to direct. At the city railway station we were taken in Mrs. Eslee's car down to the school and I was home at last after what seemed a long, long journey.
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