Transvestia
back to a hospital in England. I was pretty badly hurt and by the time I was ready to be discharged the armistice had been signed and the war was over.
Those in command of all the armed forces of the United States then made a very wise decision: they offered indefinite leave with pay to any soldier or sailor who would enroll in a European college or University in order to complete his education. I had been taking a pre-medical course at home, and here was a chance to obtain some British experience and training which would be invaluable to me. I accepted quickly, and before the end of 1918 I was enrolled as a student in London University, in its medical department.
a hard one, in
We
The winter of 1918-1919 was England. It was very cold and the coal miners a- round Newcastle were on strike. Coal was rationed, as was all food, tobaccos and just about everything else. Electricity was turned on only a few hours a day, and electric heaters were almost useless. all suffered lack of food, of heat, of clothes, of light, of jobs. The army was being demobilized quickly and there were few jobs for the returning soldiers. Millions of Britons existed on the Dole the few shillings a week which the Government handed out free.
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I enjoyed my studies immensely. I worked hard and studiously. I liked the men who were my fellow students. I really was learning. In order to get to know as many students as I could I enjoy meet- ing people and understanding their viewpoints - I arranged with a small local store to be a salesman for them and to peddle its wares among the students. Every evening I carried a tray of sweets, tarts and biscuits around the buildings where the students lived, selling what I could. Also I took commissions to procure whatever they needed and the shortages of everything made that an important part of my job. I was a well-known and not unpopular member of that University.
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