Objekt des Monats
Jedes Objekt in der Sammlung des Deutschen Auswandererhauses erzählt eine ganz persönliche Auswanderungs- oder Einwanderungsgeschichte. In dieser Rubrik stellen wir Ihnen jeden Monat ein anderes Objekt vor – eine Fotografie, ein Dokument oder ein persönliches Erinnerungsstück.
September 2026
Diary, 2000
| Material | Paper, closure rubber band |
| Dimensions | approx. 17.8 x 13.7 x 2.8 (closed) |
| Donation | Sabine Ghosh |
“First step: I have already terminated my apartment and my job at EPSON. I hope my journey to London will begin on May 14. (…) For the first time, I will be unemployed and need to orient myself regarding what is happening in the London job market. I want and will succeed. But first, I need to sort everything out here in Germany. We’ll see the rest later.“
Historical Context
Sabine Ghosh’s diary is an important document that reports her feelings especially during the initial period in another country. Sabine Ghosh impressively recounts moments of loneliness, adapting to Great Britain, love, and how she keeps overcoming personal hurdles.
“Sunday, May 20 – This morning I first tried to find accommodation. But somehow, everything seems doomed to fail right now. By 10 in the morning, everything was already taken. This can’t be true. Well! On Monday, I will make a new attempt. Bright and early!”
For instance, she describes how she tries to combat homesickness by taking many trips and finds initial connections, although not religious, in the Christian Association in London. Furthermore, she keeps track of the decision-making processes that led her to emigrate to Great Britain long-term and to start a family here, even though she originally only planned a one-year stay. She still describes her personality as curious and is always in search of new challenges (and adventures).
Short Biography
Sabine Ghosh, born Krügler, was born in Düsseldorf, NRW in 1975. Inspired by the children’s novels of Berte Bratt during her youth, she dreams of emigrating. Various factors lead her to the decision to realize her dream in 2000: the sudden passing of her father in 1997 and her pursuit of professional development are named by Sabine Ghosh as the main motives for her emigration plans. Originally, she only plans to stay abroad for a few months and intends to return to Germany afterward. Because her mother and sister argue that the USA is too far away, Sabine Ghosh decides on the British capital, London. In the spring of 2000, she leaves Germany – with her diary in her luggage.
The trained office and marketing specialist initially stays with her former host family and begins looking for jobs and accommodation. Both turn out to be more difficult than expected. However, the social loneliness impacts her the most. After some initial difficulties, Sabine Ghosh finds good friendships and falls in love with Huw Ghosh. The two marry and start a family in Great Britain – their daughter Anna is born in 2007 and their son Lucas in 2010. Their children grow up in three cultures: British, Indian, and German. Huw Ghosh’s parents come from India, and this culture also plays an important role in the family. Sabine Ghosh also finds her professional happiness: She initially takes on positions that keep her financially afloat until she accepts a permanent position in financial accounting at BP (British Petroleum). She works here for the next 15 years. Today, she is employed part-time at a tent business and particularly appreciates the diverse tasks of her job.
Sabine Ghosh still lives in Great Britain today.
Meaning of the object
The diary of Sabine Ghosh covers entries from May 2000 to September 2024. In the first year, there are almost daily entries about Sabine Ghosh’s experiences of arriving and settling down in London. Then, there are individual entries on 04.08.2004, 03.05.2006, with the last entry dated 01.09.2024. Sabine Ghosh’s diary thus becomes a valuable companion, especially through the initial loneliness and homesickness. Furthermore, the diary tells how Huw becomes her great love. Various people also play a recurring role in her diary, some of whom are still close friends of Sabine Ghosh to this day. She sometimes supplements her diary entries with photographs, documenting her everyday life. In hindsight, Sabine Ghosh will use and appreciate the diary, which describes her emigrant experience, as a personal source of information and a reminder. She describes the migration experience as a very important event that also helps in processing her father’s death.
„Sunday, 01.09.2024 – How the years pass … Huw and I have two super cute kids. A girl, Anna, 16, and a boy, Lucas, 13 years old. We still live on the same street as in 2006, but in a slightly larger house. Our friend Helen emigrated to Israel many years ago to start a family there. I am still friends with my friend Jo today.“
Do You Also Have …
… a story of emigration or immigration in your family that you would like to share with the German Emigration Center together with the related objects and documents for its collection? Then please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau by phone at +49 471 / 90 22 0 – 0
or by e-mail at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de