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Birth
The air was pierced by a ferocious scream, the pain that Shuantomoa Pow was experiencing was worse than anything she ever thought to be possible. Ming Pow came into the world. China has just gotten another child. -
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Immigration-Hershey,Julia
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Boarding the Ship
Boarding the ship was exciting, yet also scary beyond anyone's imagination. Crowded rooms and decks were our only friends as we journied to the U.S. I was never so happy as I was at this point in my life. Hopefully, we would be getting a whole new life. -
Ellis Island
After 36 days of sea, Ming Pow and her father are finally in America. They are waiting in Ellis Island for their health check, and for the permission to enter their new life. The line is several hundred people long. Hopefully, they won't have to stay for too long. -
Waiting
The line is taking forever, we had to stay in the building for three days so far even though the ship that came in after us went through all ready. They basically just give us a check up to make sure that we are healthy. I don't know why they didn't allow us to go through yet, maybe papa's sicker than I thought. -
Free
Papa is finally better, and we were accepted into America. His strength is not completely back, but he is well enough to work. A man came up to us telling us to vote for him while we were in the country, he was very nice and he gave us a place to stay, and a job. Father works in a factory in New York. I work with him. -
Daily life
We live with two other families in a little house, I work at the sewing factory with a mother from our house, I collect scraps and toss them in the trash can and sweep the floors. I don't get paid much, and I don't like doing it, but my father is so proud of me. I fear for father, he never regained his full strength. -
Alone
Father kept getting sicker, and sicker. He had to stop working, and died soon afterwards. I still live in the same house that we lived in, but now I am all alone. Even though I am older now, I am still poor in spirit. -
Working
It has been years since father has passed. I am now working as a sewer in the factory instead of the little helper that I was when I was a child. I am seeing a man named Toshima Shuang, he works on the skyscrapers in New York, a dangerous job. He and I want to build our life together. -
Married
We got married today, and we hope to start a family. Both of his parents are gone, and it is hard to find a job now, a lot of people don't want to hire me because of my race. I hope that they will realize that in spirit we are no different than they are. We really need the money, especially if we are going to start a family. -
Children
I am expecting my third child. Our house isn't one that I would want to welcome him in, but we can afford nothing else. I found a job working in a second sewing factory, it's all I know how to do I guess. I am glad for the work, though I am away from my children for most of the day. Soon the oldest will start working too. -
Nearing the end
Outside the leaves fall gently, the warm weather is coming, and I am glad. The sickness, the same one that my father had has come into my body as well. My boys are sadened by this, but I feel complete. I came as an immigrant, and went away as a normal person living in America, and that makes me proud.
