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Discovery of Land and Freedom in America
Dear diary,
My family has decided to move to america. We are in desperate need of money and quick. If when the tax collector returns, if we do not have enough money, we will be homeless. We must choose, a trip to freedom but knowing what lies ahead or fade into poverty here in Greece.
My father has decided. I must go to America, get a job, and send money back home for my family to survive. I am only 14 but, I have to do what i must to help my family. Wish me luck. -
On to America
Dear diary,
I have been staying with my cousins near the port for the past four days. They have given me a pair of shoes for when I arrive at America. I am frightened. Gladly, my cousin Aryan will travel with me. He is so young, only 9 years old. It is my duty to care for him and find him a job. We will board the ship in a couple of hours. Its amazing, in a couple of hours my adventure will finally start. -
Songs of happiness
Dear diary,
Aryan and I have woken up to see a lovely lady before us. I do not know the ladies name but when the others saw her, they started rejoysing and singing songs of freedom and happiness. Aryan and I rejoyse with them because we know now that the lady means liberty. We have finally arrived! After a month and three days of cold, ill infested travel over the harsh ocean, we have finally arrived. The songs of happiness get louder the closer we get to the land. -
The Island
Dear diary,
We have made a stop at an island. I have been conversing with the other women aboard the ship and they say that the lady's name is Liberty and that we are at an island called Ellis. I like the lady's name, it is really sweet and inspirational. I look at Aryan. He has not said a word since the songs quited down. I see him smiling big and wide. He looks so excited but his eyes look worried. Hopefully all goes well. -
Freedom
Dear diary,
It has been three days since we arrived on the island named Ellis. The young men rushed of the boat. Aryan wanted to go with them but I told him that i needed him near. He was so impatient. We got to stand in line for a while. It was worth it. After many tests and words in English. We finally got through. Aryans name was changed to Ryan because the men knew not how to spell it and i do not know how to read or write very well. Aryan was fine with it though. -
Chicago
Dear diary,
It has been around a year since Ryan and I moved to America. We have learned the language and follow most of the culture. We now live with another greek family in New York, they own a bakery and an inn for young greek immgrants. Rayn works at the bakery with Colin, another greek boy. Colin is only a year older than Ryan but he acts young. I work at a factory. I heard that there are better jobs in Chicago. Should I? -
De's family
Dear diary,
De works with me in the factory. I want her to come with me to Chicago, she wants to too but there is one problem. She cannot quit her jo and leave. She needs enough money to move to the west coast and get a house for her famiy. De moved here when she was really young with her father before the Chinese Exclusion Act took place. She used to work in a shop with her father but when she was only eight, her father was shot and killed by a gang. The store owner took her here. she cant go. -
Finally leaving
Dear diary,
I finally have enough money for a train ticket. The train is headed west but makes a stop in Chicago. De is coming too, but she will continue going west to meet her family when they come. Ryan will not come with me but he gave me a pair of shoes. "For when you get there,"he quoted his father, when his father gave me the pair of shoes when i first left. Good bye New York. -
Alec Dellis
Dear diary,
I met this man on the train. His name is Alec Dellis, he is also headed to Chicago and dreams on opening a bakery, He showed me a picture of an "Ideal Bakery"and said that his would be better. He is very nice and funny. And believe it or not, he is my age. Destiny he says, I say its just luck. We talked for a while and i have decided to go with him and start the bakery. With both of our money combined we can make it. Wish me luck -
The little bakery
Dear diary,
We finally did it. Alec and i opened the little bakery we talked about. Chicago was more expensive than we thought, we had to work to gain what we had to pay for taxes but we finally made it. Hopefully we can actually pull this off. -
Gone
Dear diary,
The bakery has been robbed. A gang came in last night and robbed almost all the food and all of the equipment. All the money gone. How will we survive? -
Shot
Dear diary,
We told the police about what happend yesterday. The gang came back... We faught but, they had the advantage. I feel so cold. I can feel life escaping me. A member of the gang shot me and now i am leaving. I am so scared. Wish me luck.
Good bye
