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Giuseppe in America
Because of the poor job opportunities and ruling monarchs in my home in Italy, my husband Giuseppe moved to America and is looking for a job. That way, we will be able to eventually have land out west. Soon after he has found work, he will send for me to join him in our new life. We decided to wait until he found a stable job to support us before I travel overseas. -
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Timespan
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Giuseppe Sends for Me!
I received a letter from Giuseppe today telling me that it is time for me to come to America. He has found a good job at a fabric factory that weaves the fabric together. There is even a job for me! Also, he thinks he has heard of some way that we could move into the Western territory without very much hassle, but was not quite sure yet. In his letter he described how hard of an experience Ellis Island was. I will begin to prepare myself mentally and physically for the trip promptly. -
I Arrive in America!
I have just arrived in America! Although the journey was long and rough, it was so worth it to be in this beautiful land with my Giuseppe. Ellis Island was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. A family in front of me from Poland was denied passage, I was so nervous! I am working at the fabric factory as well, but I am not sure how long that will last. My fingers are red and raw and I don't think my boss likes me. -
The Dawes Act
The Dawes Act has just been passed. It has enabled Native Americans to acquire anywhere from 40-80 acres of land to become farmers. I don’t know how this is going to impact our dream of going west. I am not sure how the Dawes Act will sit with the Indians. I’m really worried there is not going to be enough room for everyone out west… -
New Friend, New Job!
There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that I lost my job at the fabric weaving factory because I was not working quickly enough. But, I got a job doing laundry with another Italian woman! Her name is Angelica Murrisini and she married to Georgio Murrisini. Georgio works for the meat packing factory and my husband and he have become friends. The Murrisini’s want to move west as well and they even have a little baby girl named Isabella. -
News of Land for Sale in the West
Giuseppe received a letter from a friend of his from before I arrived in America! His name is Paulo and he travelled West months ago. He alerted us that there are Native American tribes selling the land they obtained from the Dawes Act! Giuseppe and Georgio are looking into buying some land from the Pawnee’s. This land is around Oklahoma. Pawnee’s and Kiowa’s are the tribes currently offering land. -
War in the West
We were preparing to travel west, when we received alarming news from Paulo. Apparently, the Pawnee and Sioux tribes are fighting American troops because they are upset that they were taken off of their land. Giuseppe and Georgio have decided that it is not safe for us to travel and move to a place in so much crisis, especially with little Isabella. -
Discovering Little Italy
I think we have finally found a place where we belong. Angelica and I were walking through the center of the city to find more laundry clients when we smelled the faint aroma of hearty marinara sauce. We hadn’t smelled that scent since we had come to America! As we followed the smell, we came upon a neighborhood full of Italians! After talking to a few of them, we learned they called it “Little Italy”. Little Italy is located in lower Manhattan, New York. -
Settled in Little Italy!
Upon later consideration, we have decided to move to Little Italy! We have been settled in here for about a week and are already meeting so many new people. We live in a tenement, an overcrowded, poorly run apartment building, with Angelica, Georgio, and Isabella. We get to eat Italian food, speak Italian, and practice Roman Catholicism without any judgment. It is wonderful and even though it is in poor condition, I am so glad we have settled here!
