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Immigration Timeline of Ping Wang
Timeline of Ping Wang -
Introduction
It was just another day to rest, I thought. After all, harvest season was over, and the winter chills were coming. I walked to the town and people were crowding around the advertisement board. In curiosity, I joined them to read the posters. I pushed and shoved and finally saw a golden poster. On it, it read, Gold in America.With the poverty, political unrest, drought, and poverty, the country was going downhill. In America, there was gold, freedom, adventure, jobs, and riches!I left to America. -
Arrival at Angel Island
I have finally crossed the Pacific Ocean from China to America. To get through all the exams and questionnaires was the final step to America. I was asked and examined continuously during the process. They had thrown questions after questions and all I thought was, would I make it? There were many horror stories of how many families often stayed for weeks. After long days, I had passed and they let on a boat to San Francisco. -
No More Gold!
The week had gone by in a flash. From China to America was a huge change. The only things I brought were china, spices, and my clothes. As I thought about the trip, I realized I needed to find gold! I walked to China Town and asked the people around. They argued and left saying the rush had ended. There was no gold left. The Gold Rush ended in 1855. America was in the process of urbanization and becoming, a melting pot. -
Selling My Belonings
Getting a job was amazingly hard. Everywhere I went, I was turned down. Even the worse jobs were taken. The only option I had left was sell my possessions or be left on the streets. I had been living in the tendements of the town. My place had horrible and dangerous living conditions. I went to the market and sold all my china, silverware, and spices I had left. I had a wad of cash by the end of the day but no items left. News spread out about free land in the west. It would be my final resort. -
Reasons for Moving West
The free new land had been opened to all in the West. With free land, farms, towns, and houses would be built. The land I would have would produce rice and spices. I could sell my products and make a living. Poverty would be clear out of my mind, and I would have a good life. I could have a life of adventure. -
Building the Railroads
The Chinese Expulsion Act of 1882 made discrimination worse. I had looked for a job for a year now. Jobs were even harder to come by now and I would have to rejected one after another. Moving to the West, I found a job building railroads. Finally, I thought. I worked long hours and made very little. After months, I had saved enough for equipment to farm. The life I had dreamed of was one step closer. -
Building a Farm
It was a new year. It had been two years since my arrival. I had finally started my journey to build a farm. Already in the West, they gave out free land in California. I ran to the huge stand post and met the land owners. They freely gave the land and a permit. My golly, I thought. Giving land without checking a thing! I would be building my farm and planting my crops in no time. -
Harvesting My Crops
The feeling of harvesting my crops after a long year was like a kid opening his toys on a Christmas Morning. I was just overjoyed! My crops had grown beautifully and I couldn't be more pleased. With all these crops I could make enough to keep my farm and I for another five years. In delight, I continue harvesting the rest of my crops -
Succesful Immigration!
Year after year, my crops have prospered. They have grown bigger and larger every year. There have been no droughts and most of the people were out of poverty. It was a great decision moving west I determined. The immigration of Europeans, Chinese, and Mexicans had slowed down. Towns became cities, and new technology had been made. The West had been an amazing experience and growing and selling my crops had brought me my daily bread. It’s amazing what the West had done for me.
