Thank you so much for your support, useful pieces of
advice and sorry for not writing for so long. How are you and your family? Hope
everything is going well. Since my family and I have immigrated to the USA a lot of things have changed. I’ve got so
much to tell you!
To begin with, it was 1916 when my family began to plan that long journey overseas. We had no desire to leave our native land. However, we decided to flee the war and seek refuge in the
USA in order not to be uprooted from Budapest.
In advance of our departure we made
some travel arrangements. For
example: we packed in our luggage some
cloth, shoes and food, bought tickets on the steamship, etc. The next day our
family was on the board. We showed
our passports, skipper stamped them, and we set
off.
When you told me about your unique experience of immigrating, you mentioned that it was important to be very careful
with whatever we brought. That’s why,
we didn’t chill out and kept a close
watch on our luggage. Before our arrival
we passed through health and legal inspections at Ellis Island.
We visited a
series of inspectors. However, the most strange and terrifying for me was an
“eye man” who turned up my eyelids. My parents told me later that he did it only to ensure that eyes were
healthy. Finally, after 2 weeks of tiring
voyage we docked in New York.
When I disembarked from the
steamship, I saw that the port was not off
the beaten track. Mind you, there was a stunning view of vibrant
city from the quay.
Nowadays my family and I live in tenement apartment building in
the Lower East Side.
Frankly speaking, I thought that for the first time we
would be stranded because there
would be prejudice against our ethnic minority and it would be
difficult to find a job. As it happened,
it was only stereotypical myth. At first, my parents and I were
working in the clothing factory, while my 2 younger brothers were working as newsies.
Today, our daily life is the
same as in your family. We have our own workshop and sew ornamental
cloth. We also do our bit at home.
For instance: when my mom and I do the laundry and cook, my father with my
brothers get the coal, sweep and mop. Probably, you remember our flat. Nothing
has changed and there are still bedroom, parlour, and kitchen. We also put
aside some money and bought a stove. If to talk about pastime, I can’t say that
I often laze around. However, if I
have free time I like to go for a wander
in the open air. I also bear in mind the first time when you showed me the Nickelodeon
and we watched a movie with Charlie Chaplin. I still go there with my brothers once or twice in a month. Of course,
sometimes I have nostalgia for my
native country but I’ve already got
accustomed to my new life.
Well, that’s all for now. Please write back and tell
me all your news. I hope we’ll get in touch as quick as possible. Take care!
All the best
Yours,
Frederika
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