On Monday morning at 8:45 I walked in the class and Jake and Deborah, who are our teachers, were pretending to be captains of a boat headed to America. They told us to come into the class. I was astonished because they led me into second class. They said that the class is on a ship.  It was ok because my friends Jett and Grace got first class and they got unlimited food. Then the captains said, “Here you can have some pieces of the food.” It wasn’t fair so me and my friend Dennis decided to sneak into first class. We were trying to be in 1908. What we did was so cool and awesome and fabulous.

By Myles Greene

Before we got on SS Oceania boat, I tried not to eat all my food. My stomach was rumbling. All the rumbling went away when I heard the boat coming to the shore. My Uncle and I ate my grandma’s bread, it felt like I was home.  My Uncle and I ran as fast as we could to the boat. I could see the future ahead. I knew I was going to make it… and I did. The boat took off and I stood tall and I made it.     

By Sofia Ulrich

I was on the boat. I was tired and bored. I hated being on this boat. There was nothing to do, then out of nowhere the boat went into a harbor. I think this is America! I walk down the stairs down to steerage and I tell my mom and dad the news. We walk up the stairs and see a statue.  Then all of a sudden everyone starts running up the stairs from steerage. All the immigrants went up to the top deck! Now the deck is even more crowded than steerage!!!! People are lifting their babies in the air – I’m like what the heck? Why are you lifting your babies in the air? I would never do that in a million years!

By Alfredo Marcellino

I saw it! I saw it! I saw the Statue of Liberty! She looks so beautiful with the seven spikes on her crown. She looks so alive. I love her green skin. I love her high crown! I love her! She means so much to me. To me she means hope. To me she means happiness. To me she means justice. To me she means love. To me she means a new life. I left my country because of a famine and all my parents potato plants died so we were forced to move. So that’s why the Statue of Liberty means hope to me.    

By Verity Berthelsen

I Emma Russo was on the ferry, bored as can be, tired, hungry enough to eat a house, but then I saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time in my entire life. She was beautiful. She stood there with her torch held high, her crown on her head, and her tablet in her hand. Me, my family, and all the other immigrants were on the deck looking at her and at the beautiful harbor shimmering in the sunlight. We felt hope and worries. We felt worried because we might not make it into the country and we might get split up. We felt hope because if we made it into the country we would have a better and a more successful life. Thankfully we made it into the country and we will have a better life!

By Cassidy Moskowitz

I stood there, staring. Staring at what will determine my fate, my future, my freedom. I can’t be sent back, if I am, I won’t live long. I won’t see my father ever again. It is close to Manhattan where I am planning to stay with my father. After going through the ocean I feel sick. The structure is big, but not as big as my home mountains. Compared to my mountain if there was 20 of that building it can fit into my mountain.  The structure is on Ellis Island where I will be inspected to see if I can live in the new world. But it is pretty, very pretty. I see people waiting at the doors as the boat gets closer. It is so unfair, why does the first class get to get off? Why do we have to go through inspection? Now we are so close I am getting more tense by the second. I am so nervous my hands have gone numb. Just then we arrive.  

By Rubie Goldner

As the S.S. MS. Oceania approached Ellis Island, the passengers  saw a massive building on the right, and on the left I saw a smaller but still a big building. I was wondering if immigrants constructed these marvelous buildings. I was amazed that these structures could hold all the immigrants streaming through the doors like a predator after prey. I felt a lot like the prey. Off to the right there were a lot of small buildings where immigrants stayed if they were going to be deported. Off to the left was a two story building. The first floor was the medical exams, the second floor was the Great Hall where immigrants would either be allowed in the country or deported back to where they came from.

By Elijah Berman Floyd

When I got off the boat the inspectors were very rough. They were shouting and pushing us into the Great Hall. They were trying to open my eye with a buttonhook. I was filled with anxiety. Then we had to go up and down the stairs for the physical test. For the legal test the inspector asked us questions. He asked me “Your name…” I froze he asked again,  “I said your name.” This time I was ready to answer. Very meekly I said “My name is Lemar Gagnon.” After that he started asking me very boring questions like: What is your place of birth? Where you are coming from? Where you are going? And other such questions. After I found out I passed I was so relieved and that is how it has gone on so far and I hope it gets better.

By Madiba Johnson

The inspector was very nice and I was very scared because I thought I was going to be sent back to Italy. He just asked me my name and I said “Leonardo.”  He did not hear me, he said “You got five seconds to say your name or you will be sent back!!!” So I yelled my name and everybody stared at me. Then I had to state  my occupation and I said in a strong voice “blacksmith.”  Then I had to say where I was from so I said Italy but I coughed on some smoke the inspector was blowing out of his long cigar. Now I was on my way to the Lower East Side in New York City. I was looking forward to going to my uncle’s house where I would get lots of food.   

By Jett DeMattia

My name is Jacqueline Levesque and I arrived at Ellis Island from France. The first thing I did was get in the medical line. Legs wobbling, eyes looking like a pitbull was about to attack and teeth shredding.  I was very frightened that I would have a disease in my eye. The doctor had a button hook in his hand. I was first up. I started to back away from the doctor and let people go ahead of me. An immigrant stepped up and was the first one in the line to have his eyelid lifted up. It looked terrifying to have it lifted! I grabbed all the courage I could and stepped forward after a couple people went. It was my turn again. I hesitated a bit. Then I thought to myself, I need to get this exam. I need to. The doctor lifted up my eyelid. “You’re good, no trachoma” the doctor said to me. I had passed!!! Oh the joy of passing and knowing I might be an American soon! My father Ernest would be so proud of me! Only a few more passes until my new fresh life! “If there are more exams I am ready,” I say to my friends next to me. Their names were Mable Tupper, Anna Jordan, Anna Morozov, Emma Russo, and Anastaiya Morozov.  

By Ella Lille Yerington

My name is Anastaiya Morozov. I am from Russia. I had to take a medical exam. The most painful and scary part was the buttonhook the inspectors used to lift my eyelid.  They were checking to see if it was clean and didn’t have any diseases. I waited and with a blink of an eye it was my turn. I swallowed a gulp and the inspectors wrinkled hand picked up the button hook. Just looking at the sharp point sent chills up my spine. My legs wobbled and sweat dripped down my forehead. The inspector leaned in closer and the tip of the hook barely touched my eye lid. He leaned in a bit closer and up my eyelid went. The inside of me was screaming in pain while the outside of me remained calm. I heard the inspector say “The eyelid is clean and she’s doesn’t have trachoma.” I wiped sweat off my forehead in relief as I moved to the next exam with my eye feeling sore.

By Tess Taetle

I just got off the boat and I could barely walk. Me and my family were ready to get into America. We were very hopeful. We got into the huge brown building. It had enormous glass square windows with little X’s in each one. It reminded me of the big police station back in Ireland. I begin to miss Ireland. But I know America will be better. We see many inspectors telling us where to go. I understand most of what they’re saying. All of a sudden we were pushed into the stairs and yelled at to go up them. I started to shake and worry. As I put my first foot forward it wobbled. My brothers were already up the stairs heading into the Great Hall. I felt my heart stop for a second as I heard crying of a mother who had to be sent back. I wanted to cry. I didn’t, I couldn’t! I wanted to stay in America. I heard my mother ask me to walk a little faster, firmly. I sure didn’t want to. I felt  too many emotions at the same time. But I managed to race up the stairs with great pain and sadness. As it was time for the worst part. The legal exams. Mabel Tupper, Ireland, Arrived in 1908, age 8.

By Kate Deming

Wow! Look at how big the Great Hall is! This building is very pretty. It is decorated with plants in little pots and an American flag that looks like it is sparkling and shimmering from the light. The light is beaming down through the many windows and everything is glistening and bright. There are rows and rows of metal beams that are filled with loads of people. “I think we are going to be here a while,” I said to Mama. It is very loud in here and everything echoes. It sounds like there are one thousand screaming people in a cave. I can hear many different languages. I am clutching tight to Mama’s arm. I am scared, and nervous, and happy, and excited, and I don’t know what to do and I don’t know what to say.

By Shoshi Fine

When I got to the Great HalI I heard what felt like thousands of different languages.
I looked around the Great Hall. There were huge poles throughout the sides, giant bars separating rows and thousands of immigrants. I could hear the inspectors shouting and I could feel myself shaking as I got swept up by a sea of immigrants and I lost sight of the beautiful hall because I was surrounded and trampled by immigrants. I could finally see the hall again and it looked even more crowded than before. Every second I felt more overwhelmed as I took a big step and I was in line. A line to the rest of my life.

By Violet Zimmerman Wexler

I was asked to follow this large inspector to a room with a puzzle. At the time, I thought he was leading me to a way out of Ellis Island. Turns out I was being taken to do another medical test. The puzzle was a bit confusing and I only had 3 minutes to finish. At first, I started just randomly putting the puzzle together and then I got the hang of the puzzle. The puzzle was very complicated. I had to put wooden triangle blocks into the outline of a square. It took me about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.  I finished the puzzle with 30 seconds to spare. Then the large and scary inspector told me that as long as he saw me thinking about the puzzle and trying to put the puzzle together, I would pass the test. I passed the test! I am really looking forward to my life in America. I wish that my entire family could be here in America with me.

By Dennis Steel

My name is Jordan Gagon and this is my story. It was time for the legal check. I was so scared but happy that if I passed I could go to America. I barely passed the test because I was so nervous. The inspector was so tall that he could not see me. I stood on my tip toes and then he saw me. When I was doing the legal test he did not hear me the first time because I was mumbling with fear, so I had to redo the test. Finally I passed the test.

By Beckett Fox

“Anna Jonson,” echoed the voice of the inspector. I wobbled to him. I went too close. “WHAT’S YOUR NAME MISSY!” yelled the inspector. I jumped. “Anna,” I said quickly. “ANNA?” he yelled, “Anna?” he said slightly softer. “Anna,”I said weakly. “How ‘bout your last name,” he roared. I hesitated. I opened my mouth then closed it again. “Who’s picking you up?!” he roared in a slightly louder voice. I hesitated. And hesitated. “You need a man to pick you up,” he said moving his head closer to mine. I sat back down. I did not pass the legal exam. -Fail the legal exam √

By Ren Kirchmann

I was so scared my stomach hurt. I was thinking “What if I didn’t pass!” The inspectors just checked my exams and I passed!

I got a landing card. A landing card is a card that tells the inspectors I passed and I can go to America.I traded my Lira for American Money. I walked up to the Staircase of Separation. The Staircase of Separation is a staircase that has three sides to it. The middle means Hospital (if you had a disease). The left took you to a boat that took you to Manhattan. The right side took you to a train station that took you anywhere in America. I chose the right side that took me to a train to Los Angeles. I chose that staircase and place because my cousins Anna and Anastaiya are going there and we are traveling together. I think I will have fun there.

By Grace Macgillivray

Isaak: “When we got to America, my grandma discovered laundry detergent and washing machines. ‘What am I going to do?’ she asked. ‘Grandma, just enjoy it!’”

November 5, 2015

Dear Isaak,

Thank you so much for visiting us today. I learned so much about you and where you came from. My favorite part was when you told us the story about your grandmother and how she packed the soap. I liked that story because it was funny and it taught me more about being an immigrant and how it was hard to decide what to pack and what not to pack.

One thing I found interesting about you is that of all the job opportunities, you chose to be a driving instructor. But you explained that you like to help people and that is helping people. Another thing that I thought was interesting about you was when you told us about your favorite foods. I thought for sure that some of your favorite foods were from America, but I was wrong.

Sincerely,

Verity
_______________________________________________
Dear Isaak,

Thank you for coming in to the class to share your story with us. I liked the part when you talked about the soap problem because it was so funny to hear about it. I liked how your parents were so nice to you and gave you a better life because some kids don’t get that life. It is cool that you were traveling for two months to get to the U.S. because it is such a long way and you still did it.

It was cool to learn about how you did not know English and then came here and in a few months learned it. I am wondering if you ever see people from the Soviet Union around. I also wonder how long you have been a driving teacher.

Sincerely,
Beckett

Last week, fourth graders had the opportunity to meet people who have immigrated to the United States. On Tuesday, Wilson Suero visited our class. Students reflected on his visit by writing news articles. Below, please find two examples written by Shoshi and Tess. Then on Thursday, Maria visited us and shared her story. Again students processed her story by writing about it, this time in the form of thank you letters. We share with you letters from Madiba and Rubie. We are looking forward to meeting more people who have moved to the United States from other countries as we continue to build our understanding of the world, the country, and the city we live in.

Where’s Wilson?

By: Shoshi Fine

Wilson Suero is an immigrant from Dominican Republic who bravely came to America in the year 2000 by a plane to the wonderful land of New York for better job opportunities.

Wilson used to play in a waterfall in Dominican Republic. He would jump off the top of the waterfall and plunge in. The top of the waterfall was 7-8 feet high in the air. “Were you scared of the waterfall?” said an LREI student. “It was very deep and there were some small water snakes so I was a little scared,” replied Wilson.

Wilson worked at the waterfall when he was around 12 years old and some tourists would tip him to jump off the top of the waterfall. Wilson enjoyed jumping off the waterfall and really liked getting paid to do what he liked doing. “Did you play in the waterfall?” asked a LREI student. “Yes a lot, all the time. I rode down it and I would go to the top and jump off it. I worked there and I would get paid to ride down it,” Wilson replied.

Wilson was shy and wouldn’t look at Americans when he first came to America, but Wilson has now learned how nice America really is.

His first job was at a restaurant cleaning tables then at Little Red, then Elisabeth Irwin, and lastly, where he is now, Little Red.

“Why didn’t all of your family move to New York City?” asked another student.“ I was raised by my aunt,” Wilson explained. “My aunt took me as her own. It’s because of her that I was able to move to NYC.”

Of course Wilson loves and misses his family but he loves his life in America and doesn’t regret moving at all.

Adventures In America
By: Tess Taetle

“I miss my family, but it is nice here in New York,” said Wilson Suero, October 26, 2016, when he was interviewed by the fourth grade at LREI in New York City. Wilson immigrated from Dominican Republic to New York City on February 3rd 2000. Wilson took a plane to get to America. He was 22 years old when he came to America.

Wilson came to America for job opportunities and to get money for his family. Wilson said that his first job was waiting tables, then he did construction work, then he worked at LREI in the kitchen through a friend. “I found my current job working in the maintenance department.” Wilson said that he loves everything about New York City. He loves Queens. That is where he met his wife. He also loves sports and soccer. He loves the team Barcelona.

Wilson came from the Dominican Republic and misses his whole family, including his mother and brothers and Aunt. Wilson was raised by his aunt, who took him in as her own. It was because of Wilson’s aunt that he was able to come to New York. His aunt gave Wilson the chance to live a better life. He also has seven siblings and two children in Romana.

Wilson moved to New York for job opportunities and to earn money for his family back home. There are a lot of job opportunities for people in New York who are Hispanic and bilingual, according to Wilson. He has learned English little by little. When the fourth grade asked if he regretted moving he said, “No, not at all.” He said, “I had the opportunity to come and would have done it at an earlier age.” He said he “remains polite” even though he doesn’t know what most people are saying. He was told to be shy and not look people in the eye.

Wilson traveled to the United States by plane. It took a few hours. He came to the United States with his stepdad and brother. He likes to visit now whenever he has a break. “I take every chance to go back,” Wilson said. He misses the Dominican Republic because he grew up there. He also lost his father at a young age when he lived there. He grew up in the countryside and he said his misses the green areas and he loves the animals there.

October 29, 2015

Dear Maria Weiss,

Thank you for coming to our classroom. I can see you are a very active and energetic person and you always have something to say. We all enjoyed your visit and the arepas you brought were delicious.

We understand you had a bit of adjusting to do when you came to New York, like learning a new language and hearing the sound of the loud and sometimes obnoxious people. I am sorry that you had the terrifying experience of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. I love that you like to go to Central Park, that’s my favorite park too!

I learned it has also been hard for you in Colombia too with all the wars. I am still wondering how old were you when you first started learning English and how old were you when you started not liking it?

Hope you get this,

Madiba

Dear Maria,

Thank you for visiting. I learned so much about how in Colombia you have one of the biggest rainforests, I’ve also learned people are burning down the rainforest and I’ve learned that there’s a boulder the size of the Empire State Building!

My favorite parts were when we got to eat the arepas, another one of my favorite parts was when you told us about your first slice of pizza experience, and when you shared your worst year in N.Y.C.

These are some other things I enjoyed:

When you told us about in Colombia you learned English but you didn’t like to speak it because it was hard for you to pronounce the words,

When you told us N.Y.C was different than you thought it was going to be,

When you told us they didn’t have a halloween parade when you first moved to New York City,

When you told us your father said take a break from college and go to the US to learn more English,

When you told us in the 1980s there were a lot of people going against government in Colombia and they started fighting the government. Then they made their own military, so it was bad for the country,

When you told us your sister was a fashion designer and she gave you a job when you first got to the US and you made $100 a week,

and

How you have two children, Shayna and Jose Luis.

Thank you for coming!

Sincerely,
Rubie