M.H 13 May 1895. My name is Mariette, I'm 16 years old and I'm Greek. We are in 1896 and my country is in famine. To escape poverty, I'm going to America with my family. Today is the first day of our trip. My mother, my father, my two brothers and me start to our country. We installed in the boat early this morning, the sun was not up yet. Dad said it is to get places in the cabin but I know we're too poor for that. The boat started around 8:00 am. We put our bags in a large room with a lot of people and took clothes. I was both excited and very anxious to leave. I was anxious to discover America. 18 May 1895. We are on the boat since 5 days. Mom got sick yesterday. Dad said it does not matter, it will heal quickly but I'm very scared for her. Today I met a girl from my age from Italy, her name is Monica. She talked a lot about Ellis Island and she seemed to know what she said.

CM Tuesday, March 15th1895 Dear diary,My name is Anna and I am 15 years old. I come from Italy.My parents have decided go to the USA because here is too misery and we are too poor. We was not happy in Italy. I hope when we go to the USA we have a better life and more money. I am very angry about this trip because it's two months on a boat for cross the Atlantique. Monday, March 21th 1895 I was on the boat, it was very impressive because I saw a lot of baby crying and people shouting.There were people from differents coutry (Greeks, Poles, Rumanians, Hungarians, Italians...)The last time I lost my teddy because a women have to push me, i'm very sad...We are 5 for room an we are to squeeze together. I'm anxious about this trip. Wednesday, March 30th 1895 I have a new friend, she is Maria and she is Italian, i'am very happy because we have very good time together, we made jokes to people, it was very funny ! The atmosphere on the boat was better has the beginning. Friday, May 23th 1895 I am arrived at Ellis Island, the first thing that I saw it was the statue of liberty. I found this very beautiful. I was very happy to be in Ellis Island because this trip was very long and tiring. Now we go to the medical inspection for to be examine by the medical inspector. I hope that my

family or me have not desease because I don't want go back to Italy.

L.G 23 may 1915 Dear diary, 5 years ago already that I'm in New york. It was on 14 may 1909 when I leave behind my house, my work and my dear Italy. In my case there was nothing very important, clothing, the little money that I had get and the photo of my mother in my wallet. I was very stressful to the idea of leaving, but on reaching the meeting point, there were plenty of people like me who did not know where to go. I think it was about six o'clock in the morning when we got into the boat, there was not much room but each had its own little corner. During the 5 days we spent in the boat, I felt terribly alone and lost. There was not much food either, but with the fear I felt I was not necessarily hungry. At odds of me there was a family with three young children making noise, it bothered me a little but mostly it was making me laugh. On 19 may 1909 We Were finally arrived at Ellis Island, the harbor was filled with people of different nationalities, the officers shouted very loudly and told us to lay our online. The lines DURING houres and fear has increased every time we were advancing. At the end of the tail is called the doctor examined me and gave me that I awaited my results. The results were good, I could finally move to America. I felt very happy and very proud of both. A new life was begun! L.G

The 12th march 1901. Dear diary, My name is Li, I was 15 years old when I left my country with my parents.My parents decided to go to America because it was become difficult to find a job.So, I prepared a little bag with my clothes and my favorites objects. My parents prepared their bag too ,and they took their money , and we left us house... for ever, it was not easy.A lot of people left their house to build a new life.It was a night and very cold when we arrived to the port where the boat took us to go to America.I remember, this day I was scared, extremely scared! I think my parents too, but they did not show it for me.After a very long moment, we got into the boat . The time was very long and we had not leave

the country yet. The 20th march 1901. Dear diary, This day, we arrived, I remember I was lost because I did not what time was it ,and the night was horrible. I not slept.We were at Ellis Island, there were thousand of people, I thought Italians and Poles...All people were inspected by a officer, it was bad, we were examined with a button hook!I was shocked and I still am.We were not animals!My parents and me had not a contagious diseases, but the person who had a contagious diseaseshad to go away back home with a member of the family.After the medical inspection, We passed a legal inspection. The inspector asked me a lot ofquestions: what is your name? How old are you? Etc...They changed my name, now I had a american name: Smith it is a tipical name in America.Now, I am a American citizen.It was a special experience, I remember it all my life.L.L

E.F Diary of an immigrant

Hello. My name is Emelina. I live in New York. But before I arrived here, i made a very very long trip. Let me tell you my incredible experience that has changed my life.

20th April 1910 I woke up very early. I was very anxious. That day I was leaving my country, Italy. Why? Because it was impossible to live here... There were no jobs, no founds, no happiness... People said at me that a better life was possible in America.. I decided to try to go there.. Left my family, my friend, my dog, my house was so hard... In my suitcase, I took some clothes, photos, and a jewel luck..I went to the harbor. There were many people, who waiting to take the boat. It was sunny, and not very cold... I looked at my family a last time, and I got to the boat. I gave twenty fives dollars to an inspector. Then I would sit in a booth. A young lady was sitting in an other bed: “Hey, what's your name?” I said at her. She didn't answer to me.. From now on I was alone, more alone than ever...20th Mai 1910

The trip was very very long. One month, in which i hoped that all my family and friend were fine, and hoped that in America were more money...A tuesday, we arrived in an Island. Ellis Island. When i left the boat, i said at me : “oh god, thank you i'm not dead” Because it was the first time that i took this transport, and i was scared!Then, there was two inspection: first of all a medical inspection. They looked if i have had some diseases. I had nothing. Then a legal inspection. They asked me questions about culture, if i could read etc.. In Italy, i went to school so I knew a lot for a eighteen year old girl.And finally I saw an very grand statue.. A man said at all us, the immigrants: “it's the statue of liberty! We are in America!!!” We were so happy.

M.WHello, I'm Will Parks and I was an immigrant.

I said goodbye and I felt sad because my father, my mother and my brother were also sad. I left my country at 6:00pm with a boat in March 1912. I've lot of suitcases so a man helped me because I met lot of people in this boat. I did know if it was a good idea but I dreamt of a better life. I wanted the American Dream. In the boat, I was in 178 bedroom with a man, he called : “John Smith”, He was a good and generous man so I felt little better with him. I crossed the atlantique in 10 days with him. It was long, especially without my family...

When we disembarked in Ellis Island, lot of agents of security controlled our landing. After we went in a big house with lot of doctors, they inspected me and and the others, if we were not clean, we could not pass at the legal inspection and we sent back to homeland.

TakafoRolande2nde8 Dear diary1 janvier 1890 I decided to tell you the causes of my immigration to usa: departure, arrival at Ellis Island, during the trip to the USA, and consequences.I left my country after the failure of revolutionary movements of 1848 , I had no money and was looking for this work, tuberculosis was threatening the Italian . The day I left, I should throw all the clothes I wore torn again and wear clean clothes that I had bought . 11 Avril 1899

I did not put much in my bag except the book my mother gave me when I was 18 years oldwhen we took the boat I'm stressed, in the boat, there were people who did not know where he came from. they knew no they were all Italians in the boat. there were women with their children, old, young and many illiterate more everyone talked about in the boat, the night I slept in dormitories with bunk beds the trips lasted a month. 4 Avril 1910 When we arrived in the usa we have been transported on the Ellis Island to pass test . during the test we asked questions very easy but for those who never went to school it was hard , Then those who failed were returned to the country of origin because the U.S.A said they did not want the population is victim of foreigners Bétête, September 1912 After the test they took us money and they gave us little work anything jobs and at the end of the month we were given some money . In USA we were stigmatized by the U.S.A population and it was hard to intergrer because the greater part of us wanted to stay in neighborhoods where there are italians example: the little italyDecembre 1914 my wish was to work then go home but because of World War I remained in usa and I'mback again , what impressed me was the status of freedom and the district mahnatanI forgot others something so when i though that , we through Athlantique i believed that i was doomed to dieI had anxious, stressful but the courageous was in me because I was hoping for a better life for my family to Italy but tha Ameracas was very hard whith us we was as the animal.The inspection legal was humiliating they were examined by button hook

Hello my diary.

I'm 25 years-old. I go from USA to become rich: it's my dream. I felt a little woozy to leave my country. I took in my suitcase just few cases.

I went to England in 1895, I traveled for 4 months, in boat, for go to Ellis Island. Ellis

Island is a hell... The people of immigrants is crowded in one bedroom. After months of travel,

I was exhausted. Maybe, it's for test our commitment... The inspection was very stressful and hard. In

the legal insepction, a many immigrants returned in their country. I was not sure of the test. In finish I could go to New-York. I'm very happy, I go to my family Home. Indeed, my brother went to New-York in 1989. He will be happy. T.F

Monday 14th September 1891

Dear DiaryMy name is Angela Belluccino I am 14 years old and I am a italian. My parents are Sylvia and Leonardo. I have a little brother his name is Vincenzo. Today I write to you because I'm very anxious because tomorow we are going to Ellis Island in boat. My grand father is seek so he can't go with us, I am so sad... This trip is very dangerous my mother is scared too. I prepared my bag I set my favorite book and some clothes and I help my mother for prepared bag's brother. My father say « we will have more money » and I hope too because ihr it is the crisis. Tuesday 15th September 1891

Dear Diary We were in the boat there were a lot of people so it is very hot ! There were children, baby, parents, grands parents. I thought of my grand father. I was very tired but I couldn't sleep because there are too much noise. Vincenzo cried a lot. Monday 22th October 1891

Dear Diary Today the doctors came in the boat for a medical inspection. They were inspected my eyes... We were good health so could go in America and I was excited to see the statue of Liberty it was my dream.S.M

Dear Diary We are July 21, 1917The economic situation of my country is critical, so I want to leave. I live in Britain and it has been constantly war for three years now. We are right in the Russian revolution, The population is in distress, I'm in distress! There are people dying every day and serious wounded. It is the deadliest war that I know and I don't want to suffer the consequences. I hope this will end soon, I can no longer live in the conditions there. I must go, I leave to

country, as I walk away from here as soon as possible.Anais Lemay We are September 12, 1917.Now I live in New York. I realized my dream, I left, I fled the war.But before arriving there, I made a very very long trip that was stressful, scary and terrible.Let me tell you ... We were on August 17, it was time to leave, I had boarded the boat. I hadn't taken much in my suitcase because I had to travel light. I took with me some clothes and some souvenirs like the photo of my parents and my family. I thought that I could buy everything there, I have money I don't care. It was the start I was there and I could not believe it because it was insane. I was extremely nervous and scared. I didn't really know what I did all I knew was that I had to leave to avoid being killed. I got on the boat and there was an impressive number of people, everyone nudged.We were on August 31, It was hard to make room and everyone wanted to flee. There was a line because we had been through several inspections as medical inspection. It was terrible, we feel like animals, they mistreat us. I almost regretted not having remained at home, but in those moments I thought back to life better than I have when I arrived. There were children crying, it made me pity. We traveled for over a month and inspections succeeded. The conditions were horrible in the boat.We were on September 6, We arrived at Ellis Island. I yelled "I see the Statue of Liberty" . I was euphoric.The weather was beautiful, the sun shone it was great, I feel like a new world. I was accepted in the U.S., I had succeeded all the tests successfully, while some had to return home it must have been terrifying. Now we had to put in the neighborhoods of New York, special immigrants. I thought it was completely unfair. Why were we don't like the others? Nothing differentiated us. Anyway I managed and I was proud of my trip even if it was not easy every day .I had to find work was the most difficult because the Americans are very welcoming. But I could start a new life with new people, new culture, new scenery, new horizons, and yes new dreams. A.L