Looking at the old letters from Immigrants, at the Ellis Island, it felt that the world hasn’t really changed after all.
The immigrants came from Europe, a place that was saturated at the time. They were looking for a new world, where they could start afresh, a place that would not have the same prejudices or same hardships and where they could be whatever they wanted to be. Those letters they wrote to their loved ones that they are doing good in this new world and wanted them to come over as well. Some faced persecutions in their home country and wanted to preserve their cultural and religious views. America welcomed them with open arms. In that dark night when they saw that torch of statue of liberty shining brightly, it was a light of hope for them. Their eyes filled with tears, for they have made their long and hard journey of seven weeks through the Atlantic Ocean and are finally ready to enter the land that was about to change their lives. But the question remained…will this new world accept them? Mr. Aleksander escaped Poland due to the ongoing political turmoil in his country. Crossing the Atlantic in the winter of 1906 was difficult for him, even more so for his wife and his 3-year-old daughter who could barely understand where her parents were taking her. The beaming torch of liberty, the dim lights and rising steam from the land behind made them curious about the world they were about to enter. They wanted to experience the life that their brother had written to them about from this place.
The transit through Ellis Island was not easy. 5 hours of wait in the registry room was suffocating. It was a huge hall with high ceiling on the first floor where immigrants were processed. The white tiles on the ceiling had turned black due to soot from the fireplace. The hall was cold, but the enthusiasm of people had generated enough warmth to keep the place buzzing. After their names were written down and passports stamped, they were sent to the hospital on the island for medical checkup. Mrs. Gisela had come from Germany to join her daughter and son-in-law in Ohio after her husband expired. All she had were few pictures of them and a suitcase of belongings. What she had misplaced though was her old, tattered passport that she thought was in her reticule. She explained her situation to the immigration officer who gave a long glance to her through his rounded glasses and then gave her a piece of paper with her information. This would become her identity in this new land.
The hospital was much different from what anybody had seen in Europe. The wars had shattered the medical system back home and clean beds and washed linens seemed like a luxury. Candle chandeliers lit the place well and nurses were plenty. There was no shortage of medical equipment. Everyone was given a quick visual exam and their blood was drawn. The staff was friendly and almost everyone was cleared, except a few who suffered from high fever and cough and were kept under observation in a separate room. Aiden, a young man from Ireland in his twenties, had developed cholera due to his constant exposure to sea water while working in the collier of the steamer that carried him. He had volunteered to replace his fellow man who broke his arm earlier that week. Despite the treatment given to him at the hospital, he died later that night and his body, with others who had died was sent to Hart Island for burial.
Due to being the major port of entry during that time, several immigrants made New York their home. The street was filled with people of different cultures, religious beliefs, nationalities living together and enriching culture of the city. Some would make their journey onwards to different states where job opportunities were abundant. Communities would develop, places of worship would be set up and new businesses would flourish over many years to come.
Today, immigration has transformed but the emotions remain same, looking for a new world for new life, new opportunities, and a place where people can just be themselves without fear. They send messages home about new their new life and want their family members to experience the same. The keep enriching the culture of their new land by the traditions, food, and clothing. I wonder how different the world would have been if we all just stayed in the boundaries someone else had drawn for us.
