Ellis Island is located in New York and Angel Island is located in San Francisco Bay. Many of immigrates are Asian. When they get to Ellis Island the tour guide Eleanor, showed them many spectacular things. In the first part of the tour, Eleanor took them to the register room. This place is for where immigrates turn to Americans. Then, Eleanor took them to the baggage room. That room is only used for getting baggage. But, before they got the to the baggage room they watched a video about immigrates hardship. So, it is like an airport when you get your stuff. Later, she took them to the grand hall, which is where they got examined and got questioned.
An immigrates life is very hard. They went to Ellis Island to check if your status is ok, and they made sure that your not sick. If, you're a criminal or your sick they will send you back to your old country. In the story American Wings, it explained about a family from Russia that came to Angel Island. Their names last name had been changed to Segal. Many immigrates that came to America had their names changed. If their name was too long and they did not like it they would change their names too like Adam or something else. Many immigrates were poor because they spent all their money coming to America. For some families, who has sons and daughters. If the parents were not sick and the children were then the children had to go back to there country. And if it was the other way around then the parents would leave and go back to their country and the children would stay.
There were many challenges coming to America. One of the greatest challenge was finding work. Many immigrants worked for 12 hours a day and 7 days a week. Most immigrants worked in sweatshops. Those workers include women and children and men. In, these industries were dark and crowded. In addition the pay was low. The pay might even be like 2 dollars an hour. Many immigrants adjusted by assimilating their life. Many parents talk their native languages. Their children who went to school and spoke English at school some times translated for their parents.
Immigrates lived a hard life. They work for long shifts and their payment isn't even minimum wage. Many other challenges were getting on the boats to go to America. Going to America on a ship could cause boredom. And many people were seasick. Immigrants could usually afford the most cheapest tickets so they traveled in steerage.
I am really grateful because I do not have to face the challenges that those immigrants took. Many people emigrated because of economic troubles. Or, they couldn't find good jobs.
In am lucky that my parents lived in America. I wasn't born in America but I came here when I was one year old. I wouldn't want to face those struggles that the immigrates took. I think they have a lot of courage coming to America. But, I feel sad for the people who had to leave their family because they are sick or something. But, usually people who came to left there culture and joined the American culture. I am really grateful of not facing those struggles that the immigrates faced.
