Day Two

This morning, we were given the opportunity to experience what life may have been like for some in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. As we arrived at The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, we discussed what we thought it meant to be an American. We later agreed that describing and defining an American is very difficult and is a personal opinion. Some believe to be an American that you must be in possession of a U.S. Citizenship, others disagreed. After we finished our discussion, we moved on to touring an apartment preserved from before the Great Depression. Inside the apartment, a talented actress played the role of a young woman from Greece named Victoria. We soon took roles as her family from Italy. She showed us what life was like for her as she made the transition from Greece to America.  This had to be the most interesting part of the day for me because it was hands on and exciting. After we finished our tour with Victoria, we got back on the buses and headed towards Battery Park. Soon after we arrived at Battery Park, we boarded a ferry which would take us to Ellis Island. Along the ferry ride, we saw some great views of the New York City skyline, as well as The Statue of Liberty. After some amazing picture opportunities and a slightly bumpy boat ride, we arrived at Ellis Island. After learning about Ellis Island and incoming immigrants, it was amazing to actually see where it all took place. As we walked inside and toured the different exhibits, a hush fell over our recently hyper classmates. It was nice to see everyone’s understanding and compassion towards the history which took place there. After completing a brief work sheet and visiting the gift shop, we waited to board that ferry again. This is when it started to down pour. All though thunder and lightning seemed to be infinite, we fought through it as a class and moved on. After returning to Battery Park, we traveled to the 9/11 memorial. This was both a very depressing, yet interesting experience. I never realized how many people were actually victimized in 9/11. After our solemn moments, we walked down Wall Street and met up with each other at a local park. We ended the day with an adventurous visit to China Town and Little Italy. There we found restaurants of our taste and enjoyed dinner. I greatly enjoyed today and all the activities which we took place in. I am looking forward to the rest of this week.

- Maeve M.

This morning, after a 7:00 wake up call, we head off towards the Tenement Museum in New York City. The Tenement Museum really put what it would be like to be an immigrant or first generation American during the late 19^th century, and early 20^th century into perspective. I learned that many of  the families living in the tenement buildings would help each-other get by. They would share food, money, and time with each-other. They would watch their neighbors’ children, and would even help them pass an inspection by hiding their valuables in their own rooms! Can you imagine sharing all of that with your neighbors? If you really think about it, a tenement building could be made up of three separate families, but these families were all suffering the same horrendous circumstances; poverty, hunger, heat, etc. These families would bond together so that instead of being three or four separate families, they were one family with different names.

After the tenement museum we visited Ellis Island. This was a very moving experience, for I know that my great-grandparents passed through those very doorways, climbed those stairs, and suffered the seemingly infinite examinations. I had already learned a bit about Ellis Island, so I was very excited to visit this special place in American history. I had actually first discovered the island in a third grade project, and from then on dreamed of one day visiting. I also really enjoyed seeing the belongings of the immigrants. There is a museum section of the building that shows the clothing, and belongings of specific families. It was really interesting to see the different cultural clothing, instruments, and just everyday belongings.

The boat from Ellis Island was another thought provoking part of the day. It was pouring rain, and fog was everywhere to be seen. If I hadn’t known I was in New York City, then I probably wouldn’t have even known that I was anywhere near land. I was almost surprised when we got close enough to actually see the skyline. This made me think about what it would be like to have been on one of the ships to Ellis Island. Imagine traveling weeks on end in a crowded ship, and then seeing the New York City skyline for the first time. Remember, before this you had probably never seen a major city, and then to see sky scrapers. It would be an eerily beautiful sight. For some the sight would not last long, for they would be deported back to their original countries for health regions. 2% of immigrants’ dreams were crushed. 98% of the immigrants’ dreams were brought to life, but only to live in an extremely segregated community.

We also visited the 9/11 memorial. This memorial was extremely emotional, and moving. My group and I had a very in depth conversation about what it would have been like to see the towers fall. We decided that that is an experience that we do not ever want to come true. All of the names of those who died were written around the waterfalls; it was a breathtakingly haunting sight to behold.

- Emma B.