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February 1, 1912
Today I arrived at the dock. The name of the ship is the Baltic. We are all taken to a room and sprayed with an awful spray. After this we were sent to a hotel and have to stay in a room for 36 hours.
February 2, 1912
We woke up around 6:00 a.m. and were checked for any bugs. I was lucky and didn’t have any bugs. So we board the ship. The steerage was the part of the ship that we had to travel in. It was cold and dark and smelled really bad. After several hours of boarding we finally set sail.
February 3,1912
Although, I thought it would be fun to ride on a big boat across the Atlantic Ocean, I soon found out it wasn’t. It is miserable! Since we are traveling in the steerage, which is in the bottom of the boat, we are not able to shower or change our clothes. The beds are all lined up, one on top of the other. It is bumpy and crowded. I went up on the deck to get some fresh air.
February 5, 1912
Today we hit a bad storm and it is windy and raining hard. Everybody is
shivering from the cold. However I think we have only another few days
before we arrive in New York.
February 10, 1912
I woke up this morning and ran up to the top deck. In the distance I can
see the Statue of Liberty. Everyone is cheering as we sail into New York
Harbor and past the Statue of Liberty. I am sick with a very bad cold.
I was scared by they always send back immigrants that were sick. I wasn’t
sure what was going to happen to me. After we docked my father left ship.
I can see him standing in long lines. I asked the adults around me what
was happening. They told me that my dad had to answer lots of questions
about where he came from what kind of work he did in Poland, and what
his plans were in America. After 2 hours he came back and got me. The
doctor examined me and told me that I could not go with my father. I cried,
because they sent me into another room with lots of other children who
didn’t speak Polish. I cried all day.
February 29,1912
Today I am feeling better and I am allowed to go with my father. I am
so happy that I am jumping up and down. We
have finally reached America!!!
