On Nov. 3, Natalie's 5th grade class was able to experience the life of immigrants through a simulation of Ellis Island. The school became Ellis Island with all the classrooms as stations they had to "travel" through when they arrived - Money Exchange, Intelligence, Medical, Special Inquiry, etc. The hallways were lined with chairs for the kids to wait at each station. Each student was assigned a character from a particular country with a background and life experience. Some came alone to America, others traveled with a friend or their whole family so they had to behave like the character. Some students even adopted an accent and were believable!! Even the teachers stayed in character the whole day. The kids were actually exhausted at the end of the day since they were made to carry luggage throughout the day and be treated like immigrants. Natalie and her friends told me that she was sent to "Special Inquiry" just for asking what it was!
Natalie's character was Maggie Molly, a 28 year old girl from a farm in Ireland, whose family did not support her but she had heard of opportunities for women in America. Mom and I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Postcards room where we welcomed the immigrants, had them share their backgrounds, why they came to America and what feelings they were experiencing. We dressed the part as you can see below...we put on our best "school marm" outfits.
Mom was a great addition for the class as she exhibited her extensive teaching skills. They opened up about how they felt about traveling on a cramped ship in lower class, about some of their names being changed, and about leaving their families back in their home country. It was such a great experience for me to feel like I was having a glimpse into my grandma's own experience at 7 years old in 1917. In preparation for the day, Natalie wanted to see Grandma Angelina's manifest from her arrival into Boston since Ellis Island was busy ....so here it is!
The Fedeles are at the bottom of the list with Domenica Colao (my great grandmother), Angela (my grandma Angelina shortened to Angela), Giovanni (Uncle John), and little Giuseppina (Aunt Josephine). Their youngest sibling, Aunt Florence, was still to come in America! One person is missing - my great-great grandmother, Maria - who came along with them but we surmised that part of the manifest must have been cutout when it was digitized. Great Grandpa Antonino Fedele came to America a few years earlier.
Natalie thoroughly enjoyed the day especially keeping her grandma Angelina (who she was named after) in mind as she traveled throughout Ellis Island. It struck her sharply that if the Fedeles hadn't made that brave decision to come to America, our family wouldn't be here today!! :)
Kara
No comments:
Post a Comment