November 23^th 1872 :

November, Berlin in Germany.

The weather was cold, snow was falling on the houses. Trees were frozen, like people in the streets with their long scarves and coats. I was dreaming next to my window, looking at the children in the street playing with snow, they were so innocent, they didn’t know anything about life, and about what the word life really meant. I wish I could go back to childhood sometimes.

I closed the curtains, then sat down on my bed, a letter next to me. It was a letter from my brother, Hendrick.

Dear Günter,

Life is wonderful ! My tailor shop is going very well, here in New York everything is possible not like in Germany. The political society is way better; our president is a respectful man compared to Guillaume the First, we have more rights and we can enjoy our freedom.

One year ago, I would never have thought that I could be so happy, well in my life : I am rich, influent, I have a beautiful house in Manhattan and a wonderful wife.

What about you ? I hope life is treating you well. If that’s not the case, hold on, and never give up.

I am sorry I have to go right now, Günter.

Your dearest brother,

Hendrick Van Straussen.

My brother went to New York almost one year ago to escape Berlin; he said life would be better and actually he was right. I don’t know why I stayed, pehaps I was afraid ? Perhaps I dreamt, in the bottom of my heart, that the situation would change ? I regret this decision everytime I read one of Hendrick’s letter.

I closed my diary, then threw it on my bed. A million of questions were running inside my head. What should I do ? Wait here, in this miserable city ? Or change my life right now by joining him ? It took me several minutes to make it clear, but I decided to leave Berlin. I was alone, the situation in Germany was apocalyptic; I had nothing to lose after all.

So, I opened my wardrobe, took my suitcase and put some clothes and I left it next to my bed.

That night, I didn’t sleep, the light was on, my eyes were on the suitcase, and I was imagining how good life was going to be, because my life was going to change forever.

November 24^th 1872 :

Today, it’s the day. It’s my day. I could’nt sleep at all, I was terribly tired, but that flame inside of me was keeping me awake. It was the first time that I was leaving this way, I was nervous. I didn’t tell my brother I was coming in New York, he would have told me to stay, too much caring.

The sun was coming up, I was walking on a very calm street which was leading to the port. I couldn’t believe it was the last time I would walk over there; every step I was making was leading me to freedom.

The more I was approaching to the port, the more noises there were; like voices of men, women and children. Then I saw the crowd, they were maybe a hundred of them! I lifted my head, then I understood why they were there : a huge ship was waiting for them. I had never seen something like this, my eyes were wide open, I was impressed.

That’s when I heard a voice saying that we were going to leave soon, so I made my way through the crowd, I got on a boat and after a few minutes of agitation, I finally found a place where I could sit. Unfortunately, I had just a couple of coins so I couldn’t go inside the boat; I had to stay on the deck.

The ship began to move, it was too late to go back.

I hope it isn’t my first and last trip.

December 10^th 1872 :

I’ve spent almost two weeks on the deck, it was colder than ever; I couldn’t feel my body, I was totally frozen. Some people didn’t survive during the trip, and their bodies are still there in the middle of the survivors.

They said we’ll be in New York very soon. I was tired of sitting, so I walked until the edge of the ship and then I saw this huge thing : a shadow envelopped in a heavy fog. At first, I could’nt what it was clearly; but more the fog was disappearing, more I could see it with precision : it was the Statue of Liberty. My brother told me a lot of times about it in his letters, but I couldn’t imagine it by reading it on paper.

I felt optimistic about the future, I wasn’t scared but confident because I knew that freedom was there, and I was going to reach it.

When the ship stopped, we told us to come in Ellis Island, in a sort of place to check if we had any health problems. I went very confident; I was a strong man and I was rarely ill. There was no way that I would stay here.

A nurse came and examined me. Apparently nothing was wrong, so I was going to leave when she told me :

• Remain seated. The doctor is going to come.

• But I feel perfectly well. Why should I stay ?

• Just wait here, please.

I waited, it took ages, and finally after thirty minutes, the doctor came and announced me :

• Mister, we detected something wrong with your right eye. You’ll have to stay here until we are sure there’s no danger for you.

• No, it’s impossible ! How long will it takes ?

• Almost two weeks.

I was under shock. I didn’t realized what was happening, I felt angry against the whole world, it was unfair. I thought everybody was against me, I felt like the top of the world fell on me; I said to myself that there was no justice in this world.

I was tired, I couldn’t stand this situation anymore.

December 22^th 1872 :

They finally accepted to let me go, so I walked until Manhattan’s streets; it took me a while and a lot of energy but I came to Manhattan just before the sun went down as I had planed.

I was searching for someone who could help me to find my brother’s house. After a few minutes, I found a bar to stop by. It was a little gloomy, but it seemed quite correct. I asked the barmaid about my brother, he didn’t know anything about him.

I was going to leave this place when two men started to fight; they were totally drunk. I tried to stop them, one of two men returned to punch me, my heart stop beating. It was my brother.

• Hendrick ?

• What ? Günter ! Why did you come here ?

• I wanted to join you, I was missing my life in Berlin, so I thought …

• What were you thinking ? You did a huge mistake !

I’ve never seen my brother like this, I’ve never seen him drunk or agressive, something was wrong and he didn’t tell me everything. He was clearly poor and depressed.

• What happened ?

• I lost everything Günter. Actually, I lied to you. My tailor shop became a disaster, I wasn’t making money I had to quit. So I lost my job, I lost my home, I lost my dignity … I have nothing to do anymore, nothing to count on, I wasn’t very important now I am nothing. Look at me, I am a mess, my life is a mess.

• I can’t believe you lied to me during one year …

• I knew you would say this sentence.

• But I forgive you brother. And you know why ? I have a good feeling. What about, you and me, trying again ?

• What do you mean Günter ?

• Look, let’s open a tailor shop together ! I don’t know why but I am quite sure it’s going to work this time.

• I don’t know …

• Do you trust me ?

• Of course I do !

• Then, get up Hendrick. And, as you said in your last letter : « Never give up ».

And he smiled, it was a hopeful smile, sincere and relieved. I’ve finally found the Hendrick I used to know, someone optimistic and joyful.

We spent the night talking about this and that, we caught up with the lost time, we laughed, like brothers.

After that night, I was more confident than ever. I was sure that luck was on our side, and that all our efforts would pay. One day or another.

January 3^rd 1873 :

Hendrick and I just open our tailor shop last week, it was pretty calm but we had the hope it would get better in the coming months. We were working on the decoration of the shop, when a man with a black hat came in :

• Good evening sirs, I am in a hurry and I absolutely need a coat for a very important meeting tomorrow. May you do this quickly, please ?

• Of course sir ! Tell me your size.

It was our lucky day ! This man was a wealthy buisnessman, very influent in New York and all around the world.

So, we spent all the night making the most beautiful coat for him. The following day, he came to the shop, and his face glittered when he saw it.

• I’ll never have the words to say how grateful I am ! You did a wonderful work. And, don’t worry about your shop, I will personnaly recommend it.

And he left, the way he came. How can a person change other people’s lives ? It seemed, at first, like a dream but it was way more than that : it was reality.

April 14^th 1875 :

It’s been now two years since that mysterious man came by our shop. Since those two years we have become more and more famous everyday. We were on the top of New York City; all the beautiful people from New York and also from the whole world came to admire our creations. Who should we thank ? Well, we should thank destiny.

The end.

By Lorène & Victor

German emigrant

Name : Van Straussen

First name : Günter

Birth : June, 8^th 1840

Death : February 17^th 1895

Place of birth : Berlin, Germany

Place of death : Manhattan, New-York City, USA

Emigration date : 1872

Historical and geographical context :

Our story takes place in Germany in 1872. At this time, Germany used to be an empire and the USA was already a republic. In the 1870’s 200 000 German emigrants travelled over the Atlantic for a better life. The German neighborhood in New York City was Kleindeutschland, which lay on the East River

Kleindeuchland in 1870

On this picture we can see Kleindeutschland (the german neighborhood in the 1870’s), now this place is called Lower East Side. It was also called « little Germany » by its habitants. On the right we can observe a green area and on the left the pavement, some houses and shops. When you see this picture for the first time you can’t imagine that this place is now the New York we know. But for the time it was very modern : you’ve got the tramway and even the electricity. Compared to the others neighborhoods, it was very clean : streets were large and calm. It looks like the european’s streets, which is very important because when the emigrants came to New York they felt like it was home.