Immigrants often arrived with only the clothes on their backs and a single suitcase full of their most treasured possessions.
The Suitcase.jpg
You are asked to write a brief narrative about an immigrant’s suitcase for this discussion.
In your first paragraph, using your imagination and what you have learned, describe the immigrant who is carrying the suitcase
What is their name?
Where are they from?
How was their journey?
where did they live on the ship
how long were they on the ship
Why are they coming to America?
In your second paragraph, again using your imagination and what you have learned, describe in detail the content of the suitcase your immigrant is carrying (not including any clothing)
Describe 2 cultural treasures packed into the suitcase (do not worry about the size of the treasure compared to the size of the suitcase)
Why would the immigrant choose those 2 treasures?
Estimated time to complete: 2 hours
This topic is valued at 40 points. Please review the post and response expectations. Please review the rubric to ensure that your response meets the criteria.
Adventure
Marija Petrović, a resilient young woman from a small village in Croatia, clutches a worn suitcase as she disembarks from the ship at Ellis Island. Her journey to America was arduous; she spent nearly three weeks in the cramped, dimly lit steerage compartment, where privacy was a luxury, and the air was thick with the hopes and anxieties of fellow immigrants. Marija had left her homeland alone, driven by stories of opportunity across the ocean and the dream of a better life. Though reluctant to see her leave, her parents understood that their village’s relentless poverty offered little future. America promised a chance for Marija to achieve something they never could.
Inside Marija’s suitcase lies a small, carefully wrapped icon of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of travelers and sailors, a cherished protector in her culture. This icon had hung in her family’s home for generations, offering hope and guidance through countless hardships. Besides, it is a traditional Croatian tamburica, a stringed instrument she learned to play during village festivities. The tamburica, with its melodic twangs, holds the music of her homeland, capable of turning foreign soil into familiar ground with just a few strums. These items are not just relics; they are Marija’s connection to her past and the soul of her cultural identity, which she is determined to maintain and share in this new world.
Choosing these treasures was an affirmation of Marija’s roots and a commitment to preserving her heritage. As she steps onto American soil, the suitcase’s weight feels reassuring; within it lies the essence of her old life, ready to be integrated into the new life. Marija is poised on the threshold of her American dream, her hopes as tightly packed as the precious contents of her modest suitcase.
