The Journal of Nadia Hansigk
January 14, 1856
Today my parents said we are leaving our beloved country, Germany. I asked and they just said that we had to because Oma sent for us. I asked where we were going. They said we are going to America. America! I was so excited that I almost forgot how much I love Germany and how much I will miss living here. First we will go on a train all the way to Bremen then we will take another train to Leeuwarden. After that we will get checked. If none of us are sick we get to go on a boat to a place called Ellis Island. If we pass examination there we came pass through to America!
January 17, 1856
We are on the train to Bremen right now. I've been on a train only once before and that was 13 years ago when I was one. It was very loud and we went through lots of long tunnels. Some were even a mile long!
January 20, 1856
Today we got the medical exams you get before going on the boat to Ellis Island. Mama and Papa both were let through, but me and my twin brother Xander couldn't because we had rubella which is the German word for measles. Since we were both 14, they let Mama and Papa go, while we stayed to wait for they rubella to pass.
January 25, 1856
Today they let us go because the rubella was gone. Apparently we got it about 3 weeks ago, but never really noticed. We headed for they boat. They made us ride in steerage.
January 26, 1856
I woke up at about 4:30 am because the ship started rocking really hard. I walked over to the little open area and looked up. I was shut, but I could see through the hole. It looked like it was raining. Then I heard thunder and saw some lightning.
January 27, 1856
We arrived at Ellis Island. There were thousands, maybe even millions of people! I got questioned and checked and all this other stuff. They said I was perfectly healthy and that there was no reason why I couldn't go. I waited for my brother, but he never came. The doctor said he was sick, very sick, and might have to be sent back home!
January 28, 1856
Today the doctor called me to his little "office". He said that he had some very bad news. I thought he was going to tell me that my brother was going back to Germany. He told me that me brother died. I couldn't believe it! Xander who had been so full of life yesterday! Xander who had been through everything with me! They told me that my family was waiting to take me home and that they already told them the news. I left the room to go find my family. I hoped it was just a bad dream, just a very bad dream, but it was real. I found my family and finally entered America. I entered America with my family. I entered America without my brother.