d r 3

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.

Instructions

Please post 2 or more peer responses

In the response posts, remember to demonstrate you have read and understood the student's post by taking their discussion to the next level through your responses to the following:

Comparing your suitcase to theirs - how are its contents similar to or different from theirs?

Suggesting another treasure that may have been packed in their suitcase and describing the significance of that.

Ask questions

Engage your peers in a way that encourages them to respond to you, which keeps the conversation going.

You will not need research in any of your posts, but if you choose to, remember to use credible sources and provide in-text citations along with reference entries in APA format.

Estimated time to complete response posts: 2 hours

Response posts are worth 50% of your grade for this discussion. Please review the initial post/response instructions and the rubric for this discussion to ensure that your response meets the criteria.

Unit 3 Discussion:

Let me tell you a story about an immigrant's suitcase. The person's name was John. He came from New England and was traveling to Canada. His journey was quite long and Arduous, Consisting of several weeks on a ship. The cramped living quarters in rough seas made for a difficult journey. John came to America in search of better job opportunities and to start a new life for himself and his family. They wanted to take the entire family and everything they own but unfortunately they could not. As he arrived in Canada, he felt a sense of hope and anticipation for what the future would hold. His suitcase, worn and weathered from the journey, was a symbol of the sacrifices he had made to get to his new land. Every sacrifice he made was well worth it in the end as he had hoped.

John Angelo, wood as an immigrant, packs several cultural treasures in his suitcase. Two of the most significant ones were a picture of a kid and a handmade pottery set. He chose those items because they reminded him of his roots and reflected his cultural identity. The picture was a photo of his deceased child. The pottery set was a family heirloom that has been in generations and passed down. And as a testament to the craftsmanship of his ancestors. John Angelo believed that these cultural treasures would help him preserve his identity and heritage in his new home. John would do anything to protect him and his family.

My name is Kate. My friend and I are contract laborers immigrating from Japan to Hawaii. We are in 1885. In our suitcase we are carrying some clothing's, a mix of traditional Japanese clothing, such as a kimono or yukata, and Western-style garments suitable for everyday wear and work in America. We are also carrying some of our important documents like our passports and birth certificates. We also have some religious Items in our suitcase such as a small Buddha statue, omamori (amulets), or kamidana (miniature household altar) that reflects our religious beliefs and practices. The treasures we have in our suitcases are deeply personal and varied, reflecting a blend of practical needs and cultural heritage. These items serve not only as tools for daily life but also as symbols of identity, continuity, and emotional support.

The Economic hardships in Japan, including overpopulation, land shortages, and the fallout from the Meiji Restoration’s rapid modernization, prompted us to seek opportunities abroad. The Hawaiian Kingdom, experiencing a labor shortage in its booming sugar plantation industry, actively recruited Japanese workers which we were lucky to have been chosen.

The voyage across the Pacific Ocean was long and difficult, lasting about two to three weeks. We traveled on steamships operated by companies that specialized in passenger and cargo transport between Japan and Hawaii. Despite these hardships, our journey was generally safe and well-organized, with provisions for food, water, and basic medical care.

Reference's;

Takaki, R. (1989). Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Little, Brown and Company.

Ichioka, Y. (1988). The Issei: The World of the First Generation Japanese Immigrants, 1885-1924. Free Press.

Daniels, R. (1998). Asian America: Chinese and Japanese in the United States since 1850. University of Washington Press.