Elena's America:

My Journey From Russia to America

My name is Elena and I am so tired. All me and my parents do all day is work, and each night we still don't have enough to eat! Something has to change.

Mom, Dad...I'm hungry and tired. I hate it in Russia, all we do is work and starve!!

Calm down honey, we have some big news to share!

We're moving to America!!!

And so we sold the few things we had and crossed the sea. America!! I could hardly contain my excitement.

A land of learning!

A land of opportunity!!

A land of dreams!!!

We finally made it! the land of opportunity, freedom and hope! I am so excited!

Our first sight of the city was glorious: a magnificent statue of our freedom and prosperity.

Sadly, this perfect image of America did not last long...

Come up for inspection! Quickly, we don't have all day.

You must be checked for disease and illness.

The once welcoming faces, twisted into something unrecognizable and cruel.

Ellis Island was the first fracture in the dream of America that I was sold; the first, yet not the last.

Step forward!

For years, I had dreamed of coming to America, learning all there was to know, and becoming someone amazing! I quickly came to realize this was only a fantasy.

To keep up with the high cost demands of New York, I began working in a factory, where I endured not only the physical but also the emotional and spiritual struggle of trying to maintain both my dignity and identity in a system that seemed to crush both.

I came here to live, but all I did was survive

They treat us like machines. Don’t stop, even for a second.

Despite everyone in my family working, we were not able to make enough money and, within 2 months, were going to be evicted from our new apartment. I was furious! This wasn't fair!!!

This is not the America I was promised. This is only Russia with tall buildings!!

So, feeling lost and betrayed, I began running through the city, not going anywhere but knowing I hated where I was.

The city loomed above, making me feel small and insignificant in the bustling streets.