The American dream, the journey and evolution a family or single person must take in order to achieve his or her goals and aspirations. The struggles of adopting a new culture, new language, new surroundings and new atmosphere are just some of the roadblocks they face upon arrival. The United States has been the destination for immigrants to flock to, in hopes of broadening their lives and achieving what they couldn't in their previous stops. We all know of, or are immigrants ourselves, and know the kind of fear and pressure one goes through in order to familiarize and prosper in their new home. However, the burning desire to be successful in wealth, health, family life, and overall state of mind are the key essentials as to what makes all of these people keep wanting to reside in the United States of America. Even as we enter hard and trying times in our country: several wars, terrorism, economic struggles and a recent recession, America is still the premier destination for people wanting to better their lives and vie for a chance to achieve their American dream. Two such immigrants are featured in this article, my grandmother Doreen Mocha of British decent, and co-worker Connie Golia of Italian decent. Both individuals came to America for very different reasons, though they both shared in the thought that America would be able to offer them a greater chance to achieve and thrive in their respected lives.
November 21, 1951 a young couple depart a Southampton England pier for New York City, about to embark on their next great adventure. After enduring a week long ship ride from South Hampton England aboard the Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, to the bright lights of Manhattan, my grandmother and grandfather were excited and nervous upon arriving to the land of opportunity. My grandmother; a recently married nineteen year old woman remembers her initial reaction of arriving in the United States and New York City as a "big adventure". Her first recollection of arriving in America was seeing the bright lights lit upon the George Washington Bridge, describing them as "pearl strings that lit the river". My grandmother, Doreen Mocha along with my grandfather, Frank Mocha were determined and eager to begin a family and start a life in America. After serving in the Polish Army during WWII and enduring a three year detention at a German Concentration camp, my grandfather wanted to leave Poland and it's recent communist surge and begin anew and further his education in the United States. With two visas and $500 between them, they arrived in New York City hoping to start a family and achieve prosperity and happiness. Although it was hard and frustrating at times for my grandmother to grow accustomed to the culture and society in New York City, she responds that she has no regrets on immigrating to the states, and came along for the ride with my grandfather, looking to further his education in America.
The fast pace and culture shock my grandmother initially encountered deterred her some from enjoying her new life in New York. She remembers the city being loud, dirty, and bustling with people, a complete change in what she was used to in England. She knew in order for her not to grow homesick and regret her decisions, she needed to remain busy and occupy herself with a job and family. Her first job was as a short hand typist for a traveling agency, which helped her develop terrific computer typing skills which would help her immensely in her later work as Columbia University's Director of Employee and Labor Relations. Through hard work and extensive hours and dedication, my grandmother was able to work her way up the ranks and prosper in an excellent institution that provided stability and comfort for decades in Manhattan. She learned first hand through trial and error how to live and prosper in New York, something you can't simply learn in a classroom. She used her natural intelligence and eager ability to learn and retain information to totally change cultures and daily regimen of life. Without this ability, my grandmother opines that life would've been too difficult to overcome here.
"I have no regrets on coming to New York, however I do and will always view myself as a British citizen."
My grandmother does concede that her progress and prosperity would most likely not have taken place had she stayed in England.
"I don't think I would've been able to achieve and succeed like I have here over in England. I focused on surviving and my instincts just lead me to further myself here in New York City."
Connie Golia was eight years old in 1966 when she, her two siblings and parents immigrated from a small town in Italy to the Bronx, New York. Golia's first mention of America was when her grandmother on her mother's side came to visit from the states, arriving with a small American doll for her at the age of six years old. She knew nothing of America and didn't speak a lick of the language, and at such a young age was fearful of the major move from the only place she knew as home. It was her grandmother's idea to have her family come and live in America, she wanted to have the whole family close together in New York. Her grandmother helped to set up living arrangements and jobs for both her parents, and from there departed on a fourteen day trip aboard a ship named the Rafaela. She doesn't remember ever leaving the ship, or engaging in the various activities aboard the ship such as the large pool located on the main deck. She says that the family stayed in a small room in the lower deck, and waited anxiously to arrive to their new home. "Our family came to America for a better life, for financial wealth and stability, because we came from a small town in Italy." Golia recalls.
Golia remembers that jobs were a crucial reason as to why the family uprooted from their home in Italy; the jobs were scarce and far and few between. Her father worked in Switzerland to get work, and only returned home to visit once a year. Her mother had worked on a family farm in the country. The family knew that they could not keep living in these conditions, so they made a choice and decided to risk it for a better chance in America.
Golia does note that a major difference between Italy and America is the way of which we act and respond in our daily lives. "In Italy, people are far more relaxed and take their time with family," she says. "Owners of shops would close up for two hours each day to go home and take a nap."
America by contrast is fast paced and constantly on the go, she adds. Golia grew accustomed to the American lifestyle quickly though, and enjoys the work and quicker pace atmosphere in the states. However, not all are on board with that vast change in lifestyle, and she's quick to add that she believes that Italians today would be hesitant upon leaving their lives in Italy for America.
"The relaxed atmosphere and emphasis on family life is greater I believe in Italy, so that may stop those from immigrating to America." It's also interesting to note, that Golia does not watch the news or read American newspapers, for the mere fact that the stories and top headlines are for the most part far too gruesome and devastating for her to bear to think about. The events and past struggles America has faced bothers her greatly, and she opines that things will ultimately get worse before they get better. She hopes that her grandchildren will endure easier and safer times for the future, and will be able to live without fear or worry about the nation entering wars, facing economic hardships and violence. However, Golia echoes the same sentiment my grandmother replied, in that America has brought many more opportunities and room for growth, something Golia never took for granted and appreciates daily.
I am truly interested and greatly impressed by immigration. It must be extremely rough and exhausting to up and leave your original home and start anew in a foreign and alien place. Any reasonable person would go through an immediate culture shock and naturally need to familiarize themselves with their new home and surroundings. I asked my grandmother what her first impressions of New York were,
"I thought New York was extremely dirty, noisy and the people incredibly rude," she stated bluntly. She felt as if the American people were more materialistic and she didn't sense the same concern placed on family values as she had witnessed in her nineteen years in England.
"In England, you were expected to watch out for one another, it had a community feel to it." In contrast, people in New York seemed to keep to themselves more often, and tend to just their close knit family. However, over time my grandmother grew accustomed to her new surroundings, and prospered both in family life and wealth. She was married for over fifty years to my grandfather before his passing almost eleven years ago. She has three children and seven grandchildren. Her family life thrived and her professional life blossomed into possibilities she never thought possible. Without the endless opportunities America has to offer, she would not have been able to achieve all that comes with hard work and determination if she had stayed in England. The American dream allows immigrants to work hard, and embark and strive for their hopes and dreams; something that many of them wouldn't be able to reach in their home countries. The dream burns bright still to this day, bright like the torch glowing in Lady Liberty's torch. A symbol that many immigrants viewed when arriving to Ellis Island and various piers along the waters of Manhattan, a symbol of hope, success, and a new beginning in life.
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