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# 68 • SEPTEMBER 21 , 2015
and of her great hope for a better life
and how the excitement of their journey
far outweighed their fears. Apprehensions may have been there, but it was
not upper most in their thoughts.
New World was not all true. Though they
would discover that the streets of America were not paved in gold, they did find
what they were looking for in precious
opportunity. They would survive.
The expectations of journeys end made
them oblivious to the enormous challenges that awaited them. First, and foremost, they would have to gain acceptance in a New World, which practiced
beliefs and cultures different from their
own. But the whispered promise of streets paved in gold was too overwhelming
to ignore.
They etched out a living for themselves
and moved into a 12-block area of San
Jose south of First Street. It was a perfect location for housing the hopeful
young immigrants. Despite their language barrier and unskilled labor they were
able to find employment. They rolled up
their sleeves and got to work and soon
another of America’s “Little Italy’s” was
created.
They would gladly face the unknown
to find this golden opportunity. Soon City dwellers would refer to the commuenough, the immigrants would learn nity of immigrants by a number of names,
that all they had heard of the bountiful some colorful, some unflattering, but I
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