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Born
I, Polina Kazankov, was born in the city of Magadan, Russia. Because I was the 10th born in a very poor family my parents had to give me up for adoption. I was later adopeted by my adoptive mother, Hilda Kazankov. She was the best mom you could ever have. She was not wealthy nor rich. We had enough to get by. I had a happy childhood. -
Sick Mother
During this cold month I noticed my mother not looking like herself. She did not seem happy and looked strained and tired.She had a horrible cough and a high fever. We had heard about the Asiatic Flu outbreak in our country, and we hoped she would get better. Because we didn't have a lot of money, we couldn't see a doctor. I did my best to make her feel better and more comfortable. -
Mother has died
After suffering for almost 3 weeks, my mother died. Since she had prepared for the worst she had already left me some money to get by. I knew her dream was to one day make it to America and to exprience life in the new world. I felt it was now my duty to fulfill her dreams so I set of to the new land and a new life in the land known for golden opportunities. -
Trip to America
My journey to America stared off with me talking a long train ride to a port on the far side of Russia bound fo Angel Island. I had never been on a train before so it was a difficult exprience. I nearly lost my bag of clothes, with my wallet in it as well due to theives that sour the train staition for innocent women like me. I got my bag back because there was the gentleman who ran after the thief and rescued it. I was so thankful to that man. -
Angel Island
The boat ride to Angel Island took about 2 weeks. When I giot there I felt like I was one step closer to America. There was no problem as I went through each station. I was thinking about my mother and how she would be so proud of me to be on my own. Because I had no prolem in Angel Island,I went on with my journey to San Fransisco. -
America, Finally
When I finally got to America I felt like a fish out of water. There were so many unfrimilliar faces iand it was overwhelming. Because I had little money I could only afford to stay in a tenement house. The tenement was filled with mothers and children. I was roomed with an women who had 4 small children. She was a nice woman but it was hard for me to sleep. It was so crowded that it was the most brutal two weeks of my life. My first experience living in America was less than a good one. -
A New Job
I knew that the only way I cold move out of the tenement was to get a job. Because I needed money ,I took a job as a tailor as it was the only job that I didn't need any teaching in. I already knew how to sew from my mother who had taught me when I was younger. A few weeks after moving in to the first tenement and having my new job, I had enoungh money to get my own room in a less crowed tenement. I enjoyed this room much more than whereI was living before. -
A new Friendship
Because I had worked at the tailor for a year now I had noticed one regular costumer, Mr. John Smith. Most of the time I noticed that he only came in to talk to me. He became one of my only friends since my immigration to America. On many occasions he had asked me to go to dinner with him, so I did. I greatly enjoyed my time spent with him. -
Gold Rush
John asked me if he could court me, and since I enjoyed himscompany I accepted. He had always talkedt o me about going north to participate in the Gold Rush. He wanted to make more money and he thought it was a perfect opportunity. He wanted me to go with him. I worried about giving up my job and that he might not find any gold but I trusted him, and decided to marry him and go with him. -
Struck Gold
I couldn't believe what this day had brought. John came home to our shack after a week panning gold, with a joyous face. He had a jar full of gold. I hugged him with joy. We used some of the money to get a new dress that day for me. We bought a house the day after with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. There was a tailor down the road from our house and I hoped Icould get a job there. -
Family and New House
I became with child and happily awaited the birth of our new child. I was so thankful for my husband and that I had immigrated to the new world. This new life had definitly benefited me.
