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Hello, my name is Paola Bianchi. I was 20 years old when I left Ravenna, Italy to move to America. My parents also came with me. I moved to America to marry my fiance, Larenzo Giordano.
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The ship entered the port and the Statue of Liberty was in plain view. The old women next to my family began crying tears of joy and everyone whooped and hollered. At last we where in America!
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When we got to America we passed through Ellis Island. It was very crowded and noisy. The doctor who did my medical exam said that I had a cold and had to stay in medical quarintine until it went away. I was very scared to be alone on the island.
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My cold finally went away a week later. Larenzo picked me up at Ellis Island. I was so happy to see him!
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Soon after I was released from quarintine, I got a job at a factory where I spent long hours sewing dress after dress, under the glare of a mean woman. If she caught anyone slacking off she yelled at them and hit there hands with her ruler she always carried around.
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I finally married Larenzo after waiting 3 years for him to save up money. I was so happy! My parents and his parents were present as well as his brother. It was the happiest day of my life!
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Thankfully a couple months later I was able to quit my terrible job. Larenzo and I had saved enough money and were finally able to move west. We went by train and Larenzo's brother came along with us.
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After two days we arrived in Oklahoma. We were told by some people to register in the race to claim your territory. Larenzo signed us up and bought two fine horses for him and his brother to enter the race.
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A week from the race a terrible shooting occured near a saloon that killed Larenzo's brother. He and I were walking past the saloon when a man grabs my purse and stars running away. Larenzo's brother tackled him but the man pulled out a gun and shot him.
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After Larenzo's brother died I had to race in the Land Rush for him. The U.S. marshalls lined everyone up and at the sound of the pistol, everyone urged their horses to the plot of land they wanted. Larenzo got to the land we wanted and claimed it for us.
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A year later Larenzo and I have a thriving farm, a beautiful home, and a little girl. This was the dream we had been looking for. This was the American dream.
