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Chung Goes to America
My husband and I have been living in poverty for years now. With no money and low paying jobs we can barely support ourselves. My husband, Chung, has gotten a job at a mining camp in San Francisco. It has been about a month since he left and he is now sending for me. -
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Immigration Timeline
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Voyage to Angel Island
The voyage was long and miserable. I endured seasickness, poor food, and very crowded conditions in steerage. I traveled alone so it was almost impossible to communicate with others.There were rows of bunks to sleep on. There was also plenty of food but fresh water was scarce. We were only able to drink and wash ourselves off by collecting rain water. -
Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge
Once you could see the Golden Gate Bridge, everyone went beserk. The sight was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. With everyone running in different directions and shouting, I was a bit confused but I was also happy and proud. -
Detained at Angel Island
Many Chinese men and women were detained on the island from 2 weeks up to several months. Luckily I was only held for 2 weeks but I was very scared of being deported. Plus, waiting your turn to be called to get interrogated was very nerve racking. The buildings were filthy and they were seperated into men and women barracks. The barracks had barred doors and windows, more bunks and I wasn't treated poorly. Finally when I passed the interrogation and was accepted into America, Chung greeted me. -
Staying in the West
We settled into San Francisco and we decided to stay there. Chung already had a job at the mining camp here and he has maintained it for over a year. I also already had a job in a sweatshop so finding new jobs elsewhere would be difficult. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act
I intended for my brother to join my husband and I in San Francisco to escape the horrible life in China. However, today the government has passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which banned Chinese immigrants for 10 years and maybe even more. I can't believe this. We have received so much discrimination and now they have passed an act supporting discrimination. It's unbelieveable. -
Converting to Christianity
Christian missionaries shave been going around many communities teaching their religion. Most Chinese people have stuck with Confucianism and other Chinese beliefs but Christianity stuck to us. Very few Chinese converted to Christianity and Chung and I are part of that few. We have been going to church every Sunday for quite sometime where we can praise God. -
Sweatshops and Tenements
Working in the sweatshops isn't all it cracked up to be. It's hot, crowded, sweaty, and very dangerous. One day my finger had gotten caught in one of the machines and I have lost half of it. We live in a tenement with other Chinese men and women and we all share one bathroom. The tenements too were crowded and hot. The water was dirty, everything was infected wiht disease, and it was just uncomfortable. -
Chung Passes
My heart is broken. Chung has died in a mining camp accident that I didn't know about until word spread. A mine had exploded and it killed 7 workers including my husband. I continue to mourn with other women who have lost their partners. -
I Remarry
It has been 1 year since Chung's passing. After 6 months of mourning, I met a named Lee Chen. He worked in the mines at the time but he also had land and a farm. We started seeing each other consistently until we married today. We decided to stay in San Francisco where his land and farm were. -
Forever Staying in San Franciso
Just think, 11 years and 2 days ago I set sail for America. Now Lee and I have been married for almost 5 years and we have a son, Bang, who is 2 years old. Lee's farm is making us money and I was able to leave work to take care of Bang. Soon our son will be big and strong and help with the farm. I've stayed in San Francisco for 10 years and more years to come.
