Nora's diary entry

Dear Diary,

I am writing this from a small room in New York. I can still smell the sea and feel the ship under my feet, even though we arrived yesterday. The journey was long and hard. I am tired and my hands are cold, but I want to remember everything. My legs still feel like the floor is moving.

Back in Ulster, life became very hard. My father lost his job because the landowner wanted fewer workers. The potatoes failed again, and we had almost nothing to eat. My little brother was sick and very weak. We were cold all winter. My parents said we had no future in Ireland. So we sold our cow and our few things. We packed our clothes and some bread and said goodbye. I cried when we left our home. I miss our neighbours and my best friend, Mary.

The journey on the ship was terrible. It was big, but there were so many people. The space was small, the beds were wooden, and the air was bad. It smelled of sick people and sea water. Many people were coughing. A baby near us died. I felt seasick every day, and I cried every night. I missed my home and my country. But I also felt hope deep in my heart.

Yesterday, we saw land. People shouted and prayed. I saw a big statue and many buildings. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. My mother smiled and held my hand. I cried again, but this time it was different.

Now I sit in this strange new world. I don’t know anyone here, and I don’t speak much English. The language we spoke in Ireland was mostly Irish. But I want to learn. I want to be brave. My parents say we will find work and build a better life.

Maybe one day, I will go to school and write in perfect English.

Love,
Nora