24 September 1932
Dearest Mamma,
I am pleased to inform you that we arrived here at Ellis Island yesterday morning at ten. Not much changed about the voyage since my last letter, it was fairly smooth sailing except for one violent storm. I did fall ill from sea sickness, but do not worry Mamma! I am all better now and that is what matters.
There were thousands upon thousands of people just like me swarming the station. They were not exactly like me, of course. There were young people, old people, people of different countries and religions. I heard many unfamiliar voices as well. One older woman who stood in line beside me spoke to her young son in a language sounding deep and expressive. She spoke using sounds and vowels I could not understand but it sounded perfectly beautiful. I wanted to ask her what language she was speaking but I remembered a peace of advice you gave me before leaving: never speak to strangers. Despite our differences we all looked across the channel and saw the great big city calling our names. New York City was our common goal. I could tell everyone could not wait any longer to reach American shores and live their dreams. Standing at the dock I could already see the future ahead of me: roaming the streets of New York, making new friends, trying new things, and finally getting to meet our family here.
When writing up my passport the man in the booth could not understand my name! I told him with full confidence that he was speaking to Miss Iseppa Ludovica d’Russolino, but when he wrote my passport it said “Isabelle Russo''. I was furious indeed! I demanded to know why he did this and the man simply shrugged me off. I asked for a new passport but he said that this was the way of America. If I wanted to live in New York I needed a less Italian name. This angered me deeply. I want to be an Italian American, not just an American. But the line behind me grew longer and people were starting to shove. I decided not to cause a scene. Like you said, Mamma, a lady should behave properly at all times and should have a sense of when to leave a situation. So I picked up my satchel and moved on.
Cousin Ademaro was waiting for me when I finally finished all the paperwork. He was very tall and had the same brown freckles as Pappa. He looked similar to the portrait of Nonno we have in the parlour. Cousin Ademaro had brought a lovely horse carriage and helped me load up my bags. He told me all about the cinemas, cafes, and parks that we would visit in New York. He told me all about their home here; it seems lovely and I cannot wait to meet the rest of the family.
I am writing to you from inside the carriage, so please excuse my untidy handwriting. I know that a lady should always write with the most elegant handwriting possible but I just could not wait to write to you. I promise to follow every rule you’ve set for me and behave just as I have been taught in school. I will not be a disgrace to the family and make a bad name for us in America. I will always behave sensibly. I hope you do allow me to behave more girlishly with my cousin sisters, however, because I have never had sisters and would love to enjoy my time with them. I hope you and Pappa join me soon; you will love it here very much. There are many other Italians here, from what Cousin Ademaro has said, so you will not feel alone. And of course, how could you feel alone with your dear daughter around! Please do not miss me too much and do not worry about me! I will write to you soon to tell you more.
From your loving daughter,
Iseppa
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