Today the entire second grade in our school participated in a mock immigration day exercise that simulated the experience of entering the US through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. All the kids developed personal histories for their characters and came dressed to look the part.
There were some fantastic interpretations of early 20th century dress. In our house there was extensive lobbying for a beautiful colonial dress we have that my mother made when my sister and I were this age, and utter disbelief that it could make a difference that it was over a hundred years off in terms of style. Once the final outfit came together, though, it was ridiculously lovely – particularly with the perfect pair of ankle boots borrowed from our neighbors. At that age, I would have worn an outfit like this to school Every Single Day if I could have.
Along with the outfit, the kids were required to pack a ‘bundle’ filled with a reminder of their homeland, something to do on the journey, something useful for the new land, a family picture and a snack. So what did the young immigrant from Ireland take in her basket to snack on? Nope, not a potato.
A nice big slice of Irish bread – Mum’s recipe, of course – all wrapped up in a cloth. Yum.
I wonder what my Nana had in her case on that journey. I can tell you one thing, it wasn’t Pearl the Cloud Fairy or a pink polka dotted pencil.