Field Trip Reflection

Ethan Chan

Part I – From Haven to Home

From Haven to Home was a very interesting exhibit. The main reason we went to this exhibit was because we are doing the immigration unit, and this would be a great way to learn about immigration, and how it has affected America. In this particular exhibit, we learned about the lives of Jewish people in America. I have learned that Jewish people have played a big part in the making of America. For example, Ruth Handler, who was a Jewish woman, had invented the Barbie doll. However, that's not all. Another example is Benjamin Siegel. He was one of the first gangsters in America, and he invented casinos. Most importantly, he founded Las Vegas. Not only did we learn about major people, we also learned about how they lived their lives. An interesting thing I learned was that Martin Luther King did not only help African-Americans, but Jewish as well. I learned that even though the Jewish beliefs stayed the same, their lifestyle changed. I learned that Jewish don't eat regular meat, but they eat kosher meat, in which the animal is killed painlessly. I learned so many interesting facts about Jewish life in America. Even though at first, Americans did not like Jews immigrating to America, they have played a big role in shaping the United States into what it is.

Part II – Children of Immigrants

1- This photograph depicts a woman at the St. Lucia celebration in the Swedish American Cultural Center, Chicago 1987. The woman has candles on her head, and is celebrating. This photograph struck me because of the candles on her head. I had no idea that some traditions required this, and I think that she has a large amount of dedication to be able to balance candles on her head. She goes far to represent her culture, and I respect that. I myself wouldn't be motivated enough to do this, and I admire her for her effort.

2- “The greatest thing I hope for in my life is to become a successful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but who I am inside.”

-Samira Durakovic, Yogoslavia

From Between Cultures

I think this quote is really the biggest desire of not only immigrants, but many people. Discrimination by skin color is wrong, and what's inside is what really counts. The wording is also very powerful, and I was blown back by the power in this quote. Samira makes a good point, and I think this is a very meaningful quote.