Remembering Yesterday

Book excerpt: America, still today, for many people throughout the world remains an attraction; instead, for many others, they see America as a beacon of hope from political and religious oppressions to the needs to overcome hunger from their countries poor economic conditions. Nevertheless, "Remembering Yesterday," talks about a timid little immigrant boy named Gregorio; his wonderful protective mother; his working, dedicated, and honest father, who was forced to immigrate to six different countries before coming to America, looking for work so his family could survive; and his two siblings: Andrea, the daring one; and Matteo, the thick headed one. The book opens up with the main character Gregorio Di Nardo as an adult teaching English as a Second Language at a local Community College, to immigrant adult students. the author then moves to narrate more about the main character as a little boy growing up in his little village. The story continues with some surprising and unexpected information: Gregorio and his family would be leaving their little town for America. The news upsets the little boy for abandoning his present existence, his friends, the piazza, and his small house; but his mother and siblings however, were happy as they could be to leave the poor conditions behind and embrace new ones knowing they were starting from nothing. The narration picks up with a long dangerous journey to America: first on a train, then on transatlantic boat named "Vulcania", and finally growing up to adulthood in the city of Newark with no language, no friends, no one to cling to except his parents and two siblings. The family settles in the city of Newark, where they lived and experienced Newark reality at its best and safest period; as well as its downfall. It is here where they first experienced one of the many gloomy embarrassments, despondent, sour moments of racism and hardships. The desperate souls came with nothing except their clothes, a strong will to work and produce; and to overcome the hunger they left behind due to poor economic conditions they were subjected to.