i would like some personal stories about german americans migrating to the US?
819281
My great grandfather immigrated from Germany in 1939 and moved to upstate NY.  \n\nThings got very uncomfortable for him as WW2 progressed.  Most of the country was understandably anti german and it got progressively worse. (Sort of like being a arab on Sept 12th)\n\nHe settled in and raised 6 kids on his farm.  All the kids are grown and gotten advanced degrees (one's a dentist, one a doctor at the mayo,  one's a pharmacist etc).   I guess you can say that he found oppurtunities for him and his family here.
160307
Boats mostly, more recently airplanes. Very few walked or swam.\n\nIf you mean when and why, there was a lot of German immigration in the 1700s. The Pennsylvania Dutch are actually Germans, with Dutch being a mis-heard version of "Deutsch."\n\nThere was also a semi-famous bunch of Germans who went to Texas in the early 19th century with the idea of setting up a utopian town. Didn't quite work out. (See the third link below for more on that story.)
711812
The disappearance of the American Melting Pot. When America started, people came from all over the world to create a better way of life, to become Americans. The immigrants would work hard to learn English, to get jobs, to become strong citizens that wanted to help create an even better America. Now immigrants come and want the benefits of being an American without becoming an American. It doesn't seem like anybody wants to 'melt' into the American society. They want to be separate but equal. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of my German/Welsh heritage, but I fly an American flag in my front yard, not a German or Welsh flag. I live close to the border with Mexico, driving around some areas you find it hard to tell you are in America, Mexican flags fly everywhere, marquees at school are in Spanish, more and more billboards are in Spanish. It used to be the special store that had a sign that said "Habla Espanol", now it's hard to find a clerk that doesn't have an accent so thick you can understand them. \n\nI'm not a racist or a redneck, in my family there are Latinos, Tunisians, Blacks, Russians, Irish, Scottish, Apache, Welsh, German, Cherokee and Chinese. Talk about a melting pot! Our family get togethers look like a UN meeting! My point is, if you want to become an American, become an American. If you want to keep your native identity and culture, maybe you should have stayed home.
756489
Have you been in Germany lately? Unemployment and poverty are great again. Even if you received a German Passport you would have problems in Germany, go on line and read the German Newspapers, you can get them translated in English, you will find out what the problems in Germany and Europe are.\nWhile Millions of people fight to come to the US you want to subject yourself to a society who is notorious for their elitism.\nI am a German-American and I know from experience what the conditions are. German Newspapers to read on line: Bild Zeitung\nFrankfurter Allgemeine, Der Spiegel, Stern, there are so much more available.
1034756
so i guess we should tell the irish and italians and all those other people that immigrated in the past maybe they should go to. sorry you are so fixated.  hopefully some day you will make a friend with an alien and hear their story.  good luck
462657
I want to, but I'm a mother of young children and I'm scared it will get violent. In Miami, they've been making sweeps of immigrants in an effort to intimidate. My parents came to the US about 37 yrs ago when the law was tht if your child was born American, you as the foreign parents would be eligible for American citizenship.Here I am. I KNOW my parents are hard working, independent, law abiding, God fearing people that anyone would be proud to have over for dinner (not just serving it!). They came here as young students and were given an opportunity. FYI, I have an MBA, a BA in English w/out any gov't assitance. I guess I'm taking it personally. I feel for those hardworking people who just want a better future for their kids.
732607
Ellis Island – Italians\n\nMy grandmother and grandfather arrived in Canada instead of Ellis Island, so I do not have any directly family stories to share.  However, I have seen several very informative History Channel programs on Ellis Island with include the Italian connection!\n\nNow, depending on what your interest is (history, family roots, class project, etc), there are several ways to research this topic:\n\n* Go to the local VFW or other locations where veterans might be located and ask them if anyone has Italian roots that may have family that came through Ellis Island.  If you mind some, and the odds are good that you will, you may be able to interview some people who parents or grandparents may have come through and even be willing to share pictures with you.\n\n* Today, Ellis Island is part of the USA National Parks Service (NPS).  They maintain a site with a lot of information about the Ellis Island Museum.  They have a lot of things available for the public who may want to know any number of things about the site.  There are also a number of pictures on their website that you cut and past into your own document.\n\n* It also turns out that there is an Ellis Island website dedicated to preserving the memory of this historic port of entry into the USA - http://www.ellisisland.org/\nYou will find personal and family stories at the site and can even search the historical records to identify when certain individuals came to the States.  I even looked up my mother’s madden name and found five individuals who came through Ellis who may have actually been distant relatives.\n\nThus with a little imagination and some research, you should be able to find a lot of information around the Italian immigration through Ellis Island.\n\nGood Luck.
797053
I've been to that area a lot.  Its history is more German than anything.\n\nCheck out the link for history and demographics.  \n(9% French-Canadian in Kitchener in 2001 census)
881139
Ich komme aus Amerika, aber bin ich Chinesisch und deutsch.\n\n(don't forget the German heritage)!
1148163
Having lived in Germany...\n(1) passport (duh), a map of the area you'll be in, and your dictionary\n(2) Credit Card with an International symbol on it (not all regular Visa/MC/AMEX/DISC cards work in the ATM's over there! Check with your bank before you go.) Don't take traveler's checks - they're way too big of a pain.\n(3) an electical converter. They're available at Radio Shack, sport chalet, etc. It converts any edison plug into what will work over there, and also adjusts from 110 to 220 for you. It's important if you take a laptop, hairdryer, alarm clock, etc.\n(4) Clothes that will allow you to dress in layers. Germany can be freezing cold one day and sunny (though rarely!) the next. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes - leave the flip flops at home! - that will give you traction on hills and cobblestones. Castles are always at the top of a hill! Take a coat that is treated for rain - because it WILL rain - and definitely an umbrella!!\n(5) A sense of humor! (Americans: I mean this as a caution, not in offense - Your country's politics don't exactly allow you to be popular overseas, especially near a big city like Berlin, so don't head into a pub with headstrong conservative opinions. Leave your American flag clothes, patches, keychains, etc. at home as you won't ever see a German wearing his/her flag, aside from on football/soccer shirts! If all else fails, say you're Canadian!!) Be willing to try new things, go to new places, and listen to the opinions of new people. You'll walk out of there with new friends and lots of stories, guaranteed!!!
646257
I know a lady named Herta Zimmerman. She is german and very old. She lived in a nursing home that I worked at. She was so fiesty...I love her.
1102525
MY FATHER'S MOTHER CAME FROM THE UKRAINE.  SHE LIVED TO BE 93, AND WAS THE MOST FLAG-WAVING, PATRIOTIC, LOVE AMERICAN LADY YOU WOULD EVER WANT TO KNOW.\n\nSHE WOULD GET EMOTIONAL WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT COMING OVER IN THE BOAT IN 1911, WHEN SHE WAS 11 YEARS OLD.  AND HOW THRILLED SHE WAS TO SEE THE SHORELINE.  HER NAME IS ON ONE OF THE BRICKS AT ELLIS ISLAND.  AT 18 SHE MARRIED AND THEY RAISED FIVE CHILDREN...SHE AND MY GRANDFATHER WORKED HARD, TAUGHT THEIR CHILDREN RESPECT, AND EVEN DURING THE DEPRESSION, NEVER TOOK HANDOUTS. \n\nDID SHE LOVE AMERICA? ABSOLUTELY.  WHILE SHE CONTINUED WITH HER TRADITION OF PEROGIES (UKRAINIAN DISH) AND EASTER PAINTED EGGS, HER LOYALTY AND DEVOTION AND HEART WAS ALL AMERICAN.\n\nAT AN ILLEGAL RALLY, A CITY COUNCILMAN ARROGANTLY ASKED ME WHEN "MY" ANCESTORS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.  ON MOTHER'S SIDE, WE CAME IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY WAR.  STEVEN SWAIN CAME HERE AS AN INDENTURED SERVANT AND HAD TO WORK OFF HIS BOND.  HE FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FOR FREEDOM.  WHEN I TOLD HIM THIS, HE THREW HIS HANDS UP IN DISGUST AND WALKED OFF.  \n\nI GUESS MY PEOPLE GOT HERE BEFORE HIS PEOPLE.\n\nI MAINTAIN THIS PHILOSOPHY.  THE CAVE MEN WERE THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS, AFTER THAT IT WAS UP FOR GRABS.
393650
Many things happen, like: I arrived to the United States from my foreign country. A lot of immigrants where immigrating the US from Los Angeles border with Mexico. A new law apply to immigrants.
815034
Besides fast food and hate what is American culture.  Please don't tell me freedom, or you would not be asking such a ridiculous question.  Part of becoming a better person is remembering where you came from.  Besides unless you are a Native Indian you too come from immigration.  How much do you know about the struggles that brought your people to America?
235119
My father and his family were German, my mothers side were all Irish.  The Irish side was more influential to me for a myriad of reasons.  I think that is mostly from their sense of family and closeness.  Didn't matter that I was the "American cousin' just that I was family so the always included me when I was around or talk to me when they see me online.  As a matter of fact I am in PMs with one of my cousins from Dublin now, he is helping me with some questions I have about some things.  Family is very important to them, it gives a sense of who you are and where you come from.  Doesn't seem to matter that there are differences in beliefs or how we were raised, family is family and you stick together.  All of us learn of the rich history of our family and their roots.  That seems to give you a connection to your past and gives you some sense of self and who and what you are.  \n\nThat is different from my fathers side, there was no sense of history from there, my grandmother always said when they came from Germany they left that all behind to become Americans and start anew.
551395
I have lived in Germany for two years. I have met some extremely nice Germans - very thoughtful and charming. I have also met some unbelievably rude Germans. I imagine it's the same way every place in the world.
903647
I did it.  I moved to Hong Kong from the US without knowing anything about it. Then I moved from Hong Kong to Singapore without knowing anything about it.  (read my bio).\n\nThe best things about it were (in no particular order):\n\n1. Starting over.  Not that I had a bad time in the US, but it was more than refreshing to start with a clean slate, where nobody knows you and you leave all your baggage behind. \n\n2. Independence.  There are few things more testing than having to do everything yourself.  Need a new apartment? Where to find food? Find new friends? Learn how to get around? Learn a new language?  You learn to leave all your petty excuses behind, kick a** and do things for yourself.  There is noone left to blame.  No one to get into a fight with.  Man, am I stronger for it. I went from being a passenger in life, to driving the bus, baby!\n\n3. Perspective.  With distance and isolation, comes perspective. For some, family becomes much more important.  For others, the toxic relationship becomes obvious.  This will be where you will learn a bit about the forest you used to live in now that you are a bit further from the trees. \n\n4. Patriotism.  I am not a flag waving jingoistic guy, but I am a whole lot more patriotic now.  You learn to love and hate your country much more, but mostly you just care more because you left because you had the freedom to choose to leave. There is nothing like spending 4th of July with marines off duty from the Gulf and letting them know that you love them and appreciate them - regardless of your political views. \n\n5. Extroversion.  You're going to get a lot more open and extroverted.  You're going to learn to say "hi" and talk earnestly with a lot more strangers because a) they are in a similar situation as you and b) you will be miserable cat-lady or couch-hermit if you don't get out and about. \n\n6.  Cosmopolitanism.  You are going to meet people from all over the planet that bring great color to your life.  The crazy guy from South Africa who introduces you to Castle & Booervoers.  The Russian real estate lady who could crush any person who got in her way. The Brazilians who live next door and won't say no to a get together.  The Australian couple who end up being your best friends.  The locals who embrace you as a local. \n\n7. Education.  As your mind opens up to a whole new world, you realize that you don't know jack diddly.  You'll suddenly feel small before the great ocean of knowledge in the world. I have never been so envigorated to learn new things everyday.\n\n8. Love.  I met the woman of my dreams, who was smart, adventurous, fun, travelled and professional.  She wasn't waiting in some bar for me in the US, she was out and about experiencing life!  We're married and have a little peanut running around now.