Dear Claire,

                America is a lot different than I expected and to be honest quite overwhelming at times. The transition from the rural areas of Ireland to such a large city like New York is tremendous. Luckily I found a group of people who also came from Ireland that I have become close to. I have not really made any other friends besides them. They are just easier to talk to since they came from similar situation and have similar goals for the life that they are striving to achieve. Other groups of people just do not understand me or my life. That seems to be how it goes in America, when you get here you find a group of people that came from the same place as you and you stick with them.

                The Americans are not the most welcoming people, but I am managing. I have found a job, it does not have the best salary, but it is a job and hopefully I will be able to find a better one so that I can make enough money to come visit you, mom, and dad this eventually. I do have to say that I have adopted some of the American ways of life and am adapting to the busyness of the city pretty well. I have learned and encountered some interesting new inventions and ways of life that I had never even heard of and I can not wait to tell you all about them.

Much love,

Your Sister