My name is Anna Graber. I’m 12 years old and my favorite color is blue. I live with my Papa, Mama, and five brothers, Johann, John, Jacob, Andreas and Daniel; and my little sister, Maria.  It is the year 1870 and we live in Russia, near the Volga River, although my family is originally from Germany. We are Evangelical Lutherans.
     Right now, Alexander the Second is the king of Russia.  He doesn’t like us (Russian Germans), and I don’t know why. John says that it doesn’t matter what the reason, but it will mean trouble for us. Papa agrees. Daniel says that the Czar is afraid we’ll make our own country, or try to, so he’s taking away the  privileges his grandmother, Katherine, had promised to our people. She had said that we’d never have to join the militia, or pay taxes, or worship the way our neighbors do. Now her grandson says we have to become Russian; pay the taxes, join the militia and attend Russian churches.
     Alexander is just being mean. In my opinion he wants everyone to think the way he does. And, since our language is foreign to him, I think he’s afraid we’re saying mean things about him behind his back. Papa doesn’t think I know about any of this stuff. He and my brothers only talk about it when Maria and I are in bed.
     John, Johann, Jacob, Mama and Daniel want us to go to America, but Papa and Andreas want to stay.  Papa says that they’ll give our privileges back. Daniel disagrees. According to Mama, the Mennonites are sending an emissary to Czar Alexander to find out whether it’s true that he’ll give back our privileges. We all agreed to wait for the emissary. He left last month, and should be arriving soon.
     I’m hoping we won’t have to move, but I’ve never been on a boat before, or a train.  I would like to go, but Aunt Josephine, Uncle Edmund, Cousin Jane and Cousin Peter will stay here.  They don’t care if they have to learn Russian, they just don’t want to move.
     NEXT DAY — The emissary arrived. Bad (and good) news. Alexander is completely serious.  He wants the nation to be whole. He doesn’t think that can happen when there are groups of German speaking people in their midst.
      Stupid Alexander!  Doesn’t he realize what he’s doing?! Doesn’t he care? Now we’re leaving, and its all his fault!
     Daniel tried to make me feel better. He made me a doll and a britchka (buggy) for it.  Daniel always knows how to make me feel better. Papa has found a man who can get us to America. And the tickets aren’t very expensive. Mama’s already gotten us to start packing. The first thing that went in my travel bag is the doll Daniel made. Mama says I can’t take the buggy. We’re leaving as soon as we can make arrangements.
     DAY 3 —  I wonder what America will be like. Does it have hills? Or is it flat? The farmland is supposed to be very good, but I’m still skeptical.
     Mama wants me to get apples and dig up potatoes for supper. I’m sick of helping make supper and salting meat for the trip. I want to go to Cousin Jane’s house. But I can’t. It’s raining and Mama doesn’t want me to catch a cold. But soon I won’t be able to ever see her again.
      DAY 23 — We’re leaving. Today. Cassie (my doll) is packed, along with our clothes, Mama’s china, Papa’s fiddle, and everything else we’re taking with us.  Aunt Josephine promises to take care of the cow, Sophie, and the chickens. I can’t believe that we’re leaving. Uncle Edmund decided to send Jane and Peter with us. Uncle Edmund and Aunt Josephine are going to come as soon as the harvest is brought in and the farms are sold. I’m glad Jane and Peter are coming. We are traveling to the “coast” and then by boat to England. A train will take us across England, and we’ll travel to America from there. I know I said I’d never been on a boat before. I lied. I’ve been out in a fishing boat. I meant that I’d never been on an ocean going boat.     
      LATER — I’m bored. All my things are on top of the carriage. The scenery has been farmland for miles. The day has dragged on. It seems like it's been hours since we left. We haven’t even reached the halfway point. We're traveling to Odessa. From there, we’ll take the train to Hamburg, Germany.
     We tried playing “I Spy With My Little Eye”, but it didn’t work. Peter always got it right and there’s only so much you can spy. Daniel tried to help us. He spied something green.  Peter said a cow. Mama explained that cows, while they come in a lot of different colors, aren’t green. Peter was so cute when he said, in this small little voice, “Oh” . Maria guessed grass and I said leaves. I was right.
      DAY 25 — We made it! We’re finally in Odessa! Now we just have to board the stupid train. Then get on the stupid boat, then on another stupid train, and finally on the ship to take us across the Atlantic. While I started out wanting to go, I really, really, really want to go back home know.
      Some of the people here are really sick. There’s a pair of girls my age who cough a lot and their going to be on the same train with us! Ahhh! Daniel has a cold, Maria has it too and Peter’s got the flu. They’re going to be a joy to travel with.
     I’m tired, I’m cold and I really want to leave. The train will be here in a few hours. Night has already fallen, and everyone’s asleep. Except for me. And Jane. She’s been writing letters to her parents. I think she’s sick too, but she won’t tell Mama. I’m worried.
     DAY 26 — Well, we’re on the train, that’s the only good thing I can say. It’s worse than the carriage. It is cramped, alternating cold and hot, damp and completely miserable. 
     Daniel’s gotten worse. The damp weather isn’t helping any of us right now. Many people are sick. One of the boys has stomach flu, but he isn’t related to me. The two girls who cough a lot are here as well. I fear we won’t make it to Hamburg without everyone being sick. 
     Peter is also worse. Papa and Andreas are both sick now with the coughs. Mama is afraid it might be tuberculosis, but I don’t agree. I think it’s just the coughs. Jane still won’t tell Mama she’s sick.
     DAY 28 - Another train, another ship. I still can’t sleep. The rocking motion is making me seasick, and we haven’t even left the harbor yet. The train made good time to Hamburg, and we made it in time for the boat trip to England. Now we’re on the ship that is going to take us across the Atlantic Ocean ... to America. I’m tired of traveling, but we must continue to go on.  Eventually, Alexander is going to close the border, but if we plant fields and build a couple of houses, then maybe Aunt Josephine and Uncle Edmund can make it here before then.  Alexander gave us Germans ten years to become Russian or leave, but he’s royalty. He can take it away anytime he wants, without anyone stopping him. We were guaranteed military exemption forever, and it’s been rescinded, so why not the promise of ten years?
     Mama finally found out that Jane is sick. She’s lying down on one of the bunks while Mama takes care of everyone. Only Johann, John, Jacob, and I aren’t sick. We’re some of the few passengers who’ll be on deck when we cast off. Everyone else is down below.
     The weather is better that it was, but still foggy. However, it’s perfect for the last sight of Europe. I think fog is better than rain. Fog gets everywhere, but it's not as wet. John says it’s time to cast off, so I have to go.
     DAY 32 — I have overcome my seasickness, for it is the least of my worries. Mama, Papa, Andreas, Daniel, Johann, Peter, Maria, and Jane are all on bunks, too sick to get up. They really need to get some fresh air and fresh food, but we’re in the middle of what seems to be a tempest. The food is terrible, and the beds even worse. I’ve been picking lice out of everyone’s hair. The beds are wooden, with straw on top. The bedbugs come out of the straw at night. Jane’s been shaking. She won’t stop. She says it’s the cold, but I felt her forehead, and found that she felt like she was on fire. I’ve had to use salt water to try and bring the fever down, as there’s no fresh water to spare. I really don’t know what else to do.
     DAY 37 — Jan’s better! And so is Daniel! I could jump for joy, I’m so happy. Maria and Peter are better, too. Mama, Papa, Andreas, and Johann are still pretty sick, but I think in the long run they will be fine. The Captain says we’ll be arriving at New York Harbor in 10 days.  For the first time, I can hardly wait. Daniel says I’m giddy with excitement. He’s right. Daniel’s always right. But I won’t hold that against him. 
     Something else, and I know not what is wrong with me. I’ve been having these awful headaches. And I feel like something’s trying to rip out my throat. I ... feel ... really dizzy right now. Don’t know why. Just really tired. Actually fell asleep last ni- 
     DAY 47 —Sorry about that. A good thing I wasn’t on deck. I’ve been sick for the past 10 days. Daniel took care of me. He kept it from getting serious, but I don’t know how. Mama, Papa, Andreas, and Johann are better now. We are all well. And as we’re going into New York  Harbor, too. This is a great day for us. Today we start our new life on the shores of America. All of us are in good health, and Aunt Josephine will come soon with Uncle Edmund. And we’ll all live together in South Dakota.