My family lived in New York City. We originally came to America from Germany. My parents, in church, heard that some of the other families in our church were moving west into Appalachia where they could have land, and some new opportunities. My father had been a farmer in Germany and liked that work more than working in a factory.
Life here in Appalachia is much different than living in New York. We have a large amount of land and our closest neighbors are miles away. It is very hilly and very different from where we were living. Instead of working in a factory, my father farms, and we raise pigs. He says he farmed more land in Germany, but it was not hilly like here. My older brothers help him farm, while my younger sister and I feed the pigs, collect chestnuts and help our mother inside the house.
It is nice to have so much more space, but I miss having friends to play with every day and stores, especially the ones that have toys and candy. Going to a store or even playing with other kids is now a special event, but we don’t mind.
Unlike New York, my parents are not worried about crime and being robbed, but we do have to worry about wild animals. When we first arrived this was a bigger problem, but now, it is getting better. I think part of it is that we are adjusted, and part of it is that most families also hunt for food, and animals mostly stay clear.
Now that we have been here a while and are growing up, we like it and look forward to starting our own families in Appalachia.