In the midst of the Great Depression, Ernst and Lotte made a decision that changed both their lives and the lives of their two young children. With no work in Germany or the Netherlands, Ernst, a skilled machinist, turned to the Land of Opportunity for relief -- leaving his family behind for work in New York. They remained in touch by writing weekly letters. The letters (of which the first year is presented in this book) span the depths of the worldwide depression, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, and other tumultuous events that led both nations toward World War II. These letters are written by ordinary people, with ordinary problems and ordinary hopes and dreams -- but in a most amazing time in world history. Their vivid, honest, and very personal words pull the reader into their everyday lives, and provide a unique perspective of real life in both small-town Germany and New York City. The letters were carefully translated, edited, and annotated to facilitate and enrich the reader's entry into their engaging world.