Justin

My name is Peter. I am nine years old and I live in New Amsterdam. I live on Water Street with my mom and dad in front of the East River. I have always lived here because I was born here. My mam and vader have always lived in New Amsterdam too because they were also born here. Many years ago, my grandparents moved to New Amsterdam from Europe because they were very poor and they couldn’t take it anymore. All four of my grandparents were part of the first group of Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam. The only family I know are the ones here in New Amsterdam. I want to learn more about the family that stayed in Europe but not even my parents know a lot about them. I can’t ask my grandparents about that family because they died when I was little. My mam and vader say that we are fortunate because we are middle class. They say that my grandparents would be so proud because we have the life that they came to New Amsterdam for. My mam and vader are silversmiths and they tell me to be good in school so I can make my grandparents more proud. I like most of my neighbors and I have a lot of friends so I am very happy in New Amsterdam. I don’t really know what life is like in any other place because I have always lived in New Amsterdam, but I would not want to go to any other place anyway.