In this Chapter Irene explains how even though she is dealing with hard times, her friends help her out of them. She says that her friends find out that there is a repatriation camp for people who are struggling after the war. It helps all kinds of people, but mainly Jews. So, Irene's friends help her change her identity to a Jewish girl. They dye her hair black and get her a transit pass with a different name on it. When Irene is finally ready to board the train the the repatriation camp she flashes back to her childhood when riding the train was fun. Now, as she looks at the faces of all of the passengers, the only expression she can read on them is defeat. Once Irene gets to the repatriation camp things do not get better. Instead, they get worse. Irene finally tells everyone that she isn't a Jew. People at the camp call her a hero because of it, but she doesn't even care. Instead, she once again starts working, trying not to focus how everyone in this camp still seems to look miserable. Although, the hard work takes a toll on Irene once again. This time she becomes very sick with diphtheria. This disease takes months to heal from and changes the rhythm of Irene's heart. She can no longer work as hard.... Months pass at the camp and Irene is finally starting to become happy there. She makes friends and everyone's moods begin to lighten. One day a delegation from the United Nations comes to Irene's camp to interview survivors. His name is William Opdyke. Although William and Irene do not speak the same language the interview goes well. After it is over William says he is honored to have met someone like Irene. He also says America would be proud to have her as a citizen. Irene thinks about it. Her? America? Yes, she thinks to herself, I want to go to America.
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September 2016
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