Final answer:
The author noticed that the family's tenement home was dark and crowded. Immigrants faced cultural differences when they arrived in the United States, such as language barriers and the pressure to assimilate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author noticed that the family's home, which was a tenement, was dark. Tenements were often rundown and crowded living spaces where poor immigrants lived. These buildings lacked proper sanitation and fire protection, leading to the quick spread of diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. Additionally, immigrants faced cultural differences when they arrived in the United States, such as language barriers and the pressure to assimilate into a new society.