a small house souvenir

Relationship: Child of im/migrant

This object has great sentimental value and meaning to my mother. Before she and her family left in search of opportunities in New York, she was only a scared little girl arriving at a strange place. As a form of comfort one of her close aunts, brought her a going away present. Her aunt went to the store and managed to find an object that looks identical to my mother's house. Since then, she has always cherished this memory.                                      
The object itself gave my mother a feeling of nostalgia because it includes several drawings of how nature looked in her country and its impacting beauty. She missed the weather, the birds, the trees, the fresh air, etc. Everything seemed different to her once she got here. In addition, it also reminded her of the struggles she had to face living in a small house with her seven siblings and parents. Being the oldest, she had some of the biggest responsibilities when it came to helping her mother with housework. Now, she is proud to know that her family was able to overcome these obstacles together and had the chance to live here. In the end, she told me that this object is a reminder that although she felt uncomfortable in the big city for many years, she finally came to learn that the move was not all that bad; she has her family and that's all that really matters. 

Year: 1970

– Doralis

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant