My name is Gabriel Pacheco. My Grandma and my Great Grandma are from Puerto Rico. My Great Grandma moved to the US in the 1970s for better job opportunities because the jobs in Puerto Rico were very limited. When my Grandma and Great Grandma moved to the US, my Grandma was a kid and went to school in New York. When they got here, they didn’t know how to speak English so they had to learn. Today, they still speak Spanish with each other and one day I want to learn how to speak Spanish too. My Grandma and Great Grandma frequently make a dish called arroz con gandules which is yellow rice, pigeon peas, and pork. I’ve been eating it since I was a little kid. This dish makes me feel connected to my Puerto Rican Culture because it is the national dish of Puerto Rico. When I eat arroz con gandules, it reminds me of myself because it is a mix of foods just like Puerto Ricans are a mix of different ethnicities. When I smell arroz con gandules, I am transported to Puerto Rico. One day I want to learn how to make this dish so I can be able to make it for my family.

– GP

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant