I am a US born citizen with Jamaican descent. My whole family was practically born in Jamaica, I am probably ⅓ family members born in America. With this being said It is important that I have knowledge of my Jamaican background. One of my favorite things that binds me to this origin is oxtails. Oxtails are a famous Jamaican cuisine taken by the tail of a cow. This one dish can be paired with many other items since its flavor is very neutral, but also very rich. My favorite pairing is mac and cheese and festival (a form of fried dumpling). Since cows only have one tail, and supply can be limited, oxtail is very expensive. One tail can make about 6-8 pounds, with an average of about $15 per pound, making a whole tail $90-$120. With this pricing, it is not often me and my family get to enjoy this delicacy. It is mainly on holidays, such as Christmas where we get to eat this. And so, this circumstance makes oxtails and occasional joy for me. Every time I indulge in oxtails, I always have to savor the flavor and tender meat provided for me. When I eat oxtails, I get this remembrance of my happy times in Jamaica. I get this feeling of connection–that even if I wasn’t Jamaican born, I am still attached to my Jamaican roots.
 

– Nellisa

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant