It is the year 1987 in the small South Asian country of Bangladesh. A computer programmer, his wife and their daughter are about to embark on a journey that will change their entire lives, taking a risk that a year ago to them was inconceivable. These three were moving to the United States of America, and would have to adjust to a new culture, and a completely new way of life. They chose to bring with them nothing but a few thousand dollars, some clothing, toiletries, and one thing to keep their culture truly at heart. This one thing was the mother’s wedding jewelry, her prized possession which was handed down to her from her own mother. This brings the story to June 19th, 2009. This small family has now settled in Queens, New York with the daughter and their son Ryan, who was born nine years after they made this journey. It is the night before the daughter’s wedding as her mother calls her into her room. She pulls out a box, carefully preserved and looks to have been cleaned at least yearly without any wear. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this” says the mother with tears of joy forming in her eyes. She had waited over twenty years for this moment, and it had finally culminated. She was able to pass down this tradition. With the migration of this family, this was a huge part of the culture that seems to have migrated with them, and continues to be a huge part, as the jewelry has been passed down to the daughter.

– RYAN AHMED

Relationship:  unknown unknown