Fish are always moving. They constantly relocate, readjust, and refamiliarize. A perfect home in a coral bed would be exchanged for a barren ocean floor. Why? Although the exotic coral forest seems wonderful, its lack of food will drive fish away. The sand may appear unassuming, but beneath lies food for fish to eat. Fish move to where growth is possible. Families are like fish.

As a child my Oma (Dutch for grandma) lived in Holland with her mom. On her eighth birthday, Oma's mom gifted her an heirloom: a bracelet. Dark blue fish were painted on the sides of the oval beads. Silver traced the scales of the small fish while an opaque gloss covered the beads of glass with a small shimmer. She wanted to know where it came from. 

My Oma’s mom (great Oma) originally had the bracelet. Her life was not easy and she always moved to find work. She gave up many things, but never the bracelet. To her the bracelet was important because it resembled home and change and that everyone had to adapt to a new place, like fish. Now it is passed down the family, becoming a reminder of home and change. 

At the age of eighteen, my Oma migrated to the U.S. and had her own family. I was then given the bracelet per tradition. After a while, I became unfazed by the bracelet on my wrist. I often forgot the history of my bracelet, but when someone told me their migration story, I realized something. Many families migrate in hopes to find a place where they might grow. Many families are like fish.

– Ellie Eckersley

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