“The Journey of a General’s Bracelet”

After enlisting in the Ecuadorian army at the age of 18, my grandfather Daniel Guaman soon became a general in 1970. He was extremely grateful; he would be able to provide more for his wife and seven children back home in Cuenca, Ecuador. However it would cost him: he would spend many months away without being able to see his children, especially my father, the youngest. Eventually, he temporarily went back home. While he was there he stopped by the town and purchased a personalized gold bracelet with seven engraved flowers, one for each of his children. He wore this bracelet when he went away to remind him of his family back home. 

At the age of 28 my father decided to move to the United States. When my grandfather heard his last son was leaving he asked him why he wanted to start over in another country when he already lived a comfortable life in Ecuador. My father simply replied with, “Por mi Familia,” he did not want to live away from my mother and me in the U.S. My grandfather understood and as a parting gift he gave my dad his bracelet so he would always remember his family. My father took it with him on his journey to the U.S. and never mentioned it until I received my first out of state college acceptance. He had rushed to his room and grabbed a box: “To remind you of your familia,” he said as he handed me my grandfather’s bracelet, “Take his values with you.”

– Amy

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