My object is a necklace from my grandmother's home country, Turkey. My grandmother does not usually wear the necklace because it is so special to her. The necklace was costomly made in Turkey for her, the necklace is made of gold and has her name ‘Coya’ pronounced ‘Joya’ on the necklace. My grandmother is Armenian but she grew up in Turkey like all her other family. 
I chose this necklace because my grandmother brought very few things with her to the United States which meant the necklace was very special to her. My great grandfather was a jeweler so he was the person that got her the necklace. My grandmother came to the United States alone in 1963 at the age of 18. She was the first one in her family to come to the United States. Her mother came a lot later once my great grandfather passed away. When my grandmother first came here she was on a student visa, when the student visa expired, she had to go back to Turkey. However, my grandmother wanted to stay in the U.S. so my grandmother had to get the job of a maid. That was the only way she could stay in the U.S. No other American wanted that job. She ended up staying in the third house she worked at for about 6 months. After that she finished college and became a citizen of the United States. 
One thing I wonder about my grandmother’s necklaces is why have I not seen her wear it before? In conclusion, the necklace reminds me of how hard my grandmother worked to start a new life in America.

– ZR

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