My grandmother, who lives in Ethiopia, started a tradition where she gifts a gold necklace to each of her children when they reach a certain age. The pendent of the necklace would be in the shape of the first initial of the person receiving it. My mother received hers at age 12. She would tell me that she felt as if it was a part of her and how she would never take it off. At the time I didn’t get what she meant, this made me wonder if “An object could help define who you are?” But now that I have one, I completely understand. My mom decided to carry on her mother's tradition even after she migrated to the U.S. On my 13th birthday my mom handed me this little white box. When I opened it, it was a gold necklace of my own, and of course it was shaped like a ‘U’. Ever since that day I have never taken it off, because like my mother, I also felt like it was a part of me, and one day, I hope to continue this wonderful tradition with my own daughter.

– UH

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