Once when I was young, I decided to ask my grandmother where she came from. She told me her stories of being an immigrant from Cambodia fleeing from the Vietnam war and her struggles and her accomplishments. She made me a stew and told me more about her life in her home country. She told me that whenever there was a celebration her and her mother would make the stew together and they would eat it as a family as they celebrated. The stew tasted like a pot roast my mom had made, but it was different and when I was eating it I felt closer to my family and more connected to my culture. The dish was a rich stew with beef, carrots, potatoes, and so many different spices and elements from my grandmother and I’s culture. My grandma lives in Texas, so I only get to eat her special stew maybe once a year, but every time it feels more and more special. My father makes it for me and my family when we celebrate together because my grandma isn't there to cook it for us. My grandma makes it for me everytime she comes and visits or vice-versa and now I have come to the age where I can help her and feel even more connected to my culture. To keep this tradition alive in my future family I will continue to make this dish with celebration and teach my future family about what the stew means to me, along with my grandma and her story

– S.S.

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