I was born in Tehran, Iran and moved to the United States at a very young age. Having not gone back to my country, my grandmother always brings hand-made unique artifacts she obtains or buys over the years in different cities within Iran. This mirror ties very close to my culture, with stone colors of turquoise, silver, and red stone. Growing up in the United States allowed me to shed of my old culture due to the ways of assimilation. This specific item holds a special place in my heart because my grandfather picked it out for me before he passed. When my grandma sent it over when traveling I could not be more grateful.  On the back of the mirror there is hand-crafted pharaohs, soldiers on horses, and the king at the time sitting on the throne. It represents a great deal of the Persian history. My family is now, as people would say "Americanized" due to the lack of cultural bondange within the community. As I have gotten older, I have realized how important it is to speak more than one language, understand all cultures, and be proud of the cultural background I come from. 

– Melina Doosty

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child