Puerto Rico is a part of the United States. However, it’s a completely different world that I love. Because the island is so different from the mainland, moving to New York from Yabucoa to build a more stable life was a big and scary step for my Abuelo Luis. This Bowl that he made is one of many. It is a symbol of his talent, his roots, and the beginning of the life he worked so hard to create so that I could be here where I am today. This bowl takes a long time to create. It starts by picking the gourds from the Higuera tree and chopping them open with his machete. Once they are chopped in half, he works and works to scrape all the insides out until he is left with a smooth bowl finish. They have to be left in the sun to dry for a long time before using them. Abuelo used these bowls to eat with his family growing up. Once I came along, these bowls changed from an item we needed to eat from, to an item we use to hold things like jewelry and keys. He even carved our initials into the bowls. This tradition of making them for his family never changed, but the way we use the Higuera bowl is a good reflection of the journey he took to give his family the best life while honoring our roots.

– Ethan

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