My parents originated from two different countries, my mother was born in a country in South America – Guyana, while my father was born on an island in the Caribbean, Jamaica. My mother first migrated to Canada when she was 17 to help her aunt with childcare. However, she went back Guyana at age 18 because her dad passed away – she then stayed for 6 years to help her mother take care of the other five children. My mother then came to New York at the age of 24 where she lived with an aunt, her sister and five cousins – all in one house. The picture is of the house she first lived in when she came to New York. When she was living there, she applied to college, then canceled her application to work in order to support her family in Guyana, pay for rent, and help with chores around the house. This was the first time my mother got a job since she was not working when she lived in Guyana – it was common for women to stay at home with children while the men worked. In New York, my mother did not have time to incorporate time for school work with her other responsibilities. Furthermore, since my mother and her sister were in New York, she left her other four siblings behind with her mother. However, her aunt acted as a mother figure while she was living with her – they still maintain a close relationship after all these years. 

– NF

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