The iPhone is one of the key symbols of our generation and of the reason why me and my family are in America today. Luxury, stability, and convenience are all words that can used to describe iPhone. However, these were all the things my parents wanted in their lives. Growing up extremely poor, both my parents had to work odd jobs such as cleaning shoes or selling lottery tickets from the time they could until their late adolescence. In their search for a better life, they moved to America and worked as hard as they could to gain the jobs that they have. With such a hard life back in Vietnam, luxuries were only a dream. Having a home to sleep in or food on the table was never consistent. With the amount of work needed to survive, finding time to be with friends and family was a struggle.  They needed the infrastructure of America, with its plentiful amount of jobs and opportunities than can actually support a family. War had ravaged their communities, not only making it more difficult to support themselves, but also struck fear in their hearts. Under such strict rule, their freedom of choice could be take away from them at any time. America just like many other communities became their personal safe haven, their place of freedom and opportunity, and the place they could be comfortable enough to call a home worth staying in. The device we carry in our pockets at all times with limitless amounts of knowledge and connections became the object that embodies everything that my parents ever wanted.

– Nathan Vu

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant