On my first trip to Jamaica in 2021, I purchased my memorable Jamaican cup from Saint Ann’s Bay, the town of my family. Ever since then, I’ve brought it with me on every visit. It’s placed in a glass cabinet in my kitchen, as a daily reminder of my Jamaican roots, and it helps me look forward to my next trip to Jamaica. Although it may seem “touristy,” this cup, decorated with slang terms and popular Jamaican towns, helps me connect with the lineage that flows through my veins. 
Both of my paternal grandparents were born in NY, but they moved to Saint Ann’s Bay during their childhood. My grandparents, Iris and Eddie, children of Honduran and Jamaican parents, moved back to NY as adolescents, where they met and soon married. Although they left the country, they never left their culture behind. This culture trickled down my lineage - reaching my father, his brothers, and eventually me. I am able to embrace family gatherings where I learn more about my culture and indulge in spicy food always made with love and laughter. We dance and sing to West Indian music, especially SOCA, all while my cherished Jamaican cup rests in that cabinet, watching my family and me, reminding us of home. 

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