In my family, every night for as long as I can remember my grandma would always light a joss stick and pray for good fortune to the Buddha statue in our house. Joss sticks are a type of incense. They are traditionally burned before an Asian religious image, idol, Buddha statue, or shrine. Joss sticks have been lit for centuries in Asia as part of an ancient tradition of offering smoke to deities. This is an important part of my identity and culture because it has been a historical tradition, especially on holidays or special occasions such as Chinese New Year. This tradition was passed down from my grandparents to my parents, and now me. Although I don’t light these joss sticks, I will still watch as my parents light them up and pray to the Buddha statue in the temple near my house. Each time I watch my parents pray to the Buddha statue I feel nostalgic, remembering how it was passed down for generations–that despite our different upbringings, we can connect through each other in many ways. For me, this connection is manifested in the form of a joss stick.

– 2007

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