The object I have chosen to write about is my mom’s green card because without it I would not be here today. My mom’s dad, Peter Appleton, who we call G-pop, started working for Pandair, a logistics company based near Manchester Airport in the 1960s. In 1969, Peter was given the opportunity by his employer to go to New York and start a new division of the company. He saw this as an opportunity for his new family. He and his pregnant wife applied for their visas in 1969. They were approved in 1970. Later that year, my grandparents and their nine-month-old daughter arrived in America with nothing but a few suitcases full of clothing. My mom lived in Manhattan for about a year and then moved to Massapequa, a small suburb town on Long Island. My mom spent about half of her life growing up on Long Island, where she ended up meeting my dad in high school. My mom’s green card ties my entire family together and it allows my mom to live in America. It also connects my European roots to my American roots. Since my mother has a green card and her heritage is English, my siblings and I all have English passports. 

– Nick

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