“I would cry every day. I had a plan to pack up all my belongings and meet my dad at the border. I was going to go back to Mexico.” Those words and my mother’s immigration to America transport back to my mom unpacking our house after a move. As I walked through the door, I was greeted with the sound of Luis Miguel blasting through a speaker, and my eyes landed on her singing in Spanish and delicately unpacking a variety of ceramics. From the terracotta-colored pots that we cook our dinner in to the colorful handcrafted flower vases clay pottery is my family's heirloom that without fail reminds me of my Hispanic culture. Every region in Mexico is proud to have a specific style of pottery. The diversity of techniques and the variations in clay pottery usage make it extra special, although my family's most cherished item is an uncomplicated water pitcher. Passed down from my great-great-great grandparents, this pitcher has made its way through six generations. Almost twenty-five years later, and all seventeen years of my life, this jug has watched me grow up. The simple, almost unnoticeable vertical slashing in the clay tells a tale of Mexican craftsmanship and artistic expression. With its sturdy handle and wide base, this ceramic symbolizes comfort, pride, and connection. Every time I look at the pottery in my house, I am reminded of the memories, stories, and traditions that have shaped my identity. This pitcher has and forever will make my house a home.

– Nikki Bruno

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more