When my parents first immigrated to America, everything they brought held the memories of their past, and offered a sense of comfort in their new beginnings. The entirety of our family lived in the Philippines, and my mother missed her family dearly,  especially her mother. To preserve her memory, my mother brought a singular picture of my grandmother that she held near her heart. My grandmother's picture followed my mother to every house we moved into, gracing each house with her warm smile. Whenever my mother accomplished a goal, she would sit in front of my grandmother and tell her every single detail. My mother was frequently misunderstood by my sisters and I as to why she would repeat this action, but it soon became a habit for us to follow. A part of me feels connected to my grandmother because of this simple tradition, a feeling of warmth hugging me tightly every time I sit in front of her. As the years passed, the mantel that held my grandmother's picture grew with photos of my other family members that had passed away. Even though they are not physically with us anymore, a small part of them will live on forever in our hearts, and we only have my mother to thank for this. My mother has taught me endless valuable life lessons throughout my life, but the most important one was how far love can travel when needed. No matter where I am, I will forever know that my family is supporting me. I just need to sit in front of those familiar faces and share my stories. 

– Angelynne Tiangco

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant