My artifact that I chose is my mom's spice cabinet. To others it's just a simple cabinet with some boxes and bags of different spices but for me that cabinet represents my Afghani culture and memories. When my mom migrated to the U.S. from Afghanistan around the early 2000s, she brought some of her cultures and traditions with her. These traditions are part of my experiences and in a way, shows how I grew up. I come home almost everyday from school, open my entrance door and smell the delicious aroma of spices in her food that she's cooking that day. It always looks as if she's just throwing random seasonings in a pot, but the end result is a mix of flavors that are comforting to me. Sometimes I’ll see her grabbing different spices from the cabinet without ever measuring them but it’s always tasty anyway. Food is a big part of me being Afghan surrounded by my culture as well as a mix of other cultures around me. Food gathers everyone together whether it's at the table with my family or sitting on the floor at a family gathering to eat and chat. My story shows that everyone living in New York has different cultures, families, and traditions. My mom’s spice cabinet is one small example that's unique to me and shows the diverse culture that makes up New York. It represents how families can bring their traditions with them when they move to a new place and pass these traditions down to their children. Even though the cabinet may seem like an ordinary object, it reminds me of my mom, my Afghan culture, and the food that brings us together.

– ZA

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