In the early 2000s, my parents immigrated to Spain from Colombia. I came into the picture in 2006. Once I turned one year old, I acquired a special blanket that turned out to be my loyal companion offering comfort and security for the odyssey that was upon me. Due to the great recession of 2008, my parents and I had to fly back to Colombia and settle in the big city of Bogota. Despite the changes, my blanket served many purposes such as an eye mask, full body cover, and a walking companion during pitch-dark corridors. Unfortunately, the little capital my father obtained in Europe dissipated in the blink of an eye due to the robbery of his main source of income, a truck. This led him to the United States in 2015 in search of the American Dream. Meanwhile, my mother and I moved houses three different times in Colombia. Every time we moved, the first item on top of my suitcase was my blanket because it symbolized my connection to my roots and my long-distance father. Finally, in 2018, my family was reunited and ready to embark on our new lives in the Big Apple. Through all the stages of my life, my trusty blanket continued to be a reminder of unity, adaptability, and sacrifice that shaped my identity. Wherever life took me, my blanket was the tangible memory of my resilience through times of change. 

– Julian Cardenas-Moncada

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant