This necklace was the only piece of dowry that my maternal grandmother had when she was married. My maternal grandmother came from a poor family of farmers and was married off (in an arranged marriage) to my maternal grandfather who came from a formerly upper-class family in China. My grandfather's family had to leave China for Taiwan, losing their wealth and influence. Through this marriage, my grandmother's family would receive money from this so they could fix up their farm and house. This necklace was the only thing that my grandmother's family was able to purchase for her dowry as it was fairly expensive. My mother received this necklace (from my grandmother) when she was 20, an age that signified adulthood in Taiwan. She, along with my father, immigrated to the United States in the mid-1990s. This necklace is the only thing of true value that my mother brought along with her to the U.S. To my mother, it is one of her most treasured pieces of jewelry. I have been told that I will be holding onto this to give to my successors and pass on the story of our family.

– Jonathan Liu

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