This note book seems nothing different from any other ones in the world, but it is actually the one that is so important to me that I will keep it for the rest of my life. I got this note book from dad, who was also the first one who wrote on it. I remember it was a few days before I first left my entire family and came to the US to study all by myself. My father would not let me pack my own luggage because he was afraid that I would forget to bring something important. However, after he finished packing, he realized that I would not be able to know where he puts everything. So, he spent a long time writing down the exact place where he puts everything in my suitcases and bags. Along with that, he also wrote down all the emergency contacts and list of things that I should do after I land in America.    Now when I think about what happened in those days, my parents, especially my dad, were so worried that it made them look like the ones who were going aboard not me. My father is never someone who is good at expressing his feelings. He never mentions or shows how much he misses and loves me, but deep down in his heart, I know he really does. Most of the things that I brought at that time were gone because of many different reasons, but I always keep this note book at a noticeable place and promise that I will always keep it because I can literally feel him and his love from it. I have done this for the past 5 years, and I know that I will keep this for the rest of my life.

– Shengzhe Xu

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant