My mom, Shahnaz Kamal, decided to choose a framed picture of the mazar (shrine) of Baba Bhandari (an important figure/saint in Islam). My mom put the picture in a brown frame and hung it over the wall of my parents bed. Every morning before we leave for work or school or anywhere we take a sip of holy water and facing the picture, we pray for our well being, safety and anything else we may need/want.

My mom left our country, Bangladesh, during 2009 in hopes of having better opportunities such as a better education for her children and better jobs as well as reuniting with her younger sister. When she first arrived she was 36 years old while I was 6, my dad 46 and my brother 14. The object is important to her because it reminds her that god is always watching and we have rules to follow. 

This object says that immigrants still respect their religion & culture even though they moved to a foreign country and have to change certain aspects of their lifestyle. It is important to share this story so people can learn that all immigrant stories are unique but connected in one way or another.

– Shahrika

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child