My mother was born in a small town in rural southeastern Poland. Living in rural Poland under communism was difficult and opportunities were scarce. My grandparents decided to uproot the family and take my mother and her sisters to America in hopes of a better life and to escape the oppression that communism had brought to Poland.They took a few belongings to remind themselves of their roots, one of which being a handmade bright pink quilt (a gift given to nearly every Polish woman when she marries). Winters in Poland are notoriously cold, and so these quilts are intended for both practical use as well as sentimentality. The quilt, my mother, and her family were put on a ship that made its way to New York. Once in America, they felt lost and homesick for quite a while, and so even an object as ordinary as a quilt brought a great deal of both comfort and warmth during the cold Northeast winters. Aside from keeping me warm through every winter of my life, I like the idea that this pink quilt has been with my family through their long journey, and can now be with me through my own journey here at college. lt has weathered the circumstances of home, crossed an ocean, and comforted a family of homesick Polish immigrants in a new country. My mother passing this quilt on to me to have during my time at Fordham makes me feel a connection to my family even when I cannot physically be with them.

– Olivia

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