My object is a small red fabric suitcase with silver-colored zippers, black and white details on the compartments and black rubber wheels. I have owned it for about 3 years, and it was passed down to me from my mother. Although I have not owned it for that long a time, I have taken it on a lot of trips since my family travels often for vacations, but one memory sticks out to me the most. My father was an immigrant from Bangladesh, but a lot of my family still lives there. I have always felt detached from my ancestry and my parent's culture since I grew up in the U.S. and never really tried to learn about them, however about 2 years ago I travelled to Bangladesh to see my cousins, and it was an amazing experience for me. It was the first time that I saw them that I can still remember and I learned a lot about their lives and their culture. It was also my first chance to meet some of my cousins and uncle. For these reasons, this suitcase represents a part of my connection to my family and my experience being a second-generation immigrant. If I had never taken that trip, I would still know close to nothing about my family, but thanks to it I feel like I have a culture worth celebrating and learning about. It’s also a reminder to me that you should never forget who you and your family are and always be proud of your ancestry. 

– ADA

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