Every family meal growing up (and since) we used these bowls. We ate communally, family-style. It was an important gathering where everyone must come promptly to enjoy the food - hot - and how it should be. "Come and eat, chow time," my dad would say to us in English. We didn't always have a lot of discussions around the table, mostly just enjoying the presence of all of us, as we picked up our eats, slurped our soups, and held up our bowls to our faces and pushed the rice into our mouths. 
As we got older and were able to correctly use chopsticks, we were able to use these chopsticks. These were possibly brought over from Hong Kong when my parents married and moved to America. (My father was already living in America for a number of years.) Some have seen better days; some are even etched with family members names. 
For Lunar New Year, we examine these bowls and only pick out the finest, without chips or cracks, to use. We do this in hopes our new year will be free from broken promises and be filled with good cheer and luck. We also set table settings for those of our immediate family that are not able to attend our important family feast. We do this, to show that, even far, they are still with us. 

– Vivian Chan

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