When I was 6 years old I came to America for the first time. I spend my summer and fall here, surrounded by my family from my father’s side. Then, I went back home, to Ukraine. When I was 9 years old I came here again, for 2 month, to visit my grandparents. I stayed in New York for 2 months, then went back home.  When I was 12 I came here for the third time, and it was my final. Not because I never went back to New York, but because I didn’t leave it in the first place.  All this time that I was away from my motherland, this little necklace was with me. My mother was giving it to me each time that I went to America for “luck” and “security”. My mother wore this necklace every single day since her early twenties, and by giving it to me she believed that she was besides me and there for me when I need her, no matter how far I really am.   This is the first item that I think of when there is an important even waiting for me. I wore it during all my flights into and from the U.S. I wore it during my great-grandmother’s funeral, who was the first person in my family to immigrate to USA, and who helped all my other relatives to come. I wore it every time I had significant exams, which were passed with a good grade later.  Even though I’m not a huge believer in all spiritual objects and that they are able to transfer energy, I do believe that this necklace is just very important to me personally, as a memory of my mother who still lives in Ukraine, and as a lucky charm.

– Alina Shevtsova

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant