I immigrated from a very young age with my father. America felt like a place of uncertainty at the age of 5, especially since I was in a foreign place. Food had become my comfort, traditional Jamaican food. Food is more than nourishment; it is a powerful symbol of identity, history, community, and change. In my culture, food brings communities together. I was 5 years old when I immigrated to the United States, leaving behind my culture and my roots, or so I thought. My fathers cooked the same dishes I grew up on, dishes like oatmeal porridge, curry chicken, stew peas, oxtail, and many more. Eating these dishes reminds me that I did not lose my Jamaican roots. Every time I ate one of these dishes, I felt the history behind my culture and the closeness. Now, I cook the same dishes with my brothers and sisters.
 

– SM

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