The year was 1999 when my mother had migrated from Lahore, Pakistan to America. She left behind her three sisters, brother, mother, and father. Her mother had given her a gold necklace when she was younger, around the age of 7, which she kept close to heart. Before leaving, her mother told her to wear this necklace everywhere she went as a symbol of their relationship. This necklace had been passed from generation to generation in her family. Now, it had been migrating all the way to the other side of the world with her and accompanying her on her new journey. Once she landed in Massachusetts, she wore her gold necklace everyday, which made her feel close to home and always with her mother. In 2010, news traveled to America that her mother had passed. My mother was distraught by this horrific news. A few months later, she felt it was time to pass down her gold necklace to her daughter. When my mother presented me with this necklace, she told me to always keep this necklace safe; she said this necklace always reminded her that her mom may not have been close to her in distance, but she was at heart. I keep it close to my heart, always. This necklace reminds me about my cultural identity because this necklace immigrated all the way from Pakistan. It means a lot to me that I am the first-generation American women in my family with this necklace. My mother told me that one day she hopes to see the time when I pass this necklace down to my daughter. I have always and will always keep this necklace safe due to it’s meaning.

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant