Mate is a cup to drink mate (a tea-like drink) out of. When I drink mate, it’s almost always too hot but when it cools, it tastes earthy and bitter, sometimes with bits of the leaves getting through the bombilla (the straw.) I understand why people wouldn't like it but I grew up with it so I can’t say the same. My dad’s mate cup was made by his friend in 2016, who is a wood turner. My dad is from Montevideo, Uruguay and moved here some decades ago for college. And while I’ve only visited my grandparents in Montevideo a few times, I always try to participate in their culture, like speaking Spanish, drinking mate, by watching the Uruguayan soccer team play (even though it is forced at times,) and always having to correct people that I’m not from Argentina when they hear my accent in Spanish. For no reason at all I often think about this one time I was in a car with my dad and my stepmom, and in pure Uruguayan fashion, my dad had his mate in the car with him. I remember him turning around, looking at me and asking, “Querés matesito?” Which translates to, “Do you want mate?” This reminds me of how some Uruguayans and Argentinians will bring their mate and thermos everywhere. My sister said that when she flew back from Uruguay last winter break, she saw so many people bringing mate onto the airplane, which seems really inconvenient. Though in the United States, it’s not something you see often, I’m proud to be a part of that culture and I wouldn’t change it if I had the option.

– EV

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