My tradition is Vietnamese cooking. Ever since I was little, I have spent countless hours in the kitchen with my grandmother and other family members making traditional Vietnamese dishes. Whenever my grandmother was in town, it was already a known fact that we would be in the kitchen because that was what we looked forward to with each of her visits. We make everything from egg rolls to bahn beo, pho, bahn xeo, and much more. This tradition has been in my family for generations, and I hope to continue it as I get older. Vietnamese cooking is an art that holds strong ties to the land they call home. My ancestors on my grandmother’s side are all Vietnamese. My grandma came to the United States when she met my grandfather while he was serving in the army in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. A huge part of Vietnamese culture is the food. She began cooking when she was 14, helping her mother in the kitchen along with tasks outside on the rice farm. She enjoyed learning how to cook with her mother. This trend did not stop when she came to America. Because of this, I have so many special childhood memories in the kitchen with my grandmother when she would teach me about Vietnamese food. This tradition is so meaningful because of the rich culture it stems from and the bonds that connect us through this activity.
 

– Addison Wearden

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant