In 1991, my dad immigrated to Maryland from Shanghai, China on a student visa to attend graduate school at UMD. My dad explained that he and many other students in China were fascinated with America’s rapidly growing technology and innovative educational system. The following year, my mom joined him in Maryland to attend Towson University, and the two lived in an apartment in Baltimore while they finished school. When my parents first arrived, they were very scared and excited about their new life together: they did not even speak English and had very little income for several years but continued to work hard at school and jobs. 
Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food made of sticky rice stuffed with special fillings and wrapped up in bamboo leaves. This is typically eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival to memorialize Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet who lived 2300 years ago. I chose to write about Zongzi because the Dragon Boat Festival was recently celebrated on June 18 and reminded me of how hard my mom works every year to prepare as many as 70 Zongzi a year. For as long as I can remember, my family has always eaten Zongzi around this time of year. My mom learned to prepare this special dish in China and brought the recipe to America to continue this Chinese tradition. Though my parents did not arrive in America with much, they continue many Chinese traditions that teach me about my own family and culture. 

– MY.

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