A description of the three items that I would choose
As an immigrant this feels familiar to me. When my husband and I migrated to the United States of America
1. Outdoor/indoor photographs of my parents and family, capturing the luscious greenery and the natural beauty of my native land as well as my parents home where I grew up.
2. My Sri Lankan passport with a map of Sri Lanka
3. A handmade artifact that represent craftsmanship with a historic value to it
How I would explain to others what each of these items means to me
For me, my parents and my sister are equally precious to my own family. Wherever I go, I would have them in my heart. Pictures of them in the garden of my childhood home, home itself and family members matters to me the most because of all the happy memories that they represent. The pictures could be the only source I have with me to show my children where I grew up and tell the stories of the wonderful times that I spent there.
My passport is very important to me. It is THE document I need to go to Sri Lanka or come back to U.S.A. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Hand craft is part of the fabric of my native land. Craft abilities were on the tip of everyone’s fingers but now it seems like not that common anymore. But still it is a part of who we are. Clay, wood, metal, fabric many other resources were used to create these crafts. Many of the crafts and artifacts have traditional or mythical stories attached to them as well.
My feelings if, upon arrival, I were told that I could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items that I brought with me
I believe that I will hold on to the pictures if I have to make the choice between the items. The picture on my blog as my profile picture is one of those precious pictures that I would save for my life. It is the last picture I have with four of us together before my father passed away. I am a person crazy about pictures and I believe in capturing the moments. I consider that human beings have the power to remember the story when they see a picture. Even without anyone telling the story, pictures have the ability to let the viewer understand the story. So I will save my picture album.
Any insights I gained about myself, my family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise,
Even though it was a collaborative decision between my husband and myself to migrate to the United States of America, this exercise made me realize how much I miss home and how bigger the influence of family culture within me. It makes me feel proud to having a strong attachment to the birth place of mine. Moreover, this gives me more opportunity to understand how other families are feeling about their own cultures, traditions and native places.
(I have shared above some of those things that I brought with me to United States)
You are very fortunate to have this strong tie to your family and home country. Do you think people from the dominant culture feels the same about their birth place? Is there a specific artifact or piece of craftsmanship you would bring and why?
ReplyDeleteI also chose to keep the family photo album. Some of my most favorite childhood memories are sitting with my grandparents and looking at picures and listening to stories. It sounds like you have many wonderful items and memories that represent who you are and your family culture. This assignment has made me wish that I had more items to show who my ancestors were and could describe my famiy roots.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Venuri,
ReplyDeleteI also said I would take a photo album of my family, but I like how you added the surroundings of your home and land. That is also very important. Without realizing it, I do have such photos displayed around my apartment in Japan to remind me of my parents home and landmarks that are significant to me in Michigan.
Venuri,
ReplyDeleteThanks for those memories! Often times we find ourselves in situations where other people tell us what is rught and what is wrong based on their cultural background. However, this exercise has taught us something deep, something to consider. What we cherished according to our family culture may be different from others but we have to look at each one differently and show respect and appreciation. Every family culture is different and every family is different.
Venuri,
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read this blog assignment, I thought of folks like you who would have migrated and what that meant both in terms of the selection of valuable cultural items and the accompanying emotions.
I realized that many of us have chosen family pictures because as the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Every time I think of my maternal grandmother, what comes to mind is a picture of her hugging my brother and me. Pictures possess the ability for us to relive those memorable moments whether joy or sorrow. They reenergize us and strengthen our resolve to achieve our desires in life as well as remind us of the interconnectedness we share with our love ones. Thanks for sharing!