My Family Culture

I could only imagine the mixed emotions and confusion that I would be suffering if I had to be relocated to another country and labeled as a refugee. I started to think about the different cultures that we have in the United States and wonder if they had the same thoughts that I had when I started this assignment. It would be hard for me to choose a limited amount of items because at that moment the smallest thing that we possess takes on a whole new meaning for us.

I would gather all the photos of my family that I could fit into a photo album and take with me. I have a photo album dedicated to the birth of my children (1 per child), my wedding, and pictures of me, my mother, granny, and sister when we were growing up. All of these albums have a lifetime of memories at different stages in my life. I would put as many as I could in an album so that I had my memories and also a security blanket with me. The album would be my security blanket because it is the substance and ingredient to who I am.

I would take my bible with me. I will need encouragement that everything is going to be alright for me and my family. When I am feeling lost and alone, I open up the bible and read passages that give me strength and remind me of who I have faith in. Because of God’s favor on my life, I know that the journey that I am about to make will be safe and a blessed journey.

The third item that I would choose to take with me is my Jazz CD. Jazz music comforts me when I have had a rough day. It puts my mind at ease and I am able to relax and rest. Who knows if I would be able to relate to the customs in my new home. I want to have things with me that I can identify with as would anyone coming to a strange country.

If I am not allowed to carry but one item it would be my photo album. The pictures of my family would keep me grounded on where I came from and the good times that I had. My faith allows me to carry the word of God with me wherever I go, so I wouldn’t need the bible. I pray a prayer of comfort each day as I continue my journey. Over time I would probably find some music that I would grow to love. The new country may even have Jazz music there.

Family is important to me and I have tried to catch every special occasion in a picture. Sometimes my family and I sit and look at them. I often though it was because we were bored or because we had guests over. Now I realize that they mean so much more. Whenever I am missing my son, mother, niece, nephew, granny, and sister all I have to do is open up the photo album. As I look at each picture I find myself saying, “I remember when I took that. or I remember when this happened.” Like the saying goes: A PICTURE IS WORTH A 1000 WORDS.