Saturday, January 17, 2015

My Family Culture

The three items I would bring with me that are most dear to my heart and soul would be my cross necklace, my Teddy Bear, and a small photo album.

I have a gold cross with a diamond in the middle of the cross on a gold chain, 18 inches long. The chain has loops and the chain is circular compared to being flat. The reason why I would take my cross necklace because of my deep Catholic faith. I was very involved in the events and activities that were held at the church. My love for my Lord and Savior. The cross reminds me of my love to my Lord Savior, Jesus, and how much he shows me his love in return. 

I have a stuffed animal; a teddy bear.  He is brown, soft, and lays flat compared to being round and overstuffed with stuffing.  Easy to hold for comfort and to lay on to fall asleep. The whispers are no longer on the stuffed animal and could be stuffed to its original form. The reason I would take my teddy bear with me to a foreign land for the comfort it offers me. I have had this teddy bear for a long time and it follows me where ever I go. It is a reminder of home and those who gave it to me, my parents.  

I have a small flower photo album that holds up to 12 pictures. I would have pictures of myself and my family in the photo album. The photo album holds memories that I can look back at and share those stories with my family and others I meet a long on the journey.

If I had to chose one item and give up the other items, I would have to say my teddy bear. I can always keep those memories held in pictures and make new pictures with new memories. My cross necklace could be sold for money and the symbolic mean could have changed due to the unexpected change of moving to a new country. Keeping the faith will always be carried in my heart, I would not need a reminder of a symbolic to know how much love and faith I have for my chosen and family culture of religion. My teddy bear is something that can not be replaced by another stuff animal teddy bear. The bear could be a different color and rough. It just would not be the same. The teddy bear is something I can hold on to and find comfort in a new land with my family. Knowing my family is struggling with the change as well.


I would have a hard time adjusting to the new land and afraid to speak with others that have lived their all their lives. For my family culture and for myself there are things in life that can not be replaced while other items will always be with you.  Items are passed down from generation to generation and its token of love is within each heirloom.  I would love to do the same and continue on with my families traditions.   

2 comments:

  1. Hi Erin,
    Thank you for sharing your post. I like the way that you explained how our family culture is something that always remains with us. I think that is so true. Even is we have to give up our pictures and belongings, we will always have our memories and our beliefs and values. Those cannot be taken away. -Mary

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  2. Erin,

    I also chose a cross necklace that was given to me by my husband. I didn't necessarily choose it because it was a gift from my husband but more because it represents my faith in my lord and savior. I have a strong belief in Jesus Christ and my faith helps get me through many circumstances in life. Having to relocate to another country after a catastrophic event would definitely be a time when I would need to rely on my faith.
    Courtney

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