The object that my mom brought from Ukraine to America is a shirt called a “Vyshyvanka”. My mom chose this object because it reminds her of her life that she had in Ukraine. It also reminds her of the time when I was young and the occasions I used to wear it. I am talking about when I was two years old. A “Vyshyvanka” is a shirt Ukrainian people wear during celebrations, holidays and special occasions. The reason my mom chose this object because it was important to my family and to my culture/tradition. Another reason why this object was chosen because when my mom was going to school in Ukraine, she was taught to sew. At the age of twenty-two she sewed a shirt for my brother when he was 3 years old. My mom was very proud when she saw how well the shirt turned out. Once my brother outgrew the shirt, it was passed down to my cousin. He wore it for a while, then gave it to my other brother, and then it was passed down to me and then it was passed down to my little brother. This the reason why mother loves this shirt. She wanted me to use this as the object to write the essay. My object “The Vyshyvanka” was made in the year 1974. Even today, these shirts are worn by Ukrainian people during special occasions. The designs are handmade and carefully sewn in the front of the shirt.Often my mother takes a look at the shirt and remembers her life back home.

– Daniel Dotsenko

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