What a beautiful essay. I've been spending a lot of time lately digging through and restoring some of my mother's and my paternal grandmother's old photos, and when asked why this had become so important to me I quoted: "A recipe for cultural catharsis: Interview the prior generation. Open yourself to a flood of memories, good and bad, re-experienced in real-time. Go through boxes of old photos together. You might feel a sense of rooted belonging." Of course, one's own family memories can provide a sense of belonging, but so can reading a piece written by someone from another culture, time and place. Thank you for sharing it.
Like you, Alicia, it touched on so many of the topics that light my brain up! I'm also someone that will always always be drawn in by writing touching on these questions of identity, belonging, displacement, food, grief, untangling family history to better understand them and myself, feeling like an outsider and trying to find ways to use that as a strength rather than fall into some sort of victim mode etc etc etc.
I'm so glad of this monthly opportunity to discover new (to me!) voices and writing. This wonderful writing inspired me to click into Christoph's newsletter, and I laughed out at the bio of: a mixed kid making it their entire personality. Cos, same but without wanting to admit that I do that lol
Kelly! Thank you for your kind and discerning comment <3 I'm glad you could connect with the piece - so many vehicles for identity formation, but food and heritage are the most interesting to drive.
Thank you so much for this, Christoph! Agree totally about food and heritage as the most interesting way to excavate identity - what a great way of putting it.
You capture multi generational memory so well! Just an aside, I grew up in Plainview and shared this in a group. I didn’t know your grandfather’s restaurant—I lived on the other side of town—but so many people responded that they grew up eating at China View and that it was the place for celebrating milestones and for Sunday dinners. They were appreciated. Can’t swear they all read the whole piece but several commented on how beautiful your essay is.
This is so heartening to hear, Wendy! Echoing Alicia, thank you for sharing and reading - I’ll have to tell my family that Plainview’s denizens still carry those memories too ❣️
This is gorgeous!
What a beautiful essay. I've been spending a lot of time lately digging through and restoring some of my mother's and my paternal grandmother's old photos, and when asked why this had become so important to me I quoted: "A recipe for cultural catharsis: Interview the prior generation. Open yourself to a flood of memories, good and bad, re-experienced in real-time. Go through boxes of old photos together. You might feel a sense of rooted belonging." Of course, one's own family memories can provide a sense of belonging, but so can reading a piece written by someone from another culture, time and place. Thank you for sharing it.
Oh how lovely! So glad you enjoyed it.
I enjoyed this so much.
Like you, Alicia, it touched on so many of the topics that light my brain up! I'm also someone that will always always be drawn in by writing touching on these questions of identity, belonging, displacement, food, grief, untangling family history to better understand them and myself, feeling like an outsider and trying to find ways to use that as a strength rather than fall into some sort of victim mode etc etc etc.
I'm so glad of this monthly opportunity to discover new (to me!) voices and writing. This wonderful writing inspired me to click into Christoph's newsletter, and I laughed out at the bio of: a mixed kid making it their entire personality. Cos, same but without wanting to admit that I do that lol
It’s so lovely, right? I cannot wait to read more from Christoph! And I’m wildly psyched about the forthcoming Dispatches, too…!
"Stories are the only way I’ve found to chip away at the proverbial wall that conceals my ancestry, and I am intent on listening" ... I mean !!
Kelly! Thank you for your kind and discerning comment <3 I'm glad you could connect with the piece - so many vehicles for identity formation, but food and heritage are the most interesting to drive.
Looking forward to reading more from you too!
Thank you so much for this, Christoph! Agree totally about food and heritage as the most interesting way to excavate identity - what a great way of putting it.
The way the “recipes” pepper this piece!
A lovely essay! Beautifully written!
I really enjoyed this!
i loved this so much
❤️ so glad!!! (Me too!!!)
🫶
You capture multi generational memory so well! Just an aside, I grew up in Plainview and shared this in a group. I didn’t know your grandfather’s restaurant—I lived on the other side of town—but so many people responded that they grew up eating at China View and that it was the place for celebrating milestones and for Sunday dinners. They were appreciated. Can’t swear they all read the whole piece but several commented on how beautiful your essay is.
I was curious where the Facebook clicks came from! Thank you so much for reading & sharing!
This is so heartening to hear, Wendy! Echoing Alicia, thank you for sharing and reading - I’ll have to tell my family that Plainview’s denizens still carry those memories too ❣️