“I brought this with me when we immigrated. When we were coming to America, I dug it up and brought it.”

Interviewer: “When I asked if there was an object with special meaning, you thought of this right away. So what is the significance of this item?”

“It’s not that there’s a special significance but I’ve had it for a long time. There isn’t much in our house that’s been around for such a long time. As I was reminiscing about the old days, this came to my mind. I can’t just throw it away. It feels like something sentimental and intimate, you know?”

Interviewer: “I noticed that this wasn’t out on display but inside that cupboard. Have you always kept it in the cabinet?”

“Uh-huh. There are some old things from the past in there. That’s what it is. It’s not so nice that I would leave it out. It’s not even particularly attractive. It’s like a relic. I can’t quite get rid of it so I’ve just kept it.”