When Worlds Collide (Naghem)
The ruby ring is my husband's, and he has worn it for the last 17 years. The smaller stone is mine, and it has a prayer engraved on it. The green 'elaegg' is my protection and sanity. When I went to Iraq in 2014, I was going through some of the hardest years of my life. I visited the Holy Shrines in Iraq and prayed. I cried and prayed. I got the 'elaegg' from one of the shrines, and that same night I had a dream about the Imam of that shrine. In my dream, he told me that he sent me the 'elaegg' as an answer to my prayers and as protection for me. Within a year, I met my husband, and our two worlds collided. It turns out that he got the ruby ring from the same shrine where I got my stone and the 'elaegg.'
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
English and Iraqi Arabic
En Mis Zapatos (Maria)
In 1990, when we lived in Mexico, my husband was in the States. I gave him an ultimatum to bring us to him. I sold the two horses we had. I saved the money and brought it with me in my shoes. Throughout the trip/journey back and forth to the border, I kept my money in my shoes for fear that our savings would be taken away.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Spanish
Truco (Nicanor)
These cards are important because they remind me of my family and my friends back home in Argentina. The cards remind me of those evenings and weekends when we would get together and play Truco, a very social game where you trick your opponent by playing quickly and distracting them with conversation. Playing the game was a way of connecting with friends and family. They remind me of fun times, and I enjoy teaching other people how to play even though it can be a difficult game to learn.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Spanish
Animal Crackers (Viviana)
As a child, I would ask my mom for a peso to buy some animal crackers. It didn't happen often. One time, my dad had just arrived from "El Norte," and we asked him for 50 pesos. He gave us 100 pesos, and we spent it all on animal crackers. Three kids with 300 pesos-worth of animal crackers lasted a long time.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Spanish
Chinese Marshals & Generals Poker Cards (Ed)
I got these cards from China. I love cards, and I enjoy the game of chance. Everyone has access to a deck of cards; all barriers are removed. Kids' games to high stakes, like we see on T.V., are some representations of how universal a deck of cards can be. The same deck of cards can be used in different games across the world. It's so GREAT.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
English
Baby Chair from Godparents (Jorge)
I received this baby chair when I was 6 months old as a gift from my godparents. It was bought in their native town of Morelia Michoacan, and brought to me in Tecate, Baja, California back in 1978. It is the only physical object, besides photographs, that I was able to bring when we migrated to the U.S. It is a connection with my culture, godparents, and many memories of different babies in the family using the chair (that's why it's a bit beat up). It reminds me of my godparents and my childhood memories, where this chair is shared by many in the family. Also, it is one of the few (if not the only) physical object that I owned in Mexico and still have today.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Spanish
Party Dress (Zahra)
This dress is from my sister's wedding. I got this dress from Iran, and it is a wonderful childhood memory, and it has special value. It brings memories of my childhood, and it reminds me of my birth place. Whenever I see the dress, I remember happy times.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
English
Misbaha (Rabha)
A prayer rosary; this is very precious and valuable to me, because I got it in Mecca when I was performing my Hajj pilgrimage in 2010. It was an experience of a lifetime, to be at the Holy Place, with millions of people from every country who were having their own spiritual journey. I have used my misbaha in my daily prayers ever since. To give glory to my God and to recognize his mercy and power gives me peace of mind.
<a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/mementos-home">Mementos From Home</a><br />A project of <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/services-immigrants" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Services to Immigrants and Refugees</a> and the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org" target="_blank" title="Ctrl+Click to follow link" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Public Library</a>
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Moroccan Arabic and French