Russell Samson
Russell Samson
Nandito ako / I Am Here
Coming from a place where everybody speaks the same language, eats the same food and shares the same traditions, my life as a Filipino immigrant in Chicago could not have been more different; it has expanded beyond measure. Chicago has given me the opportunity to meet all kinds of people, enjoy all kinds of ethnic food, and, perhaps most importantly for me, to learn about and build relationships with people who share their different cultures. Life in America has opened my eyes to the wider world. It has also meant, unfortunately, that I have been exposed to prejudice. Immigration is a journey that enriches one’s life, but it is also a journey fraught with unfamiliar feelings and emotions. Sacrifice is mandatory. Nandito ako uses upcycled clothing and reused fabrics as a kind of cultural marker, representing the journey my immigrant family and I are on and the values we are learning along the way.
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