Once, eating cheeseburgers allowed my mother to feel American. Now, it shows that she is free to eat what she wants.


Kim O’Connell is a writer based in Arlington, Virginia.
Once, eating cheeseburgers allowed my mother to feel American. Now, it shows that she is free to eat what she wants.

It took a long time for me to understand the pain you felt leaving Vietnam and the emotional cost of becoming American.

World Food Program USA’s chief advocacy officer on the great-grandmother whose independent spirit inspires her.
![[Illustration by Jawahir Al-Naimi and Muaz Kory/Global News Insight]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Womens-Series-3.png?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
In the midst of misunderstandings and estrangement, one woman and her mother found solace in making spring rolls.
![Fork The System - Vietnamese spring rolls - by Kim O''''Connell [DON''''T USE]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/5a9501b8a3414ad8be1b2fe3d35cecbc_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)