I was born and grew up in Chicago, in a large community of Polish immigrants, in a neighborhood that they called Polonia. The neighborhood radiated from an epicenter that was defined by the triangular square that is formed by the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Division Street and Ashland Avenue ... Here. Many didn't speak English (my first language was Polish until I attended kindergarten) and they relied on grocers and merchants who spoke Polish. Today Polonia is dominated by Mexican immigrants and they in turn rely on Spanish speaking grocers and merchants. Other ethnic groups have settled in certain neighborhoods and claimed them as their own to keep a grasp on their cultures, traditions and languages.1st generation immigrants need these neighborhoods and cultural centers. The transition from their culture to ours is not insignificant and many have come traumatized by conflict, as did my parents, after World War II.

When searching for some specific groceries with which to make a stir fry, I came across a large Asian market in suburban Niles. Inside, it felt as though I was in another country. I was captivated by the colorful packaging and unfamiliar foods and products that can't be found in my neighborhood and immediately began photographing.