Balikbayan Box Content I

We Dutchies like to give each other chocolate letters for Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is a children’s festival, celebrated around the fifth of December. The letters are supposed to correspond to the first letter of your first name. The S, the letter of Sinterklaas himself, can be given to everyone.

We don’t often see a chocolate letter next to a chocolate Easter bunny.

Balikbayan Box Content I is the title of this work of art. Literally translated: repatriation box. Repatriation means: return to the home country. These boxes are sent by labour migrants to their families. For example au pairs, domestic workers, workers on drilling platforms and sailors.

The Balikbayan Box is more than a box of foreign gifts and supplies. It is an act of giving, of generosity. At the same time it is a sacrifice and a sign of new possibilities.

If you were an au pair, staying abroad somewhere. What would you send to your family?

Nadine Stijns works on long-term photographic projects fuelled by her curiosity for socio-economic and political situations. Labour migration is one of her topics.