by Emujin Munkh-Orgil
Clothes or jewelry could hold different meanings for everyone. For some people, it could be anything but clothes, for others clothes and accessories could hold memories, meaning, and experiences. It identifies the people who wear them. It was one of those moments, where you look at people’s things and wonder about the backstory or the memory the item holds. You can not stop but wonder about how and where or when they get it. The more you see, the more you admire it, and you realize that the item itself is almost one with the person who wears it, which makes you more and more tempted to know more about the backstory of the item. Such is the case with Jericho Burg, my professor, whose collection of earrings serves as a testament to the chapters of her life.
Her journey through ear piercings unfolds like a map of her life’s adventures. From the first piercing on her 12th birthday to remembering milestones like finishing her master’s degree, each addition tells a story. These earrings, gathered from places as diverse as Minnesota and New Zealand, are more than just accessories; they are tangible reminders of the experiences that have shaped her.
Interview
1) What is your name?
I am Jericho Burg.
2) What are you wearing today?
In terms of clothes, well I’m wearing warm clothes because it is cold outside, so I’ve got my jeans and I’m wearing these like really ugly kind of like construction style boots but they are really warm so I like them and then like a t-shirt and a cashmere sweater.
The tale begins on her 12th birthday when her mother takes her to get her ears pierced for the first time. What followed was a series of adventures, from accompanying friends on their piercing journeys to marking milestones like college and completing her master’s degree with new additions to her collection. As she recounts her journey, it becomes evident that each piercing is more than just a piece of jewelry; it marks significant moments in her life.
3) What is the story behind this piece of jewelry or clothing? Where, and when did you get it? Are there any memories or experiences associated with wearing or owning this item that you would like to share?
Definitely, I started getting my ears pierced, it was the first time on my 12th birthday, and my parents well my mom took me to get my ears pierced when I was 12 years old, and then the next, it was these two that I’m not even wearing earrings in right now because it gets cold “laughs” the next two I got when I was visiting a friend in Minnesota when was in 10th grade and she and her sister were going to get their ears pierced but like they were nervous about it because they thought it would hurt and I was like “I’ll show you, It does not hurt” and so we went to the mall together in Minnesota, I got my ears pierced then they did as well because they saw I was not dying. After that I think I got a couple more when I was in college, I wanted odd numbers on one side and even numbers on the other so I think I got one more, so I had three on my left side and two on my right side. Later on, “I got six and six now, how did that happen” “laughs”. I don’t know, just sort of kept adding to them periodically. The last ones I got which were one on each side, I got when I finished my master’s degree in Florida, I was 23 years old and I wanted to do something to mark the occasion so I just went and got it, I thought having 12 ear piercings would be kind of cool so I went and got the other one’s pierced. I actually had my nose pierced for a while when I was living in Boston and working at Harvard University and I went and got my nose pierced but it just never really healed properly and it was kind of disgusting so I had to stop that but I kept the ears.
4) Where did you get your earrings from?
A lot of different places, I think the ones that I’m wearing now, I think I’ve gotten some from Mongolia. This kind of big one here, in New Zealand, it’s volcanic jade. This one I also got this in New Zealand kind of multi-colored one, I think most of the others are probably from the US. She wanted each earring to express different things based on its color and position if you look at the picture closely you can see earrings defined as land, sky clouds, upper atmosphere, and space.
With every new earring, it almost seemed like she wanted to remember important parts of her life. Whether it was the jade earring from New Zealand or the colorful one she got while traveling, each earring holds a special story and memory that’s a part of who she is.
This story reminds us that our belongings are more than just material possessions; they are extensions of ourselves, holding our experiences and memories. By viewing them through this lens, we can build deeper connections with the items that accompany us on life’s journey, transforming them from objects into cherished companions. Just as her earrings tell her story, so too can our belongings serve as markers of our unique paths through life. Try to think of your belonging as a part of you, which holds greater meaning than just a thing that serves your everyday needs. Think about something you own that brings back strong memories. one that holds memories deeper than you may realize? Take a moment to reflect on that special piece, allowing its significance to wash over you gently.