Christina Kim

Which is why today researchers are looking at whether or not smell can improve cognition, address PTSD, and stave off dementia. And it's also why smell triggers such emotional memories that enable us to momentarily travel across time and place.

Ernestine says she uses these certain smells to archive her memories.

Ernestine says she uses these certain smells to archive her memories.

Ernestine says she uses these certain smells to archive her memories.

Bookmarks that help her remember her family's history in South Africa during the decades-long era of apartheid as mixed-heritage, indigenous Khoi people.

Bookmarks that help her remember her family's history in South Africa during the decades-long era of apartheid as mixed-heritage, indigenous Khoi people.

Bookmarks that help her remember her family's history in South Africa during the decades-long era of apartheid as mixed-heritage, indigenous Khoi people.

Under apartheid, racial discrimination and segregation were completely legalized in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. And many, like Ernestine's family, had to abandon the homes they'd known their whole lives.

Under apartheid, racial discrimination and segregation were completely legalized in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. And many, like Ernestine's family, had to abandon the homes they'd known their whole lives.

Under apartheid, racial discrimination and segregation were completely legalized in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. And many, like Ernestine's family, had to abandon the homes they'd known their whole lives.

Between 1960 and 1980, an estimated 3.5 million Black and mixed-race South Africans were forced to leave their homes. Ernestine's family was part of that number. They lost their home in Constantia, a lush, fertile suburb of Cape Town, and were forced to relocate to the much drier Cape Flats and the suburban neighborhood called Grassy Park.

Between 1960 and 1980, an estimated 3.5 million Black and mixed-race South Africans were forced to leave their homes. Ernestine's family was part of that number. They lost their home in Constantia, a lush, fertile suburb of Cape Town, and were forced to relocate to the much drier Cape Flats and the suburban neighborhood called Grassy Park.

Between 1960 and 1980, an estimated 3.5 million Black and mixed-race South Africans were forced to leave their homes. Ernestine's family was part of that number. They lost their home in Constantia, a lush, fertile suburb of Cape Town, and were forced to relocate to the much drier Cape Flats and the suburban neighborhood called Grassy Park.

Ernestine was born after the forced removals, but she still inherited her family's deep sense of loss.

Ernestine was born after the forced removals, but she still inherited her family's deep sense of loss.

Ernestine was born after the forced removals, but she still inherited her family's deep sense of loss.

Ernestine inherited that grief, but she also inherited a connection to the land her family had to leave behind.

Ernestine inherited that grief, but she also inherited a connection to the land her family had to leave behind.

Ernestine inherited that grief, but she also inherited a connection to the land her family had to leave behind.

Several times a year, the whole family would go back to Constantia to bring dahlias and lilies to the tombstones in the family graveyard.