Posted: December 29, 2022
People say the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is the dead lull after the holidays.
But with my family, the spirit of being together is throttling through ever stronger!
Originally, my cousins invited me to their house for an overnight stay this past Tuesday, just after Christmas. I would leave Wednesday morning.
I expected this shindig to be laidback and lazy. But one thing led to another!
My cousins asked if I could also stay on Wednesday night. Of course I would.
Just when I thought I was leaving on Thursday morning, our aunt and uncle told us they were dropping by in the morning. I was preparing to leave that afternoon, but then even more cousins came!
It felt like I could never leave!
I was supposed to stay only one day/one night, but it ended up being three days/two nights. I’ve only driven home three hours ago from the time I was writing this!
I savored the serendipity of this trip. We ended up exploring different San Diego neighborhoods, playing game after game of Connect Four (where I’m notoriously known for beating everyone at it), watching Top Gun: Maverick, and having hour-long chats in the house.
One night, out of nowhere, I got invited by my cousin’s friend to join them by a bonfire in their backyard, overlooking a rugged desert canyon. We climbed down, guided by phone flashlights close to midnight, to meet their two pet tortoises, resting in crevices naturally built in their yard.
It feels nice knowing that I am loved and my family enjoys my company. I especially love the Asian family dynamics. You just never know who’s going to drop in or invite you somewhere.
It’s not over yet. Suddenly, my cousins planned a Korean BBQ meetup on New Year’s Day. It began just because one of them craved Korean BBQ. Like I said, in our family, one thing leads to another.
So off I go again.
Being a Bantering British (England Study Abroad: Week 5)