You would think someone who grew up between 4 countries in her life time would find moving to another country a breeze. – not!
I am in the Middle East, where I thought I was familiar with the culture, and boy am I surprised. . Its not the country that is the problem, I think it’s my relatives..hmm..
I never grew up with relatives around me. In my non cyber world you would often hear me saying “ my friends are my family” To me, relatives were a few phone calls a year, during birthdays and holidays. With the internet, the calls were replaced with e-cards, which was great, because I never really had much to say to them anyways.
Deep inside, I always wished I was like my friends when we were growing up. They would go spend a night at their grandparent’s house, or have lunch with their uncle’s family, sleep overs at cousins, or even bump into a relative in public etc..
I never had or experienced anything like that accept for 2 or 3 summers in my lifetime.
I remember the summers they visited, I loved the experience, telling all my friends that my relatives are visiting! There was joy in apologizing to my friends, telling them that I cant make it, I am going out with my relatives!
Obviously, that was years ago and nothing remains the same. I moved to be closer to my parents who moved to this side of the world. Having my relatives in the same country was supposed to be a plus! Hehehe..
Now I am beginning to see what the fuss was all about when my friends complained about family members. I have joined the club, and I have only been here for three months!
I am in the Middle East, where I thought I was familiar with the culture, and boy am I surprised. . Its not the country that is the problem, I think it’s my relatives..hmm..
I never grew up with relatives around me. In my non cyber world you would often hear me saying “ my friends are my family” To me, relatives were a few phone calls a year, during birthdays and holidays. With the internet, the calls were replaced with e-cards, which was great, because I never really had much to say to them anyways.
Deep inside, I always wished I was like my friends when we were growing up. They would go spend a night at their grandparent’s house, or have lunch with their uncle’s family, sleep overs at cousins, or even bump into a relative in public etc..
I never had or experienced anything like that accept for 2 or 3 summers in my lifetime.
I remember the summers they visited, I loved the experience, telling all my friends that my relatives are visiting! There was joy in apologizing to my friends, telling them that I cant make it, I am going out with my relatives!
Obviously, that was years ago and nothing remains the same. I moved to be closer to my parents who moved to this side of the world. Having my relatives in the same country was supposed to be a plus! Hehehe..
Now I am beginning to see what the fuss was all about when my friends complained about family members. I have joined the club, and I have only been here for three months!
