I love a lot of people...

Familia.

In the western culture, family is a few choice people: siblings and parents while extended family consists of grandparents and first cousins; then, there are the distant relatives: second cousins who are once, twice, thrice removed. However, in eastern culture, family is all of the above. It's very simple. Your cousins are your siblings, and there is no differentiating between first and second cousins. They are equally loved and respected. Family is very important in this culture. For example, many families live together or close by. In America, it is strange for a child to live in their parents home past 18, but in my family, it is only logical. Here, many parents are put into assisted living homes whereas in many other cultures, parents live with their children. For technical immigrants, this is one aspect of our parents’ culture that we take-with some modifications ofcourse. We live with our parents, and we promise to take care of them when they need it.

I live within a 10 mile radius of some family members; for the majority, they are thousands of miles away and many of them I don't even know. I met a handful of my family through decade old pictures. At 5, I found my baby album and opened it up, analyzing every face, trying to figure out who was holding me, and why. I recall sitting down with my mother a few years later with a handful of pictures and her pointing out different aunts and uncles. Till now, many family members are still strangers to me. Obviously, there were family members I've always known or been aware of. Some cousins, some aunts, and uncles. I finally actually met family during my awkward middle school years, when the internet was just taking off. Since then, I've been in closer touch with family, but it's still thousands of miles apart. Still far away from Sunday lunches and park visits. Many times we cram family time in to a few days.

So what happens when you're thousands of miles apart from family? You find a family.

Even though at 8 I wasn't sure who my family members were exactly, I did have aunts, uncles, and cousins. Many of my friends have become family. For technical immigrants, these family members are the most important. I have a very close group of friends; people who I love like my sisters and brothers and who love me like the same. Whenever I've had a problem or when I'm just plain sad, I can count on these family members to be there. It doesn't end at my friends, it extends to their parents (who are also friends with my parents). I've always called them "Aunty” or “Uncle" from day one, and they've always lived up to those titles. Some have also claimed me as their adopted child as my parents have of their kids.

Family isn’t blood, or marriage, it’s love, unconditional love. It is with this unconditional love where a persons confidence and happiness stems from.

My family may physically be thousands of miles away, but they are never too far.

I hope this made sense.

Have a fantastic day/night/whatever point in time you're at,

Mahahahahahaha