To be honest, I've never really been close to my extended family - cousins, uncles, aunts, whatever. I think a big part of that was growing up in the Midwest and being the only family in Michigan, while everyone else was on the East Coast at one point in time, before a few families moved to the West Coast. Since I joined the Army Reserve, I've had a lot more opportunities to visit family during training and whatnot, and I traveled on my own to the DC area before and after my deployment to Iraq... probably more in the past three years than the rest of my life combined!
Last week, me and a few buddies stopped by a Chinese restaurant a family member works at... and he pulled out all the stops - complimentary pop, discount on our bill, etc. to make us really feel welcome. I'll admit, I felt a little uncomfortable with the hospitality... is this what extended families do for each other? I don't really know, since I haven't really had that experience on a regular basis. It was really nice, and definitely an incentive to move to the DC area when I'm able.
Last week, me and a few buddies stopped by a Chinese restaurant a family member works at... and he pulled out all the stops - complimentary pop, discount on our bill, etc. to make us really feel welcome. I'll admit, I felt a little uncomfortable with the hospitality... is this what extended families do for each other? I don't really know, since I haven't really had that experience on a regular basis. It was really nice, and definitely an incentive to move to the DC area when I'm able.
That is what family does! :) I know how you feel. My extended family is both small and mostly in China. So it was weird to visit them and experience hospitality from people I've never even met before. But not only is it family - but it's Chinese family. That ups the ante some.
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