Growing up, one thing I always felt was missing was my extended family. It's not that I didn't have any extended family, I did. The problem was that they all lived in Korea. So that meant that aside from the occasional summer trip to Korea, it was simply the four of us. Don't get me wrong I have a wonderful and loving family, but I always used to wonder what family reunions were like or how Thanksgiving dinner would be different with more seats at the table. Perhaps this is the reason that I'm excited for when Eddie and I both begin having children, and we'll have to have many of them so they don't feel the same way.
But yesterday, I met my mother's aunt for the first time (that I can recall atleast). I had dinner with my "immo halmuni" (my Aunt-Grandmother), her daughters, and their children who all live in Virginia. At first it was quite awkward, we spoke about the job and the weather. But soon we got to know each other and I slowly became "Uncle Jason" to the young boys.
Last night was the first time that I've felt that larger sense of family in America and it was wonderful. There's something about being related to someone that creates an inherent bond of trust and familiarity. For most of my life I've wondered what this feeling would be like and now I know (it's warm and tingly).
As I left last night my immo halmuni promised me that this was just the beginning and that we would have many more encounters to come. Perhaps it's time to buy more chairs for the dinner table...
