In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong…by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another.
– Marge Kennedy
Vogue Nippon September 2012
What kind of family do you have? I grew up with a small nuclear family as well as my grandfather (at least one grandparent is an integral part of many Asian households) in a working class neighborhood in NYC. We only consistently had another set of family members in the US – my mother’s sister and her family – though a couple of my uncles moved in and out of NYC. I didn’t see my extended family too much, but my memories of road trips to places like the Grand Canyon (where I was for some reason wearing a turtleneck in the middle of summer – fashion and temperature rebel?) and Las Vegas (I loved Circus, Circus) with my aunt’s family during the summers are among the fondest memories of my childhood.
Now when I am asked about family, I immediately think of my husband and our little household. Our little family memories during these years have consisted mainly of our travels and the different homes I attempted to make in each country. I can not think about London without fondly recalling the small side business I had reselling hard to find clothing or the frequent appearance of chicken wings on the menu (it is a pricey place to live and chicken wings are affordable!) I also think of our place in SE Asia now and how I’ve truly tried to create a home by personalizing the decor, little by little, and often with pieces brought back from the US! Luckily we don’t have to have chicken wings anymore, but my husband is supporting my break with my former industry as I try to discover a profession that really makes me excited!
While my husband is my only family here, I am started to really feel a sense of family with the friends I have found here. Perhaps expats also inherently feel a need to connect and meet other people. But it also goes to show that one can find new friends after 30!
I found this editorial, “A Family Affair” funny because it shows a family with very unusual members! But family are the people you love and the bonds that link you, no matter where or what you are right? We may not always have picture perfect families, but we always have the opportunity to create relationships, and hopefully families, wherever we are!
Have a lovely week!
Those are so so precious, I love the idea. Makes for a nicer picture than if they were all just sat next to each other. Love it!! Happy Monday doll, hope it’s a wonderful week for you 🙂 x
I love these photos! Though we are fortunate enough to have family close by, I’ve come to think of our little apartment in SF as our “home,” and of my husband as my “family” as well. Our friends are very important to us as well, and there is definitely truth to the fact that friends can be like family.
Bugs eek 😛 Great photos!
its hard for me to imagine continually moving from country to country and having to start from scratch every time. you are fortunate to have such a wonderful husband by your side.
I am definitely lucky to have him for our worldwide adventure!
Great post! Being away from family is one of the hardest things about being on the East Coast, and it’s one of the main reasons I’m hoping to move back to California within the next couple years. I consider my close friends to be “family,” too.
these are crazy creative, i like them!
i saw this editorial and thought it was amazing. your thoughts in this post are so beautiful. i grew up with both of my grandparents in my household. they were older. since losing them and many others my family unit is very small. friends have come and go, but God always provides you with somebody. i have even connected with a couple of people here while blogging. i’m happy to hear that you have adjusted everywhere you’ve lived. i think that is so beautiful! have a great week.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
Hi dear, it was endearing hearing about your family and childhood memories, I think you’re really brave to be able to move to different cities and countries, I don’t think Id be brave enough to leave my family or even country behind, it sounds like you adapt to your changing locations really well. Its a good thing to have!
I suppose I must adapt and it helps to have fun along the way!
Since I am not married, I still just have my immediately family. I am not particularly close to any of my relatives and growing up, my grandma from my dad’s side would visit us for the summer.
It’s funny that you mention it… I made such good friends while I lives in the US and since I came back to the place where I grew up, I found myself friendless…. You make friends in places where pleople have their guards down and look for genuine relations… Enjoy and be happy!!!
That can be so true! Perhaps if there are a lot of expats, they all stick together and build connections more quickly!
this is such a creative editorial!
xo
MOSAMUSE
http://www.MOSAMUSE.com
Lovely photos! I have a very big family (both my parents come from big families themselves), but everyone’s pretty much spread out all over the world.
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