I am sitting on a fold-up bed in my sister’s basement watching Squid Game. It’s interesting – the themes are really obvious but maybe that’s the point. The music really makes you nervous for the characters though.
I spent Christmas with my sister’s family. Every time I’m here I wonder how long it took for my sister to feel comfortable living in the States by herself, without her parents, in a country that she wasn’t born in. Perhaps she found her own place eventually – or made her own place with her own family. What makes a home, “home”? Your parents calling you downstairs for dinner? Or you calling your child downstairs for breakfast? Is there ever a turning point when “home” begins to mean a different group of people? Or does “home” simply refer to the ever growing number of people who care for you? I don’t know – I’m just glad to be able to say “let’s go home” to my brother-in-law and walk back towards the same house with the same people.
Justin’s cat Bubu spotted under the Christmas tree
It’s comforting to know that some things don’t change. There are so many variables around us that are constantly changing and questions that don’t have answers: what will I study? What will I do with the rest of my life? Will I be happy then? We don’t know, but coming back here to my sister’s home is something constant. It means seeing the same three cats, the same nephew who is slowly but steadily growing up, the same family members who poke fun at me but would persistently ask if I’m alright if I catch the slightest cold. It’s comforting being with them, and I’m glad to be here.
On Christmas Eve, we cooked a lot of good food and wrapped presents for each other. I baked cookies under the supervision of my 1.5 year old nephew Ken Ken. They were “oatmeal raisin cookies for Santa,” but “Santa” is my sister, and my sister likes my oatmeal raisin cookies, so that’s how things panned out. My brother-in-law Justin’s gift for his girlfriend didn’t arrive yet, so he went upstairs with his brother Jeremy, took a random box, printed out a color image of MacBook, wrote “Coming Soon!” on it, taped the picture onto the box, and then wrapped the entire box in rose gold wrapping paper. After we put Ken Ken to bed, we all spent a good two or three hours trying to put together a kid’s car for Ken Ken (as pictured). It was far more difficult than we anticipated, and when we had to hammer in nails – the sound echoing through the house – Jeremy laughed and said, “Sorry Ken Ken, Santa’s workshop is still open.”
Ken Ken’s new car
On Christmas Day, I woke up to Ken Ken opening his presents, toddling around the base of the Christmas tree looking so happy. Justin and Grandma got me some earrings too – I will make sure to wear them often. 🙂 Jeremy was playing Christmas songs on his speaker. It wasn’t snowing or anything, but the sun finally peeked out from the typical gloominess of New York City. Ken Ken played with his car all day long – we joked that Ken Ken needed to go to driver’s ed. It was a good day spent with people I love with all my heart. 🙂