Being around so many family members at once can be overwhelming, but it's without a doubt always a good time. Seeing family that you haven't seen in months (or years) gives the opportunity to reconnect and enjoy the limited amount of time you have with each other. This past weekend I got to do just that! Having a big Filipino family and being around them is ALWAYS a loud and joyous celebration. From day to night, there's never a boring moment! Here are 10 things that usually happen when you're at a Filipino family reunion.
1. You're ready to eat to your heart's content.
Eat, take a break, eat again, take a break, and repeat! There's always more than enough food for everyone and usually enough to take home left over's. Splurge on some of that lechon, pacit palabok, kaldereta and top it all off with rice and you're set! Saying you're going to a Filipino party is basically a valid excuse to eat as much as you want - no limits.
2. You meet family you've never met.
At reunions, there are always other Titas and Titos (uncles and aunts) that you've never met but have to hug and say hi to. It can be a little awkward at first, but after the initial introduction of yourself, all is good!
3. You can't hear the person you're talking to over other loud family members.
Excitement amongst so many family members means uncontrollable laughing and screaming in Tagalog at a very loud volume. Yes - it can get that loud that sometimes you have to ask the other person you're conversing with to repeat what they just said.
4. Family member's ask you if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend.
This is probably the one moment I always expect to hear from any family member to me or one of my cousins. No matter how much you don't wanna hear this question, the family always has to be in the know! This topic of conversation never gets old and will never die out.
5. You spend at least 20 minutes taking family group pictures.
It's not a proper family reunion without taking a ton of pictures with everyone! Pictures in the kitchen, pictures in the backyard, the hallway, any area big enough, you name it. Squeezing 70 plus people in the picture is a must to capture the family memories.
6. You're asked what you're currently majoring in or what you're planning on majoring in college.
While everyone wants to know what you're going to do for the rest of your life...you'd like to know as well.
7. Everyone will eventually go off and do their own thing.
After everyone says hi to each other, they eventually disperse. The uncle's are out back drinking, the older cousins are talking and playing games, the auntie's are gossiping in the living room and the younger kids are running around. It calms down towards the middle and but before you know it, it livens up again!
8. At some point, something might go wrong.
At the hotel that my family and I stayed at, the water heater broke so I had to take freezing cold showers and it was not fun at all. Even though nothing happened during the actual reunion, something still went wrong the weekend of.
9. You'll want to take a nap when things start to die down.
When you're at the reunion the entire day, everyone will get tired and wanting to drift off is completely normal. All the energy and high excitement given off by your family members will definitely tire you out.
10. Goodbye's take at least 30 minutes if not more.
When it's time to leave, and it's time for everyone to say goodbye, somehow more conversations start up again and saying "goodbye" just means "we're leaving in another 30 minutes or more. But of course, it's always hard to say goodbye to family especially when you want it spend more time with them.
