Etic/Emic

I am blessed

Sights and bites

Sights and bites from the trip

I rarely see my extended tribe. I have spent an approximate aggregate of a month with my cousins ever. Opportunity strikes! We hopped in a van and trek from city to country to mountain to see and back.

We returned home together. Some of us spoke with our grandparents under our breath. A common belief among many Asian cultures that the recently departed are confused and require reminding and consoling. We found ourselves describing everything that was happening, a great mourning exercise.

The mourning process continues now ect-tradition, our own way. Comforting to have such a large family to share this with.

The grave was an hour drive outside of the city. My grandfather who died more then 25 years ago was brought to join my grandmother. This leg of the ceremony focused on adjusting the departed to their new home.

There are many traditions to a chinese/cambodian funeral. All of which are to help the confused spirt safely enter the spirit world. It is also our last time to express love. The procession starts in the home and moves into the streets.

It’s funny how life changes is a snap. My family and I are a squad of hard workers/adventurers. We had saved up vacation time and carefully planned a trip that agreeable for our schedules. So it was decided, a trip to Ecuador starting high up in Quito and working our way down to a tour of the Galapagos. We had given each other christmas gift I’m preparation for our trip. Life changes in a snap, an ominous call from my uncle over sees was followed by a heartbreaking call several hours later.

Cold news hit our family, my grandmother has died, our plans for ecuador are cancelled, flew out to cambodia 2 days after the news.

just heard for the first time. best version yet