This moment just needed to be shared on my blog. A 3,5 hours long moment.
I have huge, huge family on my dad's side. My dad has seven siblings. Three sisters and four brothers. They are all in a relationship, there first, second or maybe even 10th marriage. haha no I'm joking there, but I do have a lovely mixed up family. I have 20 cousins and most of them are in a relationship or even married. Some of them are having children some don't, most of them don't. I made a family tree this week and I counted a family of 60. I actually only counted 59, but I am pretty sure I made a mistake and forgot someones boy or girlfriend.
Well that said, they all came together. You don't want to know how bad I would have loved it to be there. It is pretty rare that we come together. The last one was last year, but I couldn't make that because of my final exams. Before that one, I have to guess, but it might have been three years. I love family, I love my family and I wish I could have been there.
On monday my dad skyped me and told me that basically everyone would be there except from me. Autch, haha. How is that even possible. Mostly there are at least 5 or more that can't make it. No, this time was different. Everyone was there apart from me. I couldn't make it and I was devastated to hear that I was the only one. My dad made me a promise "I am going to Skype you while I am there" and he did.
This morning I woke up super excited knowing that I was going to Skype my family. Around 2pm I finally got a call. Jumped from a quite house into a room with 60 people. The connection was bad and I mostly heard a lot background noises. But my smile was bigger than ever before. It was my sister that tried to show me around. The connection was pretty bad and every time there was someone new in front of the camera the screen stopped moving. It was extremely frustrating. As soon as she had put the laptop down at one point it got better. Aunts, uncles and cousins came by to say 'hi' or to have a little chat.
After a while it was quiz time. Is 'Ranking the stars' an international program or is it Dutch? I don't know, I'll explain it briefly. There were 30 questions like; Who has the most clothes, who is the most vain, who throws the best parties and more. Everyone had to rank each other. For every question there was a top 10. I made it into 5 of them; -Who is the most stuffed animals? I have quite a few. How my family knows that I don't know. -Who is the most jealous? Well, well, well. My answer to that is that I was really jealous of everyone being together and me sitting behind a computer screen. So I guess I deserved that place, haha - Who is the biggest 'mummy's girl or boy'? That was a not to translatable word. It is basically someone who calls his/her mom a lot and stuff. Fun fact there, I made it to that list but as a little girl I was actually a daddy's girl. Actually still are, huh dad? The last two meant the most to me - Who is the most adventures? I have to be honest and say that I have cousins who did bigger adventures than I did/am doing, but at least i made the top 10. And last but not least -Who is out of the county the most? Well guess that is true. I was the only one not being in Holland during the family event. I didn't make it in the top 3 though. Apparently I have a cousin who fills his tank in Germany so he leaves the county quite a lot! Have to say that he lives near the border of Holland and Germany, But still he is going in and out more than I do. Oh, note for my family. Kirsten lived in Oslo, Norway for a couple months. Why was she not in the top 10? This family is so big that apparently we do not keep track of each other enough seeing the top 10s. I laughed so hard.
Since I am here this was by far the best Skype call ever. It took 3,5 hours and I think I at least have waved to everyone. Got the question "Who are you doing over there" more than 10 times and had a couple of good, longer chats. Sadly enough my 90 year old grandma gone home before I was been able to Skype. It was a little much for her. She is the foundation of this family. She is an amazing woman and I am so thankful for her.
My family. I love them a lot. It is weird to sit behind a screen. There were moments that I totally forgot how far way I was. I was been able the anticipate the quiz and see everyone. Only if I could teleport myself. I wish I could be there this weekend. I was super exhausted after that call, it was a lot. It was strange closing my laptop. All of a sudden it was totally quite again, but my smile was still huge. For a moment I was back in Holland attending my family event. Living in the century makes being away so much easier. I'm so happy I was been able to be part of the event. I'm even happier knowing that I did that while being in the USA!
