Family vs Friends? (2008)

I wrote another blog for a while after this one, before I shut that down as well and disappeared from the web space. Thought I'd share some of its posts here before I continue blogging again.

11/26/08.

Let's see now.. what had I been thinking of today? Oh yeah.

So I called up my distant relative in California yesterday asking her if I could stay with her for a few weeks after graduation, until I find a hole-in-the-wall of my own to crawl into. She agreed and I booked my plane ticket today. (got it pretty cheap too!)

But it got me to thinking. Not one who is into family and relatives too much, I had lived for over 2 years only an hour drive away from this relative in California and had met her a total of 2 times. Once was when she came to drop some stuff I could take with me to Pakistan to her family, and the next to pick some stuff I had brought back from her family. I remember she brought me home-cooked biryani both times which, for me being a student living on my own, was a god-send and a very welcome break from instant noodles.

Now I had been much closer to a number of friends through my college life than any relative. One of those friends had even stayed with me for a month at one time between moving from one place to another. I could have just as easily picked up the phone and asked her but the first and only person that came to mind was this relative with whom I have never been close. Not here. Not back in Pakistan. Why would I feel more comfortable asking a very distant relative than a close friend? Is it because even though I am not much of a family person, I still value what it stands for? Is it because I thought that being family, she wont reject me? Is it because of the free food? :S

Still haven't figured it out. I just hope my stay there goes smooth and I build a good relationship with her and her family. I also hope that along with building, I dont break something - like her kids' video game console or her husband's cellphone. Because then no matter how great I feel about family, she definitely will not be feeling the same. Let's see how this goes.