2024 January - Shanghai

The last time I visited China was in 2015. It's astonishing to realize that nearly a decade had passed since I last saw some of my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and relatives. The reunion had been long overdue. Reconnecting with my family was a heartwarming experience, and I also had the opportunity to meet some of my parents' friends during the visit.

我上次访问中国是在2015年。令人惊讶的是，我意识到距离我上次见到一些姑姑、叔叔、祖父母和亲戚已经近十年了。这次团聚已经是早就应该的了。与家人重聚是一次温馨的经历，我还有机会在访问期间见到了一些我父母的朋友。

Wang Family

During my recent visit to China, I spent most of my time with my dad's side of the family. My dad, the youngest of four siblings, introduced me to our family dynamics. Sadly, his oldest brother passed away a few years ago. Next in line is my aunt, whom I call Da Niang Niang, living in Shanghai, followed by another aunt, Xiao Niang Niang, in LA. I stayed in the flat beneath Da Niang Niang's, once my grandma's.

Eight years ago, my grandma had a stroke, altering our family's focus. Luckily, both my parents flew to China after I arrived in Shanghai, a rare reunion in a foreign land. Towards the end of my stay, I got to overlap with Xiao Niang Niang before flying back to Boston.

This was the first time in my adult life that I saw my dad interact with his sisters. Together, we took care of my grandma, explored different foods, and navigated Shanghai with their Chinese language skills, uncovering hidden treasures. It was a trip filled with family bonding and rediscovering the strength of familial ties.

在我最近的中国之行中，我大部分时间都与我父亲这边的家人在一起。我的爸爸是四个兄弟姐妹中最小的一个，他向我介绍了我们家庭的动态。可悲的是，他最大的哥哥几年前去世了。接下来是我称之为大娘娘的阿姨，她住在上海，然后是另一位住在洛杉矶的阿姨，我叫她小娘娘。我住在大娘娘楼下的公寓里，曾经是我奶奶的房间。

八年前，我奶奶中风了，改变了我们家庭的重心。幸运的是，我抵达上海后，我的父母都飞到了中国，这在异国他乡是一次难得的团聚。在我逗留的最后时刻，我有机会与小娘娘重叠一段时间，然后飞回波士顿。

这是我成年后第一次看到我爸爸与他的姐姐们互动。我们一起照顾我奶奶，探索不同的食物，并利用他们的中文技能在上海穿梭，发现了隐藏的宝藏。这是一次充满家庭凝聚力的旅行，重新发现了家庭纽带的力量。

Chen Family

On my mom's side, the family dynamic presents a distinct contrast. Like my dad, she is one of four siblings, yet while he occupies the role of the youngest among his siblings, my mom assumes the position of the eldest within her familial circle.

Firstly, there's my uncle, affectionately known as Da Jiu. He and his wife reside in China, with their daughter, YuFei, currently residing in the Bay Area. Their extensive travels have included significant time spent in the US. Following Da Jiu is my uncle, Xiao Jiu, also residing in China. Unlike Da Jiu, Xiao Jiu has had fewer opportunities to venture outside of China or visit the States, having only made one trip thus far.

Completing the family portrait is my mom's youngest sister, Xiao Yi, who calls New Jersey home. She shares her life with a son of similar age to mine and a daughter close in age to my brother's. Meanwhile, our grandmother on my mom's side currently resides in an assisted living facility, bravely battling Alzheimer's. Despite her condition, our recent gathering was a poignant opportunity for familial reconnection, further underscored by Xiao Jiu's thoughtful excursion to Zhu Jia Jiao, an ancient town steeped in history. These cherished moments of family togetherness are rare and invaluable, serving to deepen our bonds and enrich our shared experiences.

During this visit, I had the pleasure of meeting YuFei's cousins for the first time. Though not directly related, it was delightful to engage with younger family members and enjoy their company. Our shared experiences extended beyond familial connections, as we explored exhibitions and dined together, creating lasting memories of camaraderie and kinship.

在我妈妈的家族中，家庭动态呈现出明显的对比。与我爸爸一样，她是四兄弟姐妹之一，但与他在兄弟姐妹中担任最年长的位置相比，我妈妈则担任了家族中的长者。

首先是我亲切称之为大舅。他和妻子居住在中国，他们的女儿玉菲目前居住在旧金山湾区。他们在美国的访问时间较长。接下来是我的另一个叔叔小舅，他也居住在中国。与大舅不同的是，小舅很少有机会到中国以外的地方或访问美国，他只去过一次。

家庭画卷的最后一个角色是我妈妈最小的妹妹小依，她居住在新泽西州。她有一个与我年龄相仿的儿子和一个与我哥哥年龄相近的女儿。与此同时，我妈妈的祖母目前住在一家辅助生活设施中，奋勇地与阿尔茨海默病作斗争。尽管她的病情，但我们最近的聚会是一次感人的家庭重聚，这一点被小舅带我们游览朱家角，这座历史悠久的古镇所进一步强调。这些珍贵的家庭团聚时刻是罕见且宝贵的，它们深化了我们的亲情纽带，丰富了我们的共同经历。

在这次访问中，我有幸第一次见到了玉菲的堂兄弟姐妹。虽然不是直系亲属，但和年轻的家庭成员在一起很愉快。我们的共同经历不仅局限于家庭联系，我们一起探索了展览，并一起进餐，创造了友谊和亲情的持久记忆。