How to Meet Your Family

I'm not sure how many people have the opportunity to actually "meet" their family. I guess it could happen at family reunions, but still even then...those don't happen all the time. For those of you who don't know what it's like, let me try to explain.

In some ways, it's just like meeting new friends. In others, it's completely different. You have the curiosity factor, just like you do when you're being introduced to your friend's friend. And there's definitely the, "Hmm I wonder how we'll come along" aspect. But as for comparing it to being introduced to just any random person, that's where it ends for me. Just the simple fact of knowing that you share the same blood makes it different. You don't want to be that relative that's known for behaving that way or doing that thing. You don't know who in the family they associate you with. You know they've been hearing about you for a while now, but you don't know what kinds of things were said. Is this my opportunity to confirm all of the good things they may have said about me? To disprove the bad? I'd also say there's more pressure when it comes to meeting family. Not a horrid amount, but the pressure still exists. For example, when you're being introduced to your best friend's cousin...it doesn't necessarily matter how much you like that person. Chances are you won't be seeing him/her very often. But this is family. So this is different. You share lots of time with them and in my case, they will not only be serving as family for the next four months...but friends as well. So yes, I'd say there's a little bit of pressure to show off your good features in hopes of being the niece or cousin that they look forward to including rather than not. And lastly, social media, email, electronic communication in general just adds a weird thing to it all. I'd been in contact with several relatives that I'd never met  for a while prior to coming to Manila. I had the chance to talk to, make plans with, and get a feel for some of my family members' personalities before even kissing them on the cheek. But that's not the part that concerns me. It's the part when you actually do have the chance to hug and greet each other face to face. And when it happens, this is how it goes:

1. You size up whoever it is. You think to yourself, "Okay, that must be such and such. Alright, yeah, it definitely is. What did we talk about on Facebook again? Was he/she nice? Engaging? Enthusiastic? Were there smilies included?"
2. You panic. "Omg. What do I say? Should I wait to be approached or do I do the approaching?"
3. You smile & remember to be normal. "Hi such and such, I'm Rachael. It's so nice to finally meet you!"
4. You engage in the inevitably awkward handshake/hug/kiss on the cheek. "Ohh &*%@ which one is it?? Nooo God !@#& I'm an idiot."

...but afterwards, rest assured- it will be okay. My advice to you is to stay relaxed. To be yourself. This is your family and they will love you because they're your family and that's just how they are. It's happened over and over to me in the past week and a half and so far so good.