Does all your family live in your country?
By kiran1978
@kiran1978 (4134)
Australia
May 12, 2008 9:58pm CST
I only have my parents living in my country. I always wished I had my cousins, grandparents, aunties and uncles living nearby so I could build up a relationship with them. My grandparents, 2 aunties, cousins, uncle and my half Sister and her kids live in England. I also have aunties, uncles and cousins in America. My sister has been living in Scotland for 6 years now. My dad's grandparents use to live in New Zealand but they sadly passed away a few years ago, I also have an uncle there too. I live in Australia.
It is quite sad how far they are away as it is too expensive for me and the kids to fly over there and see them. I have not seen most of my relatives since I was 12 years old.
So how about your family, do they all live close by to you? What's it been like having them live close by or so far away?
5 people like this
37 responses
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
13 May 08
No, my family is scattered to the four winds!! We are not a close knit family at all, my closest relatives being my Mum and Dad. I have a Grandma and various great aunties and cousins all down to the South of me in England who all live in a place called Swindon, which is in Wiltshire. Then I have an uncle and cousins in Kent, then I have an auntie and cousins in South Africa. Then I have a great uncle and various cousins etc who all live in Australia!! I have not seen many of these relations from being about 12 either, I wish I was closer to the ones in Australia as it would be ace to be able to go and visit them.
2 people like this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Hey, cool relatives in Australia, maybe one time you could visit them, you would love it here, it is so laid back and beautiful beaches and weather. Sounds like your family is scattered all over like mine. Have you ever visited your relatives in South Africa before, I have never been there, heard it is pretty violent there, would not like to go there.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
13 May 08
My parents live in another country (another continent to be more specific). I'm in India and my parents are in Africa (Ghana). My sister is now married and in India too (though in a different state than the one I am in- she's in Kerala and I'm in Karnataka). Most of my uncles and aunts are in the same state that my sister lives in....but I do have a few of them in the Middle East where I grew up. I have just one grandmother who is alive and she's in India too. All my husband's relatives (except for one cousin who is in Dubai) are in India. Except for one cousin who lives in Tamil Nadu....the rest of his relatives are in Kerala. My sister-in-law is in the same city as us.....but we hardly visit them.
My parents come down every year (to Kerala). I try to make it to Kerala then (which is train journey of 19 hours...or a flight of 1.5 hours) but if I can't...my parents visit me here. When they are in India, my father likes to see the whole family together and arranges a get together where we all get to meet each other (it usually happens once a year unless he comes more often or unless I can't make it to Kerala....the get together takes place even if I don't go).
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
14 May 08
My parents moved to Africa 8 years ago (my dad works there). I was raised in the Middle East (Kuwait).
I've been to Kenya and it's a wonderful place:)
We do have a close knit family and since my husband's from the same city, it's easy to catch up with family at one go. I used to go down a couple of times every year....but it's difficult to take the little one in a bus/train (19 hours is too much for him) and a flight is slightly expensive. So, we've cut down on the meetings. Though I did get to meet everyone last December at my sister's wedding.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Wow, Africa, my mum was born in Africa (Kenya), but she wasn't raised there, she spent most of her childhood in England. Sounds like you have a very close knit family, having regular yearly catch ups that is a great idea. Good thing you also have alot of relatives close by to you in India. THanks for sharing your detailed story, found it very interesting.
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
13 May 08
Hi Dear
Most of my family not only live in same country but also in near by cities. only one of my younger Brother is in England to complete his Specializatioon but he come back after 8-12 month. And in 3-4 yrs he will be back tooo
So its fun to keep in contact with close relations
Take care
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Hi cupid, you are very lucky to have all of your family nearby to catch up with anytime you want. Enjoy time with your family.
1 person likes this
@loveyoohbaby (737)
• New Zealand
13 May 08
Hey there my imediate family do but not all my complete family do.
1 person likes this
@loveyoohbaby (737)
• New Zealand
13 May 08
Hey um my Aunties and some of my cousins are over here also One of my cousins have been out of the country since I was 05 and now am 19 neurally 20 a
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
13 May 08
all my live in one country but we don't see often because of the distance from each of us. i live quite a distance from my parents place, all my siblings have their own family a live few file away. we see each other once a year. i missed the day when we are living together.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
It is hard not seeing them all the time, glad you see them atleast once a year though. Would be difficult for you too with all your study to find the time.
1 person likes this
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
13 May 08
All my immediate family live in the same country as me (England). My uncles all live in England, my aunt live in Ireland. various cousins live in England, one live Bulgaria (I think??) Some other cousins are in the forces so are dotted about abit. There are family members in America and Australia but these are like very distant cousins to me!! Kinda like my grandparents brothers and sisters children's children's children.
The only way to find out how they are related is by looking at the family tree and figuring what the relation is from there!!
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Cool relatives in Australia, you don't know which part? I am from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. I don't even know where my distant cousins are, now you got me thinking, lol. Great to hear you have alot of relatives living near you in England.
1 person likes this
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
13 May 08
Not sure where abut in Australia. It is fascinating finding out about distant relatives, where and how they live!!
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
13 May 08
Actually no they don't...I live in New York now but my legal family is in Canada and England.....My biological family from what I understand is spread out, some in Canda, some in Antiqua and POSSIBLY some still in Poland but i dont know for sure about that and I imagine many of them are all over the place really..theres no way for me to know...As for my EXTENDED family..they are all over the U.S, Canada, St.Lucia and Australia...
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Wow you sound like you have a very big family there. So you live in the Big Apple, when I was a kid I always wanted to live there, what's it like?
1 person likes this
@CatNPK (461)
• United States
14 May 08
My family is mostly scattered between three countries, the US, Sweden, and Finland. In the US, we live in four different states. The majority of them are in Finland, where I am from. My friends (regardless of which country they come from) at this point are scattered further, in South Korea, China, India, Germany, Ecuador, and many others. We stay in touch over the internet and phone, sending messages and pictures or videos fairly frequently as well as using blogs or social networking sites like myspace and facebook. I travel as often as I can, although sometimes to new places instead of to visit people I know.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
14 May 08
Wow sounds like you are a social buttefly, keeping in touch with everyone via internet using social networking sites. You definately do have friends and relatives all over the world, good thing though that you go and see them regularly. Thanks for sharing your story, have a great day.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
13 May 08
No. My parents and my younger sister lives in the Houston, USA. They been living there for quite a long time now. My parents usually go home every year during Christmas times. While my younger sister and her husband and kids visited us her about twice since she left our country.
My older sistes and me leaves in the neighborhood here. My older brother leaves is our province, it is about 2 hours drives. We visited each other maybe three times a year if there are occassions.
I have a younger brother who leave in London, England. He visited us maybe twice now since he lives there. He is planning to go to Houston this year to visit our parents.
Most of my uncles and aunties are still here in our country. They live in differents provinces and the farthest is about 5 hours drives. I have one uncle who lives in Xiamen, China. This year some of my relatives and parents visited him. He is already old and China doesn't allow him to travel anymore so we are the one visiting him now.
Yeah, I missed the family get together during Christmas times, when most of my close family are still here in our country. But it's a different world now, it's a small world but you need some money to make it smaller.
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
I like it how you said that it is a small world, but you need some money to make it smaller, so true. I am glad that we have the internet to make this world seem a bit smaller too. If it wasn't for the net I would hardly be in contact with my relatives overseas due to costs of expensive calls.
I am happy for you that you have yearly catch ups with your family. Enjoy time with your family, thanks for sharing your great detailed response.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
13 May 08
All of my family lives here in America, and for the most part, all of us lived in the same state up until 3 years ago. I moved to another state 3 years ago, and 4 months after I moved, my oldest daughter moved to another state from our home state. I did grow up knowing my cousins, uncles, aunts, etc. I saw both sets of my grandparents on a regular basis. It was great fun when we all got together for holidays, and I have many fond memories. There are now many of us that have moved to other parts of the state, or to another state, but we are all still living in the same country.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
That would have been really nice growing up with your grandparents around, I bet you got spoilt, lol. Good to hear that most of your family is in same country, not too far away by plane to visit.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
13 May 08
All of my family lives in the US the same country that I do. It must be hard having family live so far away from you. I live only 22 miles away from my mom so I can see her quite a bit I know alot of peoples parents live far away and they don't get to see them enough I am glad to have my family close to me.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Wow that is awesome, out of all the responses I have read so far I think you are the first to mention that all of your family live in the same country. Yes it is hard having family live so far away, the saddest thing is I don't really know them well at all, I know my friends more then my relatives.
1 person likes this
@meiyeec511 (405)
• Malaysia
13 May 08
My relatives living in the same country but different state, we will meet normally when Chinese New Year. But sometimes it's ok cause will be much more noise, but sometimes will have arguement, that's bad.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Yes I guess that is a downfall with family get togethers all the disputers, it is bound to happen. But still it is better them living in same country then scattered around the world, least you have the option to see them when you wish, lol.
1 person likes this
@twiggyxin (30)
• China
13 May 08
Yes,but I wished I had relations living in other countries,then I can travel abroad for free.haha~~
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Your the second person here that has wished they have relatives living overseas. It would be an advantage to have free accommodation however you still have the cost of a plane ticket, lol.
1 person likes this
@budisartomo (29)
• Indonesia
13 May 08
all of my family live in my country but ane of my uncle live in Malaysian.
Live in any where is not important the important thing is when your family live far or close to you they live with happiness.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
14 May 08
Yes I agree it is important that they live with happiness, however i still miss my family very much as I have not seen them in 15 years as it is too expensive to fly. BUt I am glad that they are living a happy life, just wish I could get to know them a bit better, have not met them as an adult I was a child last time I saw them. You are lucky that most of your family live in the same country, enjoy these happy times, take care.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
13 May 08
my family (immediate, does live in the same country as i do) but we have close relatives in other countries too, like my aunt and uncle (my dad and my mom's siter and brother) are in canada, so are their families. they have migrated about 20 years ago...
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Happy for you that your immediate family live in same country. Canada would be great holiday destination to visit your other relatives.
1 person likes this
@coffeedragon (10)
• China
13 May 08
All my relationship are living in China , and about 5 hours away by car. But my family will go to australia. i will live far with them.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
China, I hope all your relatives are safe after that awful earthquake? That must have been frighning for you, when you heard about the earthquake. Take care.
1 person likes this
@katfish86 (146)
•
13 May 08
My grandparents live about an hour away, and my parents, sister, aunt, uncle and two cousins, and other grandparents live two hours away. We all live in England. My other aunt, uncle and cousins live in South Africa though. We don't get to see them often but we're going out to South Africa next summer!
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Awesome, must be great feeling having most of your family members close by. Glad to hear that you are also able to visit your other relatives in South Africa, although I would be worried about going there, isn't it supposed to be dangerous over there??
1 person likes this
@bojangles88 (649)
•
13 May 08
All my close family live in England the same as me, but I had great aunties, uncles, second cousins etc. in Poland (where my grandad came from) and one great aunt in Canada with her family, though I've never visited.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
It is a shame when you can't meet some of your relatives because of the distance. I don't even know where my great aunties, uncles live, I will have to look into it. I guess I haven't found out as I don't even get to see my aunties and uncles.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
That must be a good feeling having all your family members pretty close by.
1 person likes this
@meiteoh (416)
• Switzerland
13 May 08
Almost everyone in my family is living in Malaysia except for a handful of my cousins who are in New York and Fort Nelson (Alaska). I used to live in Malaysia but I moved over to Europe recently. The nearest "family" I have is in France and those are my in-laws.
Yes, it does feel strange having to adjust to the distance after spending many years living in close proximity with everyone. Sure, I miss my family a lot but life goes on.
It'll be hard on the wallet flying home often so that's something we'll have to negotiate when it comes to the major holidays like Christmas and Chinese New Year.
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
13 May 08
Yes you are right life goes on, but its a shame when life goes by so quickly and you haven't seen some of your relatives in years. I haven't seen my grandparents in like 15 years, the last time I saw them I was a child. Hopefully one day I will get to visit them again. Europe would be great to live, lots of cool places to visit.
1 person likes this