The Reaney family and Irish culture

Never in my life do I expect to become an American family’s friend.  However, I am simply blessed by God to have the privilege to become Mickey’s family friend. I got to experience what I see on American’s Funniest Home Video in culture, home design, lifestyle etc!

The first time I saw his whole family was during 2011 Easter weekend, when his whole family came over to visit in our home in the RAF, Washington D.C.  Mrs Reaney is very warm and comfortable to hang out with even on first encounter. Mr Reaney on the other hand seems stern and quiet, but he is a great guy as Mickey describes to me. Unfortunately, there are times when I have difficulty understanding him and I feel so embarrassed about it. Mickey has 3 other siblings – 1 older sister Theresa, 2 younger brothers Devin and Brendan.  Devin is in his growing up years and though at times there is a little age gap between us (over 10 years), I see lots of good in him. I believe that with his family’s great parental guidance, he will surely grow up to be a fine man as well. Brendan is skinny and easy to speak with. But I can always remember what caught me when I saw them all the first time in D.C. - The resemblance of the guys in the family: All of them have a rather straight face with little expression. It is only when you know them well or observe how they interact with each other that you see their colourful sides. Within the family, they are simply a playful and loving and also very welcoming to outsiders (something I think we Chinese need to learn).  I can’t over emphasis what great family culture they have. Besides, this family also gave me my first and probably last American Family birthday surprise. I remembered walking into Mickey's house and I saw a Happy Birthday sign with a cake on the table. 

I was like: "Whose birthday is it?" To my great surprise it was Mickey's family throwing a surprise birthday for me and his whole family was there. It was real nice. 

Mickey really respects his Dad very much and his Dad really loves him. Actually, his Dad loves all of the kids but I got to see how his parents demonstrated their love for him as I spend so much time with him. Calling him frequently to check on and update him. His Dad calling him early in the morning at 5am to wish him Happy 21^st Birthday (which woke me up… haha) Doing the sweetest and special things for him and his siblings: Giving a booklet made in 1990 to represent his year of birth on his 21^st birthday and most excitingly passing to him the ancestral ring. Cool stuff!

I had the privilege to also attend Theresa’s graduation ceremony and party. It was just awesome. Something that we do not really practice in the Asian culture: throwing a big scale party and inviting people to come for the celebration. It was really a great experience. I had the opportunity to set up the party for Theresa and enjoy the party. It was filled with songs and dance – Oldies and Irish songs. We even played Musical Chair, and I was the final 4 before I got ousted by Theresa… It was definitely a wonderful family experience. Towards the end, the MC also gave Mickey a belated 21^st birthday celebration song.

It was also interesting to have a short personal time with Mr Reaney. He asked me to follow him to collect Theresa’s cake and raisin buns for the party. In the car, we chatted a little and I observed his large coarse hands. It was really evidence of the many years of hard work in the construction site. I can understand why Mickey is different from other American boys: his upbringing from his father.  Mr Reaney actually reminds me of my own grandfather, who was a construction worker when he first came to Singapore from China before he made his way to a millionaire. Both have white hair, with similar built and a straight stern face by default, though both are great people. My grandfather like Mr Reaney is also very stingy. I remember his father doing something that caught me by surprise: When he could not finish the bowl of soup I made, he threw it back to the pot, demonstrating thrift and not wasting. 

Mrs Reaney as said is very fun to spend time with. I remembered playing a game called spoons with her and the kids and it demonstrated how she is able to connect with her kids on a friend level. I also had a chance to have an enjoyable chat with her which lasted close to 45 minutes (Reaney waited for me till he fell asleep). She openly shares about her family and is generous with all her stories. It is really nice. 

Brendan is a Liverpool fan!! It is interesting to know that there is a family of boys who prefer soccer over American football. Brendan even has a poster of Liverpool Steven Gerrad at his door. Cool stuff. He is soft spoken but definitely playful. The first time I saw him he was fighting with his sister Theresa. Oh and he loves Tang Yuan (Chinese dessert like rice balls with fillings). 

Theresa studied in Bridgewater College and majored in education. Something like Singapore’s NIE I think. However, Massachusetts is well known for its education and it is perhaps a “To Do” major there. She loves, Loves, LOVES Harry Potter. I mean that when I was there she actually went to New York to catch the Harry Potter fan and she apparently watches  and reads Harry Potter over and over again. 

Devin is playful and just like any growing up boy in Singapore – Can’t wait to grow up. I remembered watching him playing baseball when Mickey brought me to watch a game with him. That is the U.S. culture. Forming teams in the town and play games against one another. Pretty cool. Like boys here, he likes computer games and have problems balancing with studies. Global phenomenon. However, he is really helpful. Always helping me to carry things and offering his service in any way he can. Just like my hermano, Mickey, serving his family by driving them around. Oh yes, the love language of service is something entrenched in the Chinese culture that I see there in his family as well.

Irish people seem to be very inclusive too. At Theresa's graduation party I met many of their Irish family friends. For some reason, I was able to connect very well with them. Unfortunately, I realize that age is catching up as well cause I found myself being able to have a enjoyable conversation with elders over 50. They are very easy to mix with and they shared with me about their family and the Irish culture. Telling me how family is important etc. There is one special guy who was the DJ that night and he shared with me about the songs he had and we discussed about oldies. (Another sign of aging... sigh...)Remember that I said that Mickey's family are playful. Apparently, Mickey told me it is an Irish thing to tease and have fun in their culture as well. He was telling me about his experience with Irish construction workers playing jokes with one another. For instance, he actually lied to his cousin that he was straddle at Largon Airport when he was in Washington DC and called his cousin to come pick him up. What an ass.... Another example was an April's Fool's joke that his mum cracked on his father that he woke up late for work when it was still hours away. I, unfortunately, also had a little experience. His Irish friend kept pushing me when I was playing Musical Chairs with them. Good thing I knew about the Irish jokes by then or I will have thought that he was bullying me.

I had wonderful meals with his family as well. The most memorable dish is the Irish raisin bread. It is so delicious! Of course, I also deeply appreciated the meals that Mickey's parents generously laid before me and Leong. Salad and turkey and ham etc... They were thoughtful enough to make a meal for Leong before he left. Very nice of them. But what is most interesting is that they like curry! Apparently it is one of the most popular dish in Ireland. 

 

I really love the Irish culture that I have experienced. Family and a very strong sense of identity. I really hope that this culture will be preserved and that they will remember their tradition and values. Their ancestors suffered in the past due to famine and I hope that the upcoming generations will remember it and not take things for granted. It is also great to know that Mickey is really proud and strong in his roots and I can see why, and he should be. Family and roots, something Chinese and Irish both emphasis on and I am real glad it is still passed on from one generation to another. 

My closest Korean friend - Choi Yujin

The first time I met Yujin was at Dupont Circle's Madhatter. She was Leong's colleague and he invited her along for dinner and that is how I got to know her. Ok la, she is quite pretty... hahahaha!!! A very decent girl and easy to get along with. I will remember her as the fun and playful girl who always says: "You're so mean..." haha! that is what she always calls Leong and me when we tease her. Like most Koreans, she is very proud of Korea but the great thing is that she accepts and respects other cultures as well. She makes people feel comfortable with her and she is very funny at time cause she is a little "blur blur"... LOL!!!

 The beautiful Choi Yujin and me

We did many things together and got to know one another rather well. Ate a lot together and had various outings such as going to Georgetown etc. However, I will always remember her for one very special occasion: International Festival at The Washington Center. She helped me the booth and acted like a Singaporean.and it was so funny. She could lie only to the non-Asians though. After making friends with so many Singaporeans she could also speak some Singlish especially: "Diam la" (Shut up!).

Jackie, Sun Hwa, Yujin and me

I also had the privilege of traveling with Yujin at New York. (She stayed in New York for 1 month!). It was indeed very fun . We watch Broadway, shopped at flee market, watched ice hockey together and explored various parts of New York and she also brought us to Korean street when we had excellent Korean Tofu food. It was particularly good because there is free flow appetizers!!! hahaha!!!

Yujin and Me a New York Flee market

We really had lots of fun together and will definitely want to visit her in Korea or Indonesia some day! Thanks for all the fun times Yujin! Let's meet up when we can!:)

My big sister in Washington D.C. Saori Suzuki

I will like to take this opportunity to thank a very friendly and beautiful Japanese lady I got to know in Washington D.C., Saori Suzuki. I will not forget how I first met her. I was entering the Washington Center HQ where we bumped into one another at the entrance. We started to chat and she asked me if I am from Singapore. I was actually very surprised as I did not expect a non-Singaporean to distinguish my Singapore accent when I am speaking proper English to a foreigner (without my Singlish). The mystery was solved when she told me that she has many good friends from Singapore and that she has been to Singapore many times.

Saori was an air stewardess in Cathay Pacific in the past and that was where she met many Singaporeans. She would also often converse to me in Singlish and Malay. But what I was most impressed with is that she has a good knowledge of Singapore and Malaysia culture to the extent that she actually has a better command in Bahasa Malay than me. I am also absolutely impressed by her diverse cultural exposure and perception.

However, in all honesty, after the first time I met her in TWC HQ I thought she will just be another acquaintance that I made. This is because most people are friendly but there is barely any followup relational friendship after a first "get-to-know". However, this first encounter with a Japanese lady is different. She asked me over to her flat one Sunday afternoon for lunch with her with some other Taiwanese friends. I was very surprised as I did not expect such a generous gesture after meeting her only once. Since then we hit of as good friends. We will often cook for one another and I had the privilege of attending some classes with her.

Saori and me at convocation

I will never forget one sentence she said to me during our first lunch, "I am like a mother to you here." She has indeed been that figure. Always warm and frequently ask me to join her for various activities. Lend me her rice cooker and even taught me how to make sushi.

Saori teaching me to make sushi

I remembered that one night we had an international festival and I went up the stage to speak. When I was up there, I saw her running up to snap pictures of me. It felt like a proud mother taking pictures of her son. Even though I did not have the chance to thank her for that, it was really very heart warming and I am really appreciative of what she did.

We also attended Model NUM together and I am very thankful for APEC cause that was how I knew her in class. She often brings me to meet people and through her I met an APEC delegate from Indonesia. There are so many more other people I got to know through her from all over the world - Moldova, Japan, New Zea land, India, etc... She is also so generous with her praises to me and I feel shy about them as I know I do not meet such high standards as she describes. 

 Me and Saori in NUM APEC

It is my greatest honor to have known a friend like her and I know one day I will visit her in Japan. As of now this special friendship will be kept in my heart. Thanks for everything Saori, I will always remember you.