Since my mother and father handed away, I’ve solely been to my hometown throughout holidays or particular anniversaries, making it laborious for me to acknowledge kinfolk by identify, although their faces are acquainted.
I’ve lengthy wished to debate younger folks’s diminishing reference to kinfolk. My hometown is in Hai Duong province in northern Vietnam, however now my household lives in Quang Ninh, one other northern province.
When my mother and father have been alive, we incessantly visited our hometown, not simply on holidays. However since they died 20 years in the past, my visits to Hai Duong are restricted to the Tet Lunar New 12 months and my mother and father’ demise anniversaries solely. I even really feel uneasy staying in a single day throughout these visits.
So I have to admit, amongst my kinfolk there, I’m not sure who continues to be alive and who has handed away. When we’ve got gatherings throughout my journeys to Hai Duong, many faces are acquainted to me, however their names escape me.
At a latest funeral in my hometown, my youthful brother pointed at some folks and requested about our relation to them. I might solely snicker, recognizing them as kinfolk however unclear on specifics of our relationships.
Solely those that have been away from their hometowns for a very long time, like me, could perceive such awkwardness. If I’m on this state of affairs, how can I count on my future generations to take care of their roots?
What are your ideas on this matter?