A trip back..... home??

I had a wonderful trip back to Medan last week. Medan was not exactly my home, its more like my parent's home, as they were born in a small town somewhere in Medan and grew up in Medan and moved to Jakarta after they got married. So being a Medanese is a big part of me and my sister's as well as my extended family's life (although we were born in Jakarta).

The trip back home was actually to attend one of my cousin's wedding (from my mom's side) and also most importantly was to visit my grandparents. We always tried to visit them every once a year. This time was a blast because almost everybody from Jakarta actually manage to attend the wedding. So everybody was there, my uncle's house and my grandparent's house were packed with relatives coming all the way from Jakarta. It was actually no surprise coz I have a VERY big family. Too big that this time I went back, I met cousin's and uncle's and auntie's that I never knew I had. We didn't quite go anywhere while we're there coz it's a problem travelling out and about in such a big group.

The one thing my family loved about Medan was the food. Having grown up in Medanese community, we are accustomed to Medanese food and everything there is so much better than what we used to have in Jakarta. One of my best friend who's not Medanese always told me that she would say yes to any food I offered as long as there's the word Medan next to the name of the food. Yes.. apparently she loved it as much as we do.

Although I have to admit, I hated the weather in Medan. It was sooooo damn hot. The heat was unbearable. When we were there, I remembered everybody from Jakarta was saying how we always complained about the heat in Jakarta where it was actually a lot worst in Medan. Also, I hated the becak (a.k.a rickshaw). At one time, I have to drive from my uncle's to my grandparent's house. I cannot believe I complained about motorcycles in Jakarta where in Medan you have to drive along side rickshaw!!

All in all, it was a great trip. Although I have to admit, initially, my sister and I hated it and wanted to come home to Jakarta a.s.a.p. At the end of it, we get along with the cousins we never knew we had, and everybody else. We gather at grandparent's house every night to chat and I have to say, looking at the smile from my grandma each time we were all there was enough.