Li Family Reunion, Santa Cruz, CA

(from left: first cousin Peter, Lester and I, mom Ya Ying, sister Amanda, 

dad DK, aunt Janet, first cousin Brenda, uncle DQ)

For those of you who aren’t members of Lester’s family, the Li family reunion will require a little explanation.  It is almost like the Olympics of family reunions in that they are held not on an annual basis, the location always changes, and they last an unusually long time.

The Li family reunion occurs every three years and is held on either the east or west coast of the US, alternating with each reunion.  This year’s reunion was held in Santa Cruz, California on the University of California campus.  We stayed in dorm rooms and ate out of the school cafeteria.  Since Lester and I met in a college dorm, it felt a little like we had come full circle to be spending part of our honeymoon in one.  Yes, we had to sleep in separate beds.

I met the 90 or so people who call Lester family (apparently there are more, who I am likely to meet three years from now).  Most of the family is connected through Lester’s grandfather’s siblings, however there are some parts of the family whose common ancestor goes a generation or two further back.  There was a very helpful slideshow presentation to clarify how everyone was related.

Lester's grandfather (SZ) is at the bottom-right.

Unfortunately, Lester and I were not the only people to get married this summer; three other couples in the Li family also tied the knot.  This was a perfect opportunity for a little public humiliation in the form of the Newlywed Game, held on stage in front of the entire family.  Lester and I won, although there was no prize except the lingering embarrassment of having to answer personal questions about your relationship in front of 90 people.

At one point during the game, I was asked what Lester’s most annoying habit was and I answered, “his relentless planning.”  This was a mistake because they had not yet decided who should organize the next reunion.  Lester was asked the following day.

After the reunion officially ended, we drove a little further down the coast and spent the afternoon around the Monterrey/Carmel area, which is a really beautiful place to wander around and get lunch.

We flew back to Montana yesterday and we’re currently on our way north to Glacier National Park.