Activity » RenOIshi » Dramabeans

RenOIshi

September 17, 2019 at 1:24 AM

My life is really vanilla. Except for my epic largest than life childhood trope filled love story nothing major exciting has ever happened to me. However, makjang is there when you seek it and I have found an epic one to share. Please proceed with caution…Trigger warning…

RenOIshi

September 17, 2019 at 1:25 AM

Reply 1988 is one of my most favourite dramas. Not because of the ‘who does she really marry’ trope but more for the family dynamics and the close knit relationship between the neighbours. I grew up in such an environment. It is not easy living your life when everyone has their individual noses in your business but the perks were great! Unlimited food source, group tv watching, outdoor sports, shopping and as my girl squad grew up – Gossip. Gossip was there in every corner. ‘Did you hear that uncle is having an affair with the wife of the other uncle?’ ‘Is it true that that mother in law harmonie was mean to her daughter in law?’ gossip was immense and countless.

Enter the neighbourhood Spinster. I remember when I was much younger my auntie would say ‘if you don’t eat your dinner you will grow up and become like her and one one will like you’ as she shoved a mouthful of food into me. Our Lady Spinster was universally feared. She was the epitome of haughty behaviour and her tale were intertwined into nighttime stories for little children of ‘how not to act’. Reader, she was not immoral or anything. It’s just that she didn’t want to get married. Ever.

RenOIshi

September 17, 2019 at 1:25 AM

One of my uncles was friends with Lady Spinsters nephew and I remember my grandmother, aunts and my own mum would ask him about her. His answer was always the same ‘she doesn’t want to get married’

Then one day, it was as if new life had breathed in into our tiny neighbourhood. Everyone was excited and happy and distributing sweets. My girl group was curious. What happened? Turns out Lady Spinster is finally getting married!

Her brother was a well respected member of the area and he was congratulated on doves. ‘Ah finally you are able to do what your duty has been! Your sister is finally getting married’ My girl squad was super excited too! We got busy deciding what to wear to the wedding and what song to dance to!

Big day comes and we are all ready. I realised for the first time that day that soon to be ex Lady Spinster was incredibly beautiful. How come she never found anyone to marry her? My tween brain asked. She was crying non stop.

End of big day and we hear the news she has returned home refusing to go back to her husband. What the hell happened? The neighbourhood elders were summoned to talk some sense into her but she wouldn’t budge. Doom and gloom came over the entire neighbourhood once again.

Then suddenly one day we wake up from sleep to hear she went missing. What?!? I see a flurry of whispers and my young uncles making frantic phone calls. What is going on?

RenOIshi

September 17, 2019 at 1:26 AM

Turns out she ran away with her nephew. Yep the same nephew who would dodge questions about her marriage. She has been having an affair with her own nephew who was 15 years younger than her (he is her cousin brothers son).

Gossiping aunties went on the overdrive! So much that her brother had to leave his parental home with his wife and family. The nephews family withdrew from society. It was a mess.

20 years later I hear that they were still together and are quite happy. He used to call her ‘auntie’ and apparently he still does.

LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi

September 17, 2019 at 1:29 AM

I’m assuming he was a cultural, rather than biological nephew? Trying to do some math on cousin brother’s son (wouldn’t your cousin’s brother be your cousin?).

Quick! Ren! I need a kinship term lowdown here, stat!

RenOIshi

September 17, 2019 at 1:31 AM

From a cultural perspective he will be her nephew still. Since his dad and her are first cousins. From a western pint of view yes they are cousins.

LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi

September 17, 2019 at 1:35 AM

Oh, yeah, if she and his father were cousins, then he’s her cousin (technically first cousin, once removed) in our kinship systems. Actually legal, still a bit… ew.

greenfields

September 17, 2019 at 6:46 AM

In many parts of the world, first cousins are preferred marriage mates, particularly I think, in some of the Arabic countries.

wapz

September 17, 2019 at 2:05 AM

I am curious if it was culturally acceptable in your area? Not the running away part but their relationship. Because where I’m from it used to be fine(prob still is) to marry a cousin’s child when there are huge age differences among the cousins. Like the people getting married had hardly any age difference because of the huge number of cousins. But it irks me because you still have a different relationship hierarchy.

RenOIshi

September 17, 2019 at 2:45 AM

Marriages between cousins are okay but not between an uncle-niece, aunt-nephew relationships. Basically your parents brothers/sisters/cousins are your uncles/aunties.