My mom’s four sisters, three brothers, their spouses, more cousins than I can count, several cousins’ children, and other assorted friends of family and their children.

Everyone who hasn’t seen me since January or Thanksgiving: You cut your hair short!
Me (to self): Yeah, good thing I had a few months to grow it out to this short and didn’t tell you guys when it was really short.

One aunt:  I don’t like it. Why don’t you grow your hair long?

(Almost all my girl cousins have long, silky hair that they flat iron into perfectly straight layers. My curly girl method?  Wash, condition, product, scrunch or shake about, and let air dry.)

Other aunt:  It looks good. You should keep that style.

10-year-old-cousin: Where do you go to college?
Me: New York
Cousin:  How do you get around?
Me: The subway or walking or the bus
Cousin:  I thought only hobos take the subway

And much more. As entertaining as they can be, I’m still not looking forward to next week: wedding madness. It’s overwhelming, exhausting, and honestly, not that much fun when your family’s muslim, all strong personalities, completely insane, and there’s no alcohol involved.