While I was staying with May and her family in Hua Thou village, she invited me to go along with her to the one year anniversary of a family members passing. She dressed me in traditional attire and we headed off. When we arrived we were greeted by cries of sorrow, singing and smoke. Some of the family members were inside taking part in the mourning ritual. There were men by the fire preparing the meat, groups of women in the corner, around the bend teenagers and young kids playing. It felt familiar, it felt as if I was back home. Every time there was a gathering, there was always that familiar feeling in the air. That feeling of being brought together by love and sadness. It was heavy but light, joyful but sad.