Saturday, July 17, 2021

(British Nigerian Comedian) Gina Yashere - "The Rules of Meeting My Mom" (with comments about referring to elders as "Aunty" or "Uncle")


Just For Laughs, Dec. 2, 2020

#GinaYashere on leaving her engineering career for comedy and the hilarious way her girlfriend met her mom.

 #GinaYashereStandUp from the #JustForLaughs Festival in 2018.

[...]

ABOUT JUST FOR LAUGHS :
Just For Laughs is the world’s premiere destination for #standupcomedy. JFL produces the world’s largest and most prestigious comedy event every July in Montreal, as well as annual festivals in Toronto and Sydney. On this channel, you will find comedic clips from some of the most legendary comedians in the business: Chris Rock, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, and more. We also feature stand-up from newcomers such as John Mulaney, Bo Burnham, and Amy Schumer. If you just want to laugh, you’re in the right place.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about British Nigerian comedian Gina Yashere and showcases a YouTube video of one of Gina Yashere's stand up comedy segments.

Some comments from the discussion thread of that YouTube video are also included in this post. Many of those comments refer to the Nigerian custom that Gina talked about in which people refer to eldes as aunty or uncle.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Gina Yashere for her cultural contributions and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT GINA YASHERE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Yashere
"Gina Obedapo Iyashere is a British comedian who has made many appearances on British and American television.

Early life

Yashere was born and raised in London, to Nigerian parents.[1] Before becoming a comedian, she worked as a lift maintenance technician and engineer (all of which she mentions in her stand-up routine).[2][3]

She uses the surname "Yashere" due to encountering common mispronunciation of her original surname.[4][5][6]

Career

Yashere was a finalist in the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition in 1996. She has appeared in a number of television programmes, including in the comedy series The Lenny Henry Show, where she played Tanya and Mrs Omokorede, the pushy mum. She voiced Keisha on the animated series Bromwell High. In 2005, she appeared in the reality television series Comic Relief does Fame Academy, in aid of Comic Relief, and she co-hosted the 2006 and 2007 MOBO Awards alongside 2Baba and Coolio. She has made numerous appearances on Mock the Week, and appears on the CBBC show Gina's Laughing Gear.

In 2007, Yashere was featured on the reality show Last Comic Standing, auditioning in Sydney. She was among the ten finalists, but on 1 August 2007, she and Dante were the first two finalists eliminated.

In 2008, she became the first Briton to perform on Def Comedy Jam. On 3 September 2009, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and performed a stand-up comedy routine. On 24 December, she appeared on Live at the Apollo. She appeared twice on the short-lived primetime show The Jay Leno Show: on 21 October 2009, a video of Yashere showed her giving free fortune-telling readings to passers-by, and on 25 November 2009, she operated a walk-in psychic booth. Starting in 2010, she appeared semi-regularly on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, in a sketch comedy series called Madame Yashere: The Surly Psychic.

[…]

Starting on 16 March 2017, Yashere became the newest British correspondent for The Daily Show.[8]

In September 2019, Yashere appears in a supporting role on the 2019 Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom, Bob Hearts Abishola, which Lorre created with Yashere. Yashere writes for the show and plays Folake Olowofoyeku's character Abishola's best friend, Kemi.[9] Bob Hearts Abishola is the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family.[10][11]"....

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDX1YTL-ByU&ab_channel=JustForLaughs

All these comments are from 2021. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1. DImaf Dee
"Always on point.... Too Hilarious!!! Especially the one called every elder mum/daddy or aunty/uncle.. It is really an African thing.  In the African culture, you dare not call an elder by their first name. In fact in most cases, you will not know their names.James

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2. James
"Always seems to end so quickly, she's such a good comedian. Plus, everything she said about Nigerian culture is 100."

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Reply
3. UDUAK JIMMY
"100% correct about the Yoruba culture in South West Nigeria where she probably comes from.

 We in South South Nigeria don't prostrate or lay face down in the presence of elderly people. We bow slightly, shake their one hand with two of ours, stuff like that.

 We all don't dare call older people by their names though; they are aunties and uncles anytime."

**
4. Amy Diallo
"πŸ˜€ that is so true, we never call  adults by their name. My american friends aways ask how many aunts and uncles I have."

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5. RJ london
"I'm in London, I'm not African and even I call any african elder aunty or uncle my first love taught me that lol the only thing is if they recognise you the next time, they start asking you bare questions lol. My Hermes delivery driver now stops for a chat every time asking about the kids ect πŸ˜‚"

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6. Fa Hud
"the live commentary from parents - esp. mums - when watching a film or whatever is so on point - also true for Somalis"

**

7. Stella Ng
"Omg Nigerians is like Chinese. Meat butcher uncle and auntie. We also don't hug! My mom would call me a white lady when I hugged her!! I love her sketches. So relatable the immigrant experience."

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Reply
8. Jacki Moon
"Your mom would call you white if you tried to hug her?! πŸ’€ that’s so amazingly funny lol"

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Reply
9. Spunkymunky
"LOL.  I can relate.  I'm Vietnamese American.  Vietnamese don't totally get into bowing--it's 50/50.  So I figured as a Vietnamese American I don't do bowing.  Friend comes over and does a full on bow.  I'm so embarrassed.  And my parents were like, yeah, that's right.  You better."

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10. DragonFly
"Her storytelling is really good"

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11. Charlie Lucai-Woodsboro
"It's an African thing to address somebody older as uncle/aunty. We do that here in South Africa to lol"

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Reply
12. Manna Jacob
"Same in India too haha"

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Reply
13. Yourworship The Great
"Even in uganda"

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Reply
14. ezzahira aghmari zidan
"Same in Morroco"

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Reply
15. Saima Hussain
"Same British/Asian"

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Reply
16. Stacey M
"Same in the Caribbean"

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Reply
17. fran haferkamp
"I understand Russians did that in the past, don't know if they still do.."

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Reply
18. lolazal1
"@fran haferkamp  many still do"

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Reply
19. Franny Michelle1987
"Its funny cause we do that in chile too!"

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Reply
20. mayowa somoye
"in my own family if the person seem older than your parents then its big daddy and big mummy"

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Reply
21. Catherine Chang
"Same in Chinese culture too!"

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Reply
22. Candice Monique
"Same here Louisiana."

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Reply
23. 
Maria Eventine
"Did this when I was a child  so did my peers white UK, which I explained to a friend who was brought up in India she thought it was just an Indian thing then explained it was done in Europe to as mom was Hungarian... So I think it's a very old tradition all over."

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Reply
24. Tiny Freckle
"In NZ it's also a Maori thing"

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Reply
25. 
GiGi
"Same in Sri Lanka"

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Reply
26. Deniz Whittier
"Same in Turkey - went to a wedding from my ancestral hometown where I was addressed as “my neice” but it wasn’t gendered. I felt liberated for not having to be a girl but just a young person."

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27. The Barefoot Witch
"My Mother was raised in West Africa and she called her elders Aunty/Uncle. Me and my sister were brought up to do so as well. I used to support a Nigerian man with additional needs. His mother butted heads with my line manager; because the line manager would insist on calling the mother by her first name. I came in and called her “Aunty”, and after telling her that my mother gre up in Cameroon, she only wanted to deal with me regarding her so son’s care."

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28. H. A
"Same in Lebanon/the Middle East"

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29. lolazal1
"Every where but western Europe, America and Australia."

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30. Phil O
"Lol being Nigerian I completely get everything she’s saying. It’s like we have the same mom."

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31. Blueberyl
"Sounds like my Berber mom."

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32. Mark Brower
"A lot of people with immigrant parents will immediately relate to “become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer” "

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Reply
33. oauseer
" @Mark Brower  100%. In Egyptian and Middle Eastern culture it's those 3 jobs only. Anything else isn't worth talking about lool"

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34. Queen B
"Is it true as she says her mum doesn’t like other black people apart from Nigerians? I see a lit of animosity between black Jamaican and black African people in my neighbourhood. Why this hate?"

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35. Lena Wagenfuehr
"I love Gina Yashere. I've seen her on lots of British panel.shows, and in one she talked about how her mother is a Brexiteer. Because she got a British passport, she looks down on immigrants, completely forgetting her own recent past. Gina's mum provides her with plenty of material, and this "stranger danger" stuff is GOLD"

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36. Do We Exist?
"It's great she's open about being a lesbian now. You can't be a true comedian unless you embrace your real self and can joke about it."

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Reply
37. Paris Van-Del
"Ummm...where you been? She's blew up the closet 20yrs ago or more.🀣🀣🀣"

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Reply
38. Do We Exist?
" @Paris Van-Del

This is the first time I've heard her mention it in one of her shows."

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Reply
39. Paris Van-Del
" @Do We Exist?  you've obviously haven't seen all her shows and interviews. I've enjoyed her comedy since the early 2000's when she had a relaxer.🀣🀣"
-snip-
In the context of that comment "a relaxer" means "straightened hair" (hair straightened with chemicals or heat). Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bmQseRI2Xs&ab_channel=DeadParrot for a 2018 video of Gina Yashere with "relaxed"  hair. 

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Reply
40. Do We Exist?
" @Paris Van-Del

I admit I haven't seen all of her shows and interviews but I've been watching what I can since 2000 as well and I personally think she was more open about it after she moved to America."

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Reply
41. Do We Exist?
"@Paris Van-Del

And anyway, at the end of the day, it's up to her how and who she wants to be and whenever so I don't really want to discuss in great detail her sexuality and how often she's mentioned it. I'm just happy shes comfortable enough to speak and joke about it."

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42. Chijoy Phillip
"She definitely has a good Yoruba accent when imitating her mum"

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43. Serenaissance
"I'm glad Gina is doing so well abroad, British media executives never gave her her dues for the exact reasons she's thriving in the US now"

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44. Shortblock Flexinit
"I just saw her on Wendy yesterday, and not only is she still with Nina, her mother and Nina are practically best friends. Love it!"
-snip-
This comment was published in May 2021. 

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45. 
Wolfsong Moondancer
"'You don't know this woman, stranger danger...'. This cracked me up, she's brilliant! πŸ˜†πŸ˜‚πŸ€£"

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46. John Doa
"Another great British export"

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47. itsjemmabond
"Actually, the kneeling down before your elders only occurs in Yoruba culture."

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Reply
48. majda vojnikovic
"Near enough :)"

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Reply
49. Thoughts of a Teen
"Nigerian and Yoruba are very often hand in hand"

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50. Rabibi Lah
" @Thoughts of a Teen  not quite. Yoruba is only one out of 250 cultures in Nigeria."

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Reply
51. Rabibi Lah
"@Thoughts of a Teen  that inaccurate Yoruba is one of 3 major groups but not the only one. Then there’s 250+ other cultures in the same country. It’s like saying a small segment of people represent a whole country. Not all Nigerians kneel for elders (some might curtsy or bend one knee) and only Yoruba men prostrate aka the push up greeting (none of the other ethnicities’ men do that). That’s strictly Yoruba people in the south west"

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Reply
52. Eghonghon Imarenezor
"not only Yoruba, I can't speak for other groups in Nigeria but Edo people definitely kneel down."

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53. Kasmir's Daughter
"Not true. It’s simply Nigerian culture. The only difference is Yorubas expect it from everyone. Whereas in other parts of Nigeria it’s only expected for fathers and for when a wife serves her husband his meals for example. My parents did not expect it from us but I had aunties who knelt to serve their husbands. Hausa and Igbo aunties so it’s simply the custom in Nigerian."

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Reply
54. Mariah Henderson
"@Kasmir's Daughter  I'm Igbo and you just had to do a slight bow and maybe a handshake while saying "good afternoon(depends on the time) uncle/aunty".

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Reply
55. 
itsjemmabond
"@Kasmir's Daughter  That's weird. I'm from Imo, and I seldom saw that."

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Reply
56. Mariah Henderson
"@Kasmir's Daughter  I'm Igbo and you just had to do a slight bow and maybe a handshake while saying "good afternoon(depends on the time) uncle/aunty".

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57. Jaypee’s Escape
"No it’s also a delta and Igbo thing. In delta it’s called jigwe. A lot of other culture do the whole prostrating thing but Yourba people carry it on their head (no offense)"

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Reply
58. itsjemmabond
"@Jaypee’s Escape  Really? Because I'm Igbo, and I never once came across the kneeling for your elders greeting."

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59. SylviasWorld
"@Eghonghon Imarenezor  Edo's and Yoruba's are historically linked though. There is a culture crossover between the two tribes."

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60. SylviasWorld
"@Kasmir's Daughter  No, it's not 'simply Nigerian culture' actually. In fact for Igbo's its not expected or generally encouraged to bow to your fellow man. Respect to elders in the Igbo culture is more in how you speak to them, how you physically take and give and object etc. You may give a slight nod which lowers your neck and back but that would not qualify as a bow in Yoruba culture in which the prostration or courtesy is very much pronounced. It's just not expected with Igbo's and it's not a lack of respect or rude if you don't for the most part."

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61. Jacki Moon
"Oh man...I definitely remember the first time I tried to give my Hindu husband’s father a hug.

What a damn fool I was πŸ’€"

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62. Akanksha Yadav
"In India instead of bowing down we touch elders feet and here also we call every older person aunty and uncle πŸ˜…"

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63. Dr. Markus
"Nigerians and Asians have a ton in common. HAHAHAHA I'm Asian"

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64.  BlackJack XXI
"I'm going through the comments and I'm realising that almost everyone, with a non-Western background, dose the Meat Aunty, Meat Uncle thing.

I'm from πŸ‡΅πŸ‡¬ and thats how we address our elders that could be in our parents generation too.

Now out of curiosity, what would you call your cousins children, do you address them as your Niece and Nephew or are they also Cousins ?"
-snip-
PG= Papua New Guinea
-snip-
The words in bold font were written that way in this comment.

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65. Mariposaoro Fusion food Channel
"Too funny as always!!! Big up Aunty Graceby(Ginas mum)!! Lovely lady!"

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66. faith mkhize
"I'm South African.... Zulu..... We also don't call our elders by name.... Guess it must be an African thing... 🀣"

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67. Linda Benny
"I LOVE Gina. Come back to the UK soon. We miss you!"

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68. TCt83067695
"So we're not gonna talk about how fly her entire aesthetic is?

Jumpsuit fire.

Necklace thing fire.

Shoes FIYAAAAAH"

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Reply
69. Miss Sophia
"Yeah her outfit is πŸ”₯!!!!! Get it girrrrrl!!!!!"

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70. Jude Obafemi
"Hair too. Accent too. Comedy too.

Everything is πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

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71. intldawn
"Gear is ON POINT. She always has the best glasses, too. ❤️

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72. leimoan800
"Her delivery is the bizness🀣😍πŸ₯°πŸ’ƒ"

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73. sora actualize
"yo honestly african parents are like asian parents . when you speak mandarin or cantonese as a non asian person to an asian parent they are soo happy and appreciate you more, when you greet african parents in their local/traditional way they are more loving and warm to you especially in an informal setting and its shocking. i can 100% relate to this with gina here lol when your parents like your friends almost better than you.

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74. firebrandsgirl
"Black American and I get it also. Hilarious. With us it is speaking when you walk in."

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75. J0any T3st
"We show respect in the Caribbean  to elders by saying aunty and uncle too"

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76. NORMAN OSBORNE
"GINA'S BRAND OF COMEDY ALWAYS HAS ME IN STITCHES..... MASSIVELY POPULAR IN THE U S A.....BUT VERY LIMITED HERE ON HOMETOWN TURF LONDON CITY πŸ’žπŸ’₯πŸ”₯πŸ’•πŸ’žπŸ’₯πŸ”₯πŸ’•πŸ’žπŸ’₯πŸ”₯πŸ’•"

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77. Shotta Shabazz
"She is extremely funny but one thing I have noticed about her is she is very stylish and fashion conscious. She always has on some Fly Girl attire.πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯"

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78. Simba Miliki
"I'm from East Africa, buy what she's telling doesn't have any difference from my home."

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79. Flo Curlz
"How to impress Nigerian parents.comπŸ˜‚"

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80. svmac02
"Jamaicans only have the same job options too πŸ˜‚"

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81. Diane Bebbington
"Aaaaargh!!!! Why doesn't Gina have her own show on British TV? She's hilarious!!!!!!"

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82. Mary Jane
"My parents are from Eritrea and yeah we don't do a lot of hugging either. The kissing on the cheek left and right for greetings but no hugging.Sometimes I miss it and feel like hugging my parents tightly but by now we have gotten so awkward lol. We are still very close just a bit awkward when it comes to showing affection."

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83. dracolipop
"As a Chinese, i totally relate to the calling elders, aunty or uncle thing 🀣🀣🀣🀣"

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84. Suraya Abdullah
"Lots of similarities between Nigerian n Indian (Malaysia)family culture, so I can really relate... πŸ‘"

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85. Zephyr
"as an african this is so relatable! LOL "

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86. Kesington Omoniyi
"After all these years she still hella funny.... 🀣🀣🀣"

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87. danbauchi hauwa
"GinaaaaaπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ so impressive. Much love from another NigerianπŸ‡³πŸ‡¬πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬. The accuracyyyyyyπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ₯³ i loveeeeiiittttt"

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