One of the biggest events that can happen in a place like this is a wedding. When you live on a campus, you don’t have to be family or even friends of the soon-to-be happy couple in order to get excited. For weeks everyone is excited thinking about it, mostly about the cake but other things as well…like the food…Everyone eats in the cafe here, students and staff alike. So when we hear the word ‘wedding’ it is immediately translated into ‘good food’ before the sound waves reach the inner ear. Of course I wasn’t on of those sort…
Actually, I was rather one of the friends of the bride. Not one of the sort that gets to march down the isle in a beautiful gown. One of the kind that gets to do the brute work, you know that sort, and arrive at the wedding looking haggardly. I had less time to get myself ready when the big day arrived then I do on an average work day at the lifestyle center. In fact I didn’t even take a shower until two hours after the wedding was scheduled to begin. Of course, as I might have mentioned before, things are different in Venezuela.
When a wedding is near Christmas, the traditional food to eat is ajacas (don’t know the spelling for that one). These are made by wrapping a layer of cornmeal, gluten, red and green bell peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots, green olives and raisins in a banana leaf and steaming them for one hour. In America we would recognize them by the name Tamales. Even though it sounds easy, these little guys are immensely laborious. It took four of us, two entire days to make a sufficient quantity for the wedding. I peeled carrots, onions, and potatoes until my hands turned various shades of yellow, brown and black. Now a week later, I can still smell carrot peels on my hands.
That was Wednesday and Thursday’s work. Then on Friday I accompanied two ladies into town to help with decoration ideas and also to buy the bride a gift, though in the end they really didn’t consult me in the slightest on décor ideas. I would have gone with a theme, say red and white. Red roses and baby’s breath for the brides bouquet, white gladioluses for the bridesmaids tied with a red ribbon, some sheer white fabric draped on the armrests of the chairs down the isles accentuated with red flowers with a little greenery thrown in…
In the end we came out with red, white, pink, purple, blue and yellow. That’s a theme I guess…a circus theme if nothing else…
I was also lined up to play the marches with another violinist and a pianist, and they do a lot of marching here in Venezuela. First the family, then the enormous crowd of bridesmaids and groomsmen, then the bride. So we had four classical pieces to practice for all the separate marches. I certainly would have thought that a little practice ahead of time would be reasonable…did I mention that things are different here?..
The wedding was scheduled to start at 10:30 and all us musicians were there right on the button, 10:30 sharp; dressed in jean skirts and T-shirts, with greasy mops for a hairdo, and flip-flops on our feet…practicing the music for the first time. Lucky for us, the bride had no intention of getting there at 10:30.
Since I happen to have the nicest camera on campus, I also got the role of photographer. So I ran home, took the world’s quickest shower, grabbed the camera and headed to the brides quarters to take dozens of photos. Pictures of the bride getting her hair done, pictures of the bride fixing her veil, pictures of the bride leaving the house, pictures of the bride on the lawn looking all beautiful in white against the green grass, pictures of the bride getting into the car, (Melissa gets into the car with the bride) Pictures of the bride in the car…
We arrive at the auditorium. I quick bag the camera and grab the violin. In waltzes the family, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, and alas…the bride.
And the rest…is history…
Actually, I was rather one of the friends of the bride. Not one of the sort that gets to march down the isle in a beautiful gown. One of the kind that gets to do the brute work, you know that sort, and arrive at the wedding looking haggardly. I had less time to get myself ready when the big day arrived then I do on an average work day at the lifestyle center. In fact I didn’t even take a shower until two hours after the wedding was scheduled to begin. Of course, as I might have mentioned before, things are different in Venezuela.
When a wedding is near Christmas, the traditional food to eat is ajacas (don’t know the spelling for that one). These are made by wrapping a layer of cornmeal, gluten, red and green bell peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots, green olives and raisins in a banana leaf and steaming them for one hour. In America we would recognize them by the name Tamales. Even though it sounds easy, these little guys are immensely laborious. It took four of us, two entire days to make a sufficient quantity for the wedding. I peeled carrots, onions, and potatoes until my hands turned various shades of yellow, brown and black. Now a week later, I can still smell carrot peels on my hands.
That was Wednesday and Thursday’s work. Then on Friday I accompanied two ladies into town to help with decoration ideas and also to buy the bride a gift, though in the end they really didn’t consult me in the slightest on décor ideas. I would have gone with a theme, say red and white. Red roses and baby’s breath for the brides bouquet, white gladioluses for the bridesmaids tied with a red ribbon, some sheer white fabric draped on the armrests of the chairs down the isles accentuated with red flowers with a little greenery thrown in…
In the end we came out with red, white, pink, purple, blue and yellow. That’s a theme I guess…a circus theme if nothing else…
I was also lined up to play the marches with another violinist and a pianist, and they do a lot of marching here in Venezuela. First the family, then the enormous crowd of bridesmaids and groomsmen, then the bride. So we had four classical pieces to practice for all the separate marches. I certainly would have thought that a little practice ahead of time would be reasonable…did I mention that things are different here?..
The wedding was scheduled to start at 10:30 and all us musicians were there right on the button, 10:30 sharp; dressed in jean skirts and T-shirts, with greasy mops for a hairdo, and flip-flops on our feet…practicing the music for the first time. Lucky for us, the bride had no intention of getting there at 10:30.
Since I happen to have the nicest camera on campus, I also got the role of photographer. So I ran home, took the world’s quickest shower, grabbed the camera and headed to the brides quarters to take dozens of photos. Pictures of the bride getting her hair done, pictures of the bride fixing her veil, pictures of the bride leaving the house, pictures of the bride on the lawn looking all beautiful in white against the green grass, pictures of the bride getting into the car, (Melissa gets into the car with the bride) Pictures of the bride in the car…
We arrive at the auditorium. I quick bag the camera and grab the violin. In waltzes the family, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, and alas…the bride.
And the rest…is history…
4 comments:
Hey Liss,
Did you ever get the money you needed for the girls to go home for Christmas? BTW, I know how you feel about "home for Christmas." We just lugged out the decorations--but I don't have any excuse (or helper) to light up NLB; so I guess it'll be same 'ol, same 'ol... Wish you were here...
You're stories are great! I think I will inspire the junior LC's with your "day off" story in Assembly. Don just gave a mission talk this (Friday) evening, and the message is the same--you may be called on to serve at unusal times! Did I say "MAY?"
Hope to get you a mosquito net, even tho' you said you're getting used to it. Perhaps it's kinda like chiggers--you get an immunity after the first 1000 bites. Carmen regaled us with stories of the man-eating mosquito there that causes a hole that won't go away--some guy there that she knows got bit on the jaw and still has a hole in it. Maybe you've seen him around. Kinda hard to miss--like the headless horseman.
OK- catch that bouquette next time!! On second thought, keep your hands in pockets...
Love, Dad
Aren't weddings fun!!! So glad you had a chance to get presentable "in time" for the festivities. :) What a trip!
I miss you like crazy, sweetheart. I'll be shedding a tear when we get to AL. But I'm so glad you can be there and do what you're doing. I'm so proud of you!!!!! My own baby girl (well, close--doesn't niece count as my girl???) a missionary. I couldn't be happier. There's a lot more to your story yet to be written, too.
Love you, honey.
:) Auntie Ann
Hello My Beautiful Daughter,
I miss getting emails from you...is there any specific reason why you can't send out an email (even if it's general and to everyone at the same time) when you do your blogspot? I need to know if you got the email with the information about money that we sent to your bank for the hot water tank. I'm sure you would be THRILLED to take a hot shower...right? OK...so the Mead's donated $100 and Eddie and I donated another $100...is that enough to get the tank and have it installed? I have others who would donate, if you need more, if you could let us know what the amount needed is.
The wedding...well...sounds like formal events are more 'on schedule' and a little less 'hectic' (I said a LITTLE LESS...) here in our country. It's good that you get to experience other cultures and all of the hoopla that goes along with each specific one. Jenna is more than anxious to experience the hoopla with you!
Speaking of Jenna...be planning for that senior year mission trip with her...if she graduates as a junior she will have the whole senior year free to work with and be educated by you. She's expecting that to happen...this is her big goal...and I'm not discouraging her against it in any way! She may end up being your little 'side kick' for many years...she could learn much from you, and I think that once she gets past her 'teenage years' she just might be a really wonderful companion for you on a full time basis. She's a good girl and has good goals and dreams.
It's almost Christmas...I have grown to 'dread' this time of the year. 'Christ' is almost completely forgotten...it's all about 'commercialism'...so frustrating and discouraging. To me...it's all about being with the people we love. You will be VERY missed during our two and a half weeks in Spokane...sure wish you could be there!
Did you get your letter that I mailed two weeks ago? Let me know if mail comes through as it should...we will send more!
Be a good girl...and I totally agree with your dad...KEEP YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS! Don't be catching any boquets until you get back home...OK?? :-)
I love you...and miss you...be a good girl!
xoxo
Mommy
BEAUTIFUL pictures Pooh Bear!!!
x0x0
Mom
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