Here Comes the Bride!

In February I went to 3 weddings- in the span of about 3 weeks. The first was really exciting because it was my first Indian wedding- something I've heard so much about. So, I got dressed up in a "fancy" suit and embarked on this new adventure. 

Andrea and I ready for our first wedding

At the wedding there was so much food. I didn't realize that there is first a "snack" buffet, then a "meal" buffet. I was filling up on snacks, thinking it's the meal, when a whole other world of food opens up. The food was delicious and I got to try many new dishes.

Andrea and our friends eating delicious wedding food

Then, there is dancing. Complete with strobe lights and smoke. It was really fun because Indians dance with lots of throwing your hands into the air and no one cares how well another person dances. It was a blast!

Two men were having a dance off- it was hilarious!

The second wedding was a daytime wedding, so sadly there was no dancing. But it was still really fun, especially since I was friends with the bride. And since I knew the bride this time, I decided to wear a sari. Unfortunately, the sari was not quite long enough for me (oh the joys of being tall in a short country), but not to worry, my friend successfully tied my sari in a way that she said "is the new fashion". I think she was just trying to make me feel better because since no one else was wearing it that way haha, but it still looked great!

Saris are fun!

With the beautiful bride

By the third wedding I was going broke buying all these fancy outfits, so I did a repeat of the first outfit. This was my first Hindu wedding (the first two were Christian), so I learned alot about more traditional weddings. For example, the groom comes in with his face covered while the youngest sister of the bride welcomes him by holding a jar looking thing on her head. Everyone is surrounding them, excited for him to enter the wedding.

The youngest sister of the bride welcomes the groom

 Then the bride and groom sit for hours while a video camera films them and everyone takes pictures of and with them (this is true for all the weddings). I must say I am glad this tradition is not part of our weddings. I cannot imagine how tedious that must be. No wonder they never smile in their pictures- their mouths would be trembling after hours of smiling.

The couple being filmed and photographed

Weddings are an important part of this culture so I feel very blessed that I was able to experience so many of them!

Rafting in Rishikesh

About a month ago I went white water rafting for the first time! It was a great time. We went to a camp a little bit outside of Rishikesh. It was on a river bank, so of course it was beautiful!

 Now this was my kind of camping- there were actual beds and bamboo on the floor's of the tent to cover the sand. There were even toilet and shower tents! And the food was prepare for us- that means no cooking. Yes! It was HOT but under the canopies it was breezy and wonderful. The weekend was so relaxing. I got to play volleyball and frisbee (and attempt -and fail- to learn a new trick). We also played lots of cards and dice games. So fun!

The tent where we ate our meals and played lots of games

 Apparently this river is pretty mellow and the rapids are easy compared to other rivers, but it was my first time to go white water rafting so I was terrified! But, I survived and it was so much fun! Although, at one point our guide said "All right, this one's called the roller coaster. Check you life jackets and helmets". That got me pretty nervous haha! The water was freezing and refreshing, especially on such a hot day. Later I got to go kayaking. Luckily it was a 2 seater because I had no idea how to steer the thing. Indians don't know how to swim so it was pretty funny when I wanted to go swimming and they forced me to wear a life jacket, in water that went up to my waist.
Overall it was a really fun and relaxing weekend- just what I needed!

Getting ready to go white water rafting

Cultural Blunders

So one time I went to my new friend's house and met her mother and brother. After a while I asked for the bathroom, so the brother leads me to the room. I walk in and as I close the door, he has a weird look on his face, but I don't think too much of it. Then I look around. There is no toilet! I'm frantically trying to figure out how this is the bathroom and if I'm supposed to pee in the drain in the corner or something. So, finally after a minute of confusion I just walk out, thinking "we'll be home soon, I'll just go then". Well, an hour has passed and we are still there and I'm about to burst. So I finally ask the mom, "can I show you something?", lead her to the bathroom, and say, "umm where's the toilet?". To which she responds by pointing to the next room with a "she's dumb" look on her face. It turns out that in India, you must always ask for the toilet to actually get a toilet. The bathroom is where you take baths. Haha! I will never make that mistake again!