Sherpa wedding

Weddings are a whole different ball game on this side of the world.

They are steeped in age-old traditions and take time. In the villages a traditional wedding would take 3 days. Here in the city they cram it all into one day…thus making it normal to be at a wedding party for at least 8 hours.

After my Sherpa friend fixed my Sherpa dress we headed to the party house. The afternoon started out with snacks. At first I thought it would be fun to keep track of all the snacks and drink offered…

Butter tea

Cookies

French fries

Cheese balls

Chicken wings

Coke

Fanta

…but then I quickly lost count. Every time I finished one thing there was something else set in front of me. I did however become very skilled at politely refusing the home made liquor. Even if I did consume alcohol the fried eggs floating around in it would have put me off.

Around 4pm the bride and groom finally come out. They sit under umbrellas while a Buhddist monk marries them.  You know when they are “officially” married when the chanting and cymbol banging stop.

5 o clock the servers come around with mushroom soup.

At 6pm dinner is served. The best thing about Sherpa wedding dinners (and funerals) is that it is buffet style. This means YOU get to chose what and how much goes on your plate.

7pm dessert and tea and then…dancing!

After dancing you take an envelope with money and give it to the bride and groom.

8pm the bride and groom start the ceremony of saying their goodbyes. This is a long and involved process and I opted to leave around this time.

I will leave you with a few quotes from the night

You are the biggest person here

They are not truly married until we eat dinner

OMG! You are such a good dancer (Nepali referring to my mad skills)

“bored lagio” are you feeling bored?

Go up to the stage and make a movie…nobody cares because you are a foreigner

Happy Birthday Dad!

I can’t remember the last time I was home for your birthday…sad.

I want you to know that I am thinking about you and praying that you have a great day.

I have felt extremely blessed this past year because I have gotten to spend some quality time with you while you were here in Nepal and while I was home at Christmas.

This may come as a surprise to you but you are not the only one celebrating you birthday today…

My friend Andrea shares this day with you AND her dad’s birthday was yesterday.

My friend Michelle is currently at the hospital having her first child.

And in 1965 DJ Jazzy Jeff was borne…famous for his song “Parents Just Don’t Understand”

(sorry, I was hoping for someone more famous but Jazzy Jeff will have do to)

LOVE YOU DAD!

favorite things

My favorite past time is to spend time with friends. Ideally it would be in a coffee shop or restaurant with our only agenda being to sit and talk. My trip home granted me this pleasure in abundance.  I can’t even begin to explain how this sort of thing fills me up and encourages me.

My friends and family have all gone through so many changes over the past year and a half. Being in Nepal often makes me not feel only physically far away but “spiritually” far away …I just feel a little disconnected. Thanks to my little vacation I was able to reconnect.

I was granted in abundance time and conversation with friends. I ate plenty, laughed heartily, and basked in the warm comforting sun that is friendship.

Thank you friends and family for the time you spent with me

Thank you to those friends who drove a long way to come and hang out with me

Thank you church for paying for me to come home.

My three weeks in America were AMAZING! When I came to the states I was feeling tired and a little worn out. I left the states feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the second half of my time here in Nepal.

Here are a few of the highlights ....

Spending time with my Portland family.

Bunco at Beth's

Quality time with my FAMILY

Catching up with old college friends

Karaoke in Portland