A Month of Weddings

We have attended three weddings thus far this month.  Each wedding followed a very similar order of events.  We attended only a portion of each.  The events begin with a gathering of the family and friends at the groom’s house at about 9 in the morning.  There is usually a meal offered, then, at about 10am, all the groom’s family and friends, along with the groom and a truck full of gifts for the bride, caravan-it to the bride’s house.  At the bride’s house the actual marriage ceremony takes place between the groom and the bride’s father.  After which, the groom goes to the bride’s bedroom to retrieve his wife.  There are usually some words, prayers, or blessings that take place before they come out, all with as many guests looking on as possible.  The couple then takes their place on a large stage, set up under a tent usually in the middle of the road.  Here the couple greets all their guests until mid-afternoon, at which point they may return to the groom’s house to greet additional guests.  During the afternoon, the couple usually takes a small break, if time and guests allow.  Afterwards, they change into another outfit, just as fancy, for the night reception, which usually takes place at about 7:30pm.  This reception is similar to the earlier event in which the bride and groom sit on the stage greeting guests, the guests eat, and someone sings on another stage. 

The first wedding was of the younger brother of our neighbors whom have been very helpful with Barat language study.  I, Erin, went by myself as John and Caedmon had soccer practice, and Whitman chose to go to soccer over the wedding. 

The Bride's family bringing gifts

when they went to the groom's house to greet guests mid-afternoon. 

Bride & Groom

with the groom's parents

Erin and our nieghbor

The groom's mother presenting the couple with gifts. 

The bride is putting her mother-in-law's hand to her forehead in a sign of respect.

Our neighbor's daughter, the bride, and Erin

The second wedding was an employee from the immigration office whom we've made friends with due to our frequent visits.  She offered and provided traditional clothes for our family to wear to the wedding.  It was a lot of fun to "dress up," but the clothes were not at all breathable.  It made me feel sorry for the bride and groom. 

Getting dressed, with some help from friends of the bride. 

Caedmon

Erin

The shirt fit perfectly, even around my big belly, and without any pre-measuring!

Whitman making friends in the car.

The Wedding Ceremony, inside the bride's house.

Sitting on the floor. 

After the ceremony, we ate food that was under all the yellow covers.

The groom retrieving the bride from her bedroom.

Bride and Groom heading to the stage to greet other guests. 

Our family with the bride and groom.

Everyone wanted their picture taken with us.

The Bride's Hands

Her hands are drawn on, in a henna type manner, in a special ceremony the night before. 

She did have her cell phone with her the whole time as well. 

The third wedding was one of our original language helpers.  This wedding was the only one of the three which used local Barat customs in the dress and decorations.  To me, a foreigner, they all looked pretty similar.

Guests, just hanging out.

Arrival of the groom, his family, guests, and gifts.

Event tent set up in the middle of the road.

Typical formal wear for male guests:

sarong, sport jacket, and traditional hat.  

Our family with the bride and groom.

Our language helper is the bride. 

As for the head covering, I chose to wear one for many small reasons.  Mainly though, to be like the people we live among and reduce any future barriers to knowing truth.  This was the first time I wore one out in public.  I received only a few comments, which all consisted of, "You're wearing a head covering, you look so pretty."  Out of the three brides, all wore skin tight head coverings as well (this is pretty rare from our own experience attending weddings).  The first bride though, did wear one which was black on top to mimic her hair.  All great experiences for culture study and picture taking. 

Monsters inside Me - Int'l Version

Blood and guts have never really bothered me, Erin.  In college, classmates and I were fascinated by videos of athletes becoming injured.  I have watched many surgeries in person and been just as mesmerized by all that is done and never sickened by what I saw.  But when it comes to skin problems or parasites, I get quite disgusted.  One exception is wounds; I dealt with many bedsores as a nurse and though they are terrible wounds, they never bothered me much.  But when you have something crawling with bugs (yes I've cared for a patient in the hospital in the States with a maggot-full wound), or erupting on the skin, or worse yet caused by microscopic bugs, I have a real hard time.  Therefore I am not one to watch the show Monsters inside Me, though I usually like all things medical.  The show is about infections or ailments caused by parasites. 

Overseas, in the area in which we are living, we have experienced some of these parasites; amebic dysentery and giardia to be specific.  But Cutaneous Larva Migrans is a new one. 

John's Hand

The trail left by a worm.

Over a month ago now, John was bit by a red ant on his hand.  This is never a good thing for him as it leaves a red bump for at least a week and he typically swells up.  But this time we managed it well with immediate application of Benadryl.  The swelling and discomfort turned out to be minimal.  The red bump remained, continued to itch excessively, and then began to grow.  We've all had some bites that I've suspected were something other than mosquitos, but they never grew.  He continued to apply Benadryl cream.  I tried lancing it with a needle a couple times (which kind of grossed me out as I didn't entirely know what I was poking).  John tried oral Benadryl and the application of ice as well.  Nothing seemed to stop the continued growth of what was now an obvious line.  We eventually determined, thanks to the internet and the book "Where There's No Doctor," that John had a worm.  This totally grosses me out.  We figured he came in contact with the worm as he worked outside after getting the ant bite, which opened his skin, making it more susceptible to the entrance of the worm. 

We obtained a list of  multiple oral medications he could take to kill it, but unfortunately we couldn't find any pharmacy here in Barat that had even just one in stock.  One pharmacist did tell us the medication was expensive and rarely if ever used, therefore rarely stocked.  Thankfully we had success at a pharmacy in the city an hour away where we go for immigration visits.  John has taken the one time dose and we now await the resolution of his long red tunnel made by the worm....yuck!

A Walk-In Clinic Visit

As I, Erin, am about to enter my 8th month of pregnancy, it is recommended to be seen every two weeks.  Thus far, we have been making monthly trips to the big city (a 6 hour car ride away) to be seen by a doctor at a hospital where I hope to deliver.  It seemed a little extreme to increase our trips to every two weeks, especially as we intend to stay in the big city, awaiting the delivery, beginning June 3rd (my due date is the 10th). 

I mentioned to a neighbor that I desired to make a visit to the local walk-in type clinic for a pregnancy check-up.  She too is pregnant and suggested we go together.  Monday morning we ventured together to the clinic.  It is very helpful to have a local show you the ropes first time around. 

The Entrance and Check-In Desk

The clinic is about 4 blocks from our house.  It is an open air construction, with rooms and offices all opening directly out into a court yard.  We first took numbers, then when called, "checked-in," giving our name, address, and husband's name.  When our charts were ready, we waited a little longer than usual for they had to make me a new chart, we went directly across the courtyard to the "pregnancy" section.  I was then weighed and had my blood pressure measured.  Next, I went into another room to be seen by the midwife.  She asked if I had any complaints, then checked the baby's heart beat with a hand held Doppler, and lastly manually checked the baby's position.  The midwife finished by asking if I needed a prescription for vitamins.  That was it! 

It went smoothly, though a few differences did stick out.  The first was their scale, which was a very simple one.   It showed I had lost about 10 lbs. since my last visit in the big city.  When I got home I weighed myself again, on my very simple scale, which said I weighed the same as my last check-up in the big city.  The next thing that stuck out and made me laugh, at least inside, was as soon as I exposed my pregnant belly the midwife said, "Oh, what a pretty belly!"  We usually all get comments on how beautiful our 'white' skin is, which my belly certainly is, but all I could muster up was a thank you.  Lastly, the midwife said the baby is currently in a horizontal position.  This stuck out to me for a couple reasons.  At my last check-up in the big city the doctor, by means of an ultrasound, found the baby in a head down position.  I have also heard multiple stories of friends whom were checked by midwives here, told their baby's were head down, then it turned out they were not.  I'm not too concerned at the moment as there is still plenty of time for her too move and she sure does make big movements, but as with anything it could always be lifted up.  The funniest part to me about the baby's position was the midwife and my friend concluded it must be because the baby is small, though there was nothing to go by expect my physical appearance. 

It was a new experience and worth going, if only to have my blood pressure and the baby's heart beat checked.  Many people deliver their babies there, but Him willing, I still desire to deliver in the big city!