It's A Wedding!

The last few nights here in Jordan have been pretty cool. One night, my friend's counterpart and her husband took us out for a ride around and felafals. They pointed out some pools of lights in the distance that were coming from Israel. (It's kind of disconcerting - not in a bad way, though - to be so close to the borders of Israel and Saudi Arabia! Makes me want to visit so badly!) Then the last two nights I was invited to a Jordanian wedding. The first night was a celebration by family members and close friends but the bride was not there. First, there was time to say hello and get to know each other, to chit-chat. Then food was served. Afterwards there was dancing. All this was done with women only while the men in a separate part of the house had there own celebration. It was pretty darn cool to see some of the women remove their hijabs, kick off their high heels and start ululating and grooving! Boy, and when they groove - can they shake and shimmy! I'm still holding to the belief that they remove a vertebrae when they're really young to get their hips to flick like that!! No wonder they have to keep the women and men separate! :-)

The second night was similar except that the bride was there and the celebration took place in Ma'an instead of at the family home. First, we went to the home that the bride was at. Some of the women sang to her while the rest of us hung out. Then we all caravaned it to Ma'an, blasting music, clapping and honking horns to announce the marriage. Once we got to the reception hall, women from the groom's family danced and sang for the bride. (Again, the men and the women were segregated into their own celebration parties.) Then it was the bride's family and friends turn. After that, all the women close to the bride sang and danced. All of this was done more formally then when they were at the family home the night before. The bride was then cajoled into dancing for everyone. (Ugh...I, as with the night before, was also coerced into dancing. I felt so awkward! Don't get me wrong...I love dancing but it's so nerve-wracking in front of people that I don't know in a more intimate setting than a club! And dancing Arabic-style? Uh, yeah...about that... At least this time I wasn't being coaxed into that!) Once everyone stopped to cool down and mingle, the food was then served. Afterwards, the groom and only the groom joined us. Many people queued up to give their well-wishing, love and support for the new marriage. Since we were trying to catch up with my friend's counterpart's husband, we missed the rituals that the bride and groom went through. They did have a dance together under her veil, though.

Although I couldn't really have conversations with the women it was all so amazing to have been privileged with this opportunity to share a more intimate detail of the lives of the people here. The women were all so welcoming.

On another note, Petra was more spectacular than I could have imagined it. My friend informed me that to fully explore Petra one would need about 7 days. But I got a chance to take the walk to see the Treasury (the stone "building" that was the final shot in the Indiana Jones movie I mentioned previously) along with a hike up to see Al-Dayr (the Monastery). It's just as impressive as the Treasury, in my opinion. But for me, the most awesome visual came after a hike up to this triangular point at the very edge of the mountain for Sacrifice View. It was even better than the view I got at Jebel Musa. You can see the different colors of the layers of rock exposed by the uplifting eons ago. Dark gray, green, red, slate, beige... Again very breathtaking.

Anyhow, I'm in Amman hanging out with my friend waiting for when I leave (flight's at 3:00 a.m.!). This has been a trip of a lifetime! I have seen places that I have only dreamt about for so many years, met many beautiful people, and have experienced so much that I believe has made me a fuller woman. I am so glad that I did this! I am so completely grateful to all of you for your support and encouragement throughout this. (Especially to those that has financially helped me complete it after the thieving.) I miss you all but I will see you all very soon!

Much love, Cristella