My First Wedding in South America

Many people speak of culture and the adaption of another culture. It is spoken as if it is a triumph, a challenge, a life changing experience. The goal of the many people who enjoy travelling and exploring is to become one with culture. It changes the individual and allows them to feel the sensation of personal growth. All this is true. Yet, I feel having lived in Canada and being raised by a family so curious and so accepting that I have worked on my ability to adapt my whole entire life. Therefore, I thank my family.


In previous posts, I have spoken about my new experiences and challenges. I have spoken about culture, and language and all the new people that I have met. I have spoken about my work and about my travels. In fact, somewhat boasted about my life and the love of it. I couldn't be happier.



With all these topics of discussion, I have been sitting at the table for the last two hours with Ronny and Mai as we take turns picking a Spanish song to listen to(for pleasure and to train our brains to listen to the language) and trying to figure out what to write about that is diferent and new. This is where Ronny has just gave me the idea to speak of something we both experienced in the recent past.


We know that we have become accepted with culture when both of us have made local friends and have found ways to practice our hobbies with the people of Peru. We also have recently attended a wedding. Not only was this a wedding in South America, but a wedding in the Andes Mountains where culture here a little different than the norm of South America. This is the culture of the Quechuablantes. They have different music, language, behaviours and practices.


When we arrived to the church, one thing struck me the wrong way and made me a little angry. We arrived there to see that the celebrations of the people of Urubamba are also a tourist stop for groups. Tourists stay outside of the open door church and continuously take photographs. When we arrived and the tourists noticed that we were part of the wedding we had a flock of people ask us questions as to how, why we are part of the wedding. The wedding started in the Catholic Church at three pm and followed the same sequences and words as a normal Catholic ceremony. One difference was the amount of people crowding around the bride and groom filming.


After the wedding we went to the reception where the hire MC spoke and introduce the wife. I was very surprised by some of the comments that came from his mouth as they would not be excepted at home. After the introduction of the bride a groom every one of the opposite sex had the opportunity to dance with the bride or groom. Following this, we ate a meal that could feed three people and began the gift giving where the MC would publicly announce the person and the amount that was given. This was a type of social pressure to give more to the new married couple. Not a fun experience when we left our gift at home to give to them personally the next day hahaha. After this the night was full of dancing and celebration.