Well, as my mom told me later, Vietnam packs in the liquor.
There was some rum, some vodka, all kinds of daiquiri--I don't know what other things, but as I was walking along the beach, my vision started to darken and blur, and I couldn't walk for a little while. I had to ride behind the groom-to-be on his motorcycle to the hotel he was staying at, and it was there when I collapsed on one of my cousins' bed. She laughed once I came to, and sent me home in a taxi with A and E.
I thought I could handle my gurgling stomach, but when I came to the house entrance, I let it all out. It was a bit sour--just not a good experience. Now I think back about drinking that daquiri and my initial assessment of it being delicious has morphed into something like disgust. I'm not sure if I'll drink a daquiri again. Hell, maybe I won't even touch a glass of any alcohol for as long as I live. I can't comprehend how other people like to drink to blackout!
The day is the 10th as I am writing this, and I'm cooling down after a long, busy day. My cousin, Nhu, had her engagement party today, and as with everything, the Vietnamese went all out with the preparations. Colors of dark red and golden yellow adorned the living room and outside perimeters of the house. The entrance had an archway of pink (cousin's favorite color) balloon. The vast arrangement of chairs and tables hinted at the coming party.
We all prepared by getting our hair done--though I didn't do much, since mine is short--and putting on our dresses, which we received the night before.
I almost had a panic attack last night because I tried on my dress and it was too tight! I mean, did I get so fat in just a few days? The other dresses didn't need any serious readjustments--and I guess, mine didn't either--but still, the night before?!?
And she did a bit of a shoddy job. Some of the dresses still had her tailor's marks and weren't ironed properly. She's supposed to do all this, yet we were left the task at 11 p.m. last night.
Anyways, though, the next day went smoothly. The bride-to-be was simply gorgeous with her long dark brown hair curled to figurative perfection and dressed in a pink ao dai.
The thing about Vietnamese engagement parties is that not only the bride is important but also her mother (and father.) The mother is dressed as extravagantly as her daughter--and she is treated with the same level of importance.
I hate, however, the competition within my family. I have an aunt who just saw her daughter get married. It was a great wedding, because the couple wanted it to reflect who they are--rich elites of society. The daughter grew up to be just like her mother--my aunt. For most of my life and the time that I've known her, it's pretty clear that she likes to be the center of attention.
Even as everyone was getting ready, my aunt was the one who demanded that she get priority. Her hair curled, her dress changed, her makeup down--oh she wanted it all! She even changed her dress and used the dress she had for the wedding--the traditional 'mother's' dress. Typically, this type of dress is black and decorated with a glitterlike material to make whoever wears it stand out. She seemed to have forgotten about her sister whose daughter was now getting married and the fact that it was not her day to be recognized. She already had her turn.
I don't know if this tradition is exactly a rule, but still, I was like, "Don't be greedy."
Anyways, besides that:
The procession of the ceremony was long and unbearably hot--more so because I was wearing an ao dai in 90+ degrees heat. I was part of the unmarried group of women that lines up in front of the entrance, waiting for the guy's family to appear. The men of the family carry large red containers, containing various fruits, teas, etc. They are considered 'gifts.' A roasted little pig and a pre-wedding cake were thrown into the mix somewhere. The women receive these gifts and bear it to the rest of the party by carrying it into the decorated living room.
From there, the families are introduced to each other, and a 'spokesperson' from each does the task. A videographer and photographer--usually Vietnamese--hovers in the background, annoyingly poking various people to get their attention, or tell them to move, or command a pose. In my opinion, sometimes they get in the way of everything.
It was funny because Elizabeth owns this huge, professional SLR and she used it during the ceremony. I think the photographer thought our family had our own!
To make it official, the groom-to-be unveils the engagement ring and slowly, agonizingly places it on the girl's finger at the command of the videographer. Everything is posed and taped.
I was sweating balls throughout the whole thing; I couldn't understand how the other girls weren't suffering.
The feast proceeds and of course, all of the food was delicious. There were sauteed beef, fried shrimp chips, mixed meat and vegetable salads, roasted chicken, and oriental soup. All attendees were forced to eat until their stomachs were just about to explode.
It's funny, because after the party, everything seems to die down and all things go back to normal. The bride-to-be changes into striped bermuda shorts and pink tank top. The house is stripped of its decoration. The outside gardens are relieved of the intruding chairs and tables.
In short, it was a wonderfully successful party, but we are all eager to relax...until the wedding, that is!
 |
| The couple! |
So pretty!!
ReplyDelete