This weekend I returned to Chiclayo for Ruben (my former host cousin)'s wedding. The bus ride there and back each were a little over 12 and a half hours. The bus ride along the Pan-American Highway has far-from-exciting scenery. During the hours of light, much of what I saw was desert...baren brown dirt flat as far as the eye can see, or brown dunes. Nevertheless, it was definitely worth the ride, because it was a lot of fun seeing everyone from my last host family again.
Typical clothing for weddings here are similar to prom or homecoming clothing, so I went with my host cousins to the market where we rented dresses, bought shoes, and got pedicures and manicures. It was quite the ordeal. I am continually amazed at what the markets have to offer.
After the church wedding at 8 pm on Saturday, we all went to the reception. At the reception we awaited the bride and grooms arrival. They were greeted with a bell of rose petals (similar to a piñata) opening up and falling gently on them. It was lovely. Apparently it is also often tradition to have a bell of small coins shower them with monetary luck/blessing.
They paraded around the hall a few times. Then they danced a waltz together before each member of the family danced with them. Then various family members wished them the best. There was a live band playing the music for dancing (mostly merengue, cumbia, and salsa music). We began to eat. During the meal, a man announced each guest giving a short biographical description.
We danced all night until five am. It was a lot of fun. From 2:30-3:30 am was the Hora Loca ("crazy hour"). During this time, it really was crazy. People had balloons, whistles, crazy hats, large foam-like ties, glow sticks, and other such things. The music played without stopping and there were two people on stilts dressed as a bride and groom who came danced and kept things riled up.
Afterwards, many people went to my host family's house to sleep. After very few hours we got up and ate all day. In the evening I left on my bus ride to make it back for class in Lima this (Monday) morning.
I am one of Ryan's friends how much did all the stuff cost in Peru?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you like better an american wedding or a peru wedding? I bet both of them are a neat experiance to see.
ReplyDeleteAprill...what is cumbia music like? Country, rap, disco...?
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll buy you a lot of ice cream when you get back to the States.
Ryan
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ReplyDeleteWhat kind of music do you listen down there in Peru?
ReplyDeleteBecause I heard that cunbia was popular down there
What is the name of the poisenous spider in your pictures?
ReplyDeleteBy Ted
How hot is the weather down there?
ReplyDeleteWhats the coldest that it gets there?
This is Ryan again.
ReplyDeleteI like the pictures of the wedding, especially la Hora Loca. Looks fun.
Is there any weird/rare animals in peru? what's your favorite?
ReplyDeleteHannah L.
What kind of house do you live in?
ReplyDeleteI bet it was a lot of fun. I am having my birthday party tonight and Ryan thinks that it should have a Hora Loca as well because it sounds like fun. I think we shall have it at 4 to 5 a.m.
ReplyDeletewhat is yuka?
ReplyDeleteHannah L
Have you seen any unique animals down there?
ReplyDeleteHave you missed american food like mac and cheese?
I was woundering what kind of animals are in Peru that are not in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteHey. I loved those wedding pictures. So pretty. What type of music do you listen to down there?
ReplyDeleteI live in an apartment on the 5th floor of a large building. This is typical for Lima, I would say.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know much about animals here. I'm sure if I went to the jungle, I would become familiar with more exotic types. I think the most exotic thing here is the colorful birds and squirrels with tails like cats...and I think it is funny that there are deer on the university campus in the middle of the city.
Yuka is a relative of the potato...personally I prefer the potato, but Yuka is fine. Did you know that the potato originated in Peru? They have many different types.
Here people listen to a lot of popular American music as well as Cumbia, Salsa, Merengue, and Raegaton. They each have a good beat. "Basta Ya Mi Amor" is a popular peruvian cumbia. "Yo no sé mañana" is a popular salsa here.
Is the tipical famly as large or as small as a tipical family in the states?
ReplyDelete-jake torczon
@Nick Gonzalez what is cunbia? isnt it supposed to be Kumbia?
ReplyDeleteWhat has been your favorite thing to do there?
ReplyDeleteWhat will you miss the most there?
Was the wedding like american weddings?
ReplyDeleteSara Martin
How big is Lima? How many jungals are in Lima? Have you ever been in a jungal?
ReplyDeleteHannah L.
what is the first thing that you want to do when u get back from Germany after Peru??
ReplyDeleteCan you Dance Merengue?
ReplyDeleteB-Cuz I am Really good at it.
I'm an expert.
also what is the name of your universidad?
ReplyDeleteHave you been running a lot lately? When is your half-marathon?
ReplyDeleteTrack has officially started, so I am will be running from now until the end of May.
Have a good time at school, and if you get robbed...use your Mace.
Ryan
I would estimate that a typical family of this generation is 2-3 children. So similar to that of the United States.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the warm weather and going for a run with the view of the Pacific Ocean. I also like the variety of cheap things at the markets and the abundance of fresh foods.
The church wedding was similar in many aspects to that of one in the US, except there were no bride's maids or groom's men.
Lima is a city of about 9 million people. It is located on the Pacific coast of Peru. Peru is divided into three geographical regions running from north to south. Farthest the the west is the coastal region (much desert), the central strip is the "sierra" (the Andes mountains), and farthest to the East lies the jungle. I have not visited the Jungle yet, but have plans to do so in June or July. Right now it is "winter" in the jungle and rains a lot.
Good question about what the first thing I want to do when I return to the States. I don't actually know.
My university is known to the Limeños (inhabitants of Lima) as "La Catolica."
My half marathon will be May 2. No I haven't been running a lot. I haven't done more than 6.5 miles at a time. I need to start stepping it up.