Ramy and Ryan's Wedding Part 2

Saturday

Offering of the Dowry

Early on Saturday morning we gathered at a neighbors house to get ready for a parade. This parade or procession included the groom, his family and friends bearing gifts ranging from fruits, vegetables, alcohol, pig's head, etc.

Everyone gathers inside around the dowry. The grooms family offers the gifts, and the bride's family accepts the gifts.

The bride and groom exchange rings.

The bride and groom pay homage to the spirits of their ancestors, inform them of their marriage, and ask for their blessing.

The Haircutting Ceremony

This part of the ceremony is symbolic of getting rid of the negative feelings and evil spirits/things that surround the bride and groom.

Ryan's groomsmen who are from atlanta, also had the special opportunity to wear traditional outifts.
Aren't these two so cute. The boy is named Ellis, and his mother is one of Ramy's cousin. The girl is named Sanaya, and i went to nursing school with her mom, Ashwini.

Pairing the Couples

This part of the ceremony is the most memorable stage. The groom offers three palm flowers to the bride's family. The bride joins the ceremony. The bride and groom ask for blessing from their ancestors. A sword is given to the bride and groom to protect against enemies. The sacred pots are opened to wish the new couple peace, prosperity, good health, longevity, etc...Married couples then sit around the bride and groom passing candles around 7 times. The holy smoke inhaled by the bride and groom is believed to give them strength and protect from enemies, dangers, and all evils of the world. The priest declares the marriage and gives advice and best wishes, and then ties a string around the wrist of the bride and groom. Family and friends do the same tying knots on the bride and groom. The bride then returns to her room with the groom, him holding the edge of her outfit.

The sword to protect them. In american tradition seed is usually thrown at the bride and groom. Instead, we threw palm seed and flowers. Following the bride back to the room. The happily married couple. This was the conclusion of the traditional part of the Cambodian wedding.

Updates Part 1

So i know it has been forever. I have done a lot in the past couple weeks. So its time to hit that rewind button and backtrack to what i have been up. Let's start at my best friend's wedding. My friend Ramy got married the last weekend in July. Her wedding was a two day affair. She is cambodian and so it was a traditional cambodian wedding. This included lots of food and family and the bride and groom having at least five different cambodian style clothing. There were at least five different parts to the ceremony each symbolic of some tradition. it was absolutely amazing to see a different cultures way of marriage.

Friday Night
There was a Buddhist priest that officiated the entire service.
There were five Buddhist monks that blessed the bride and groom. There was chanting and prayer (i did not understand any of it, but it was beautiful)

The bride and groom after the blessing.

With the bridesmaids.

Nursing school buddies.

Houston here she comes....

So my best friend Megan moved yesterday to Houston. Saying goobye was one the worst and kind of awkward things that i had to do. its weird saying goodbye to someone. it doesn't seem like she is leaving...but a phone call to my mom makes things better, always. Thanks mom.

Space filler

Here is a video that i absolutely love from youtube to hold you over until the next post with lots of updates.

I'm sorry....

So i have officially become the person i dislike a lot. This type of person is the one who does not update their blog on a regular basis. I don't know what it is, but for some reason i just have not sat down and updated this thing. Trust me, i have a lot of stuff to put up....so anyways, this is an apology to the committed folks out there in the blogging world who are wondering what is going on. i promise, updates with lots of pictures to come soon.

one update, i finished my first shift last night all on my own. i'm growing up in this nursing world. it was a good night, i didn't kill anyone and that's always a good thing (wait, i'm pretty sure that is okay to joke about).

i leave for hawaii in two weeks from today. can't wait.

updates soon.

love you all.

I'll Miss you Ruby and Lewis....

So Lewis and Ruby are off to go and start a new chapter in their life in california. i'm going to miss them so much. this is a shout out to lewis and ruby. now this is just another excuse to go to california. love you guys.

Chris cleaver got hitched...

This last sunday afternoon my friend Chris Cleaver got married to his fiance Sarah Chambers. They got married at a park near wilsonville. It was great weather for a marriage and a nice ceremony. it was good to catch up with everyone from corvallis too.




You may kiss the bride!