{"id":2637,"date":"2014-06-22T15:30:03","date_gmt":"2014-06-22T15:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gospelwater.net\/?p=2637"},"modified":"2014-06-22T16:17:06","modified_gmt":"2014-06-22T16:17:06","slug":"alf-mabruk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gospelwater.net\/?p=2637","title":{"rendered":"\u0627\u0644\u0641 \u0645\u0628\u0631\u0648\u0643"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0ALF MABRUK!\u00a0\u00a0 ! \u0627\u0644\u0641 \u0645\u0628\u0631\u0648\u0643<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the phrase you will exclaim at a wedding. We were so excited to celebrate the marriage of a very special couple here and attend our first wedding in this country. I have said often that the hardest thing to attend in another culture is weddings and funerals, because the cultural rituals and actions are so deeply embedded and many go unexplained. That being said if you want to really know a culture attending these events is one way to do it!<\/p>\n

I’ve attended two weddings in a culture other then my own so this is an incomplete “how to post” for attending a wedding in a passport culture other then your own.<\/p>\n

1) Know what the time on the invitation really means \ud83d\ude42<\/h2>\n

When the invitation says beginning at x time add 1.5 hrs to x time to arrive “on time”. (this is reliant on the religion and location of the wedding though I learned today). We showed up “right on time” by our passport standard and of course ended up with alot of down time and smiles from the staff at the venue \ud83d\ude42 (N. Africa)<\/p>\n

\"Wait<\/a>
Wait we are how early?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our escorts arrived several hours after they had “said” but were “right on time” (we were beginning to wonder if they had forgotten about us) (South Sudan)<\/p>\n

\"Wedding-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2) Ask what to wear.<\/h2>\n

Fortunately we did this, so there were no major wardrobe catastrophes….however if the nice gentleman at the mall would not have helped us there would have been! (N. Africa)<\/p>\n

\"small<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not too bad, however some nice plastic hair clips would have been a big addition to our wardrobe (next time!) (South Sudan)<\/p>\n

\"Wedding-10\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Wedding\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3) Find out the tradition for what to bring.<\/h2>\n

No gifts or money unless you are close family (and even then you slip it to the couple quietly). We found this out before showing up laden with bulky gifts thanks to a debrief with my teacher (N. AFrica)<\/p>\n

Bring small bills for the dance which you contribute to the bride and grooms new life together (South Sudan)<\/p>\n

\"Wedding-7\"<\/a><\/p>\n

4) Know who to say goodbye to when you leave.<\/h2>\n

We carefully observed and departed saying our farewells to the appropriate gendered bride\/groom and grandfather\/grandmother. Not to say goodbye would have been very rude (N. Africa)<\/p>\n

I am not too sure if there was a set farewell here – there were so many people and I didn’t follow up and ask with someone that knew culturally. May never know how big of a mistake was or wasn’t made \ud83d\ude42 (South Sudan)<\/p>\n

5) Participate!<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n

If the groom or bride asks you to dance, do it with enthusiasm, even if it is the “wrong kind of dance” or you cannot do it well. You are showing support for their nuptials (N. AFrica)<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a> \"10449599_1446587248931155_2010491919_n\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dancing is a big part of celebration. In the Dinka tribe the dance is beautiful and unique and difficult …but do it with gusto and enthusiasm anyway (even if instead of being beautiful like the women below you look like a dying chicken! (South Sudan)<\/p>\n