They Say It Lasts A Lifetime

I think we all have random memories.  Something from the dark recesses of long-term memory will occasionally bob to the surface of recollection and we think, "Seriously? Out of everything you could have saved, you picked that, Brain? Consider yourself fired." Exhibit A: is it really that important for me to remember the orthodontist's tuna breath at 3 a.m., a decade later?

But we hopefully also experience moments that we know, without a doubt, are memories that we'll carry as long as our brains are sufficiently functional. Exhibit B: yep, I definitely remember the time I dropped, not one, but two perfectly good tampons, applicator and all, into a dirty toilet.  Talk about five bucks in the toilet.  Maybe a better example is Exhibit C: thanks for holding onto that midnight trek through the jungle by moonlight, Brain.  While I didn't get pictures of the moonlit mountainscape (not for lack of trying, mind you), I know it is a memory that will linger.

In addition to that hike, I was privileged to attend a couple different weddings the week. One was a massive affair with 1,500 guests that the hosts fed for a grand total of three meals, if I'm not mistaken. The other had fewer guests, but still an impressive gathering.  Apparently, the way weddings work here is everyone gets together the night before the wedding for a blowout party that goes strong until the ceremony the next morning, only to revive the party afterward the the remainder of the day!

All that said, I think my take away memories were two traditional dances.  The first is one I think of as the bird dance.  Men play brass gansa drums while men and women dance around each other with their arms raised like bird wings.  A man will single out a woman and dance around only her.  After several minutes, he will offer his hand to her and she will either reject it or accept.  If she rejects, he can try again or try to get another girl. If she accepts, they walk out from the dancers together as a pair. If she doesn't, he can try again or go after a different girl.

The second dance is strictly (to my understanding) a wedding thing.  The bride and groom are the only dancers and the sort of slowly revolve in the middle of everyone.  The guests bring out money and pin it to the bride and groom's clothing as a kind of gift!  This dance can happen several times at one wedding and they'll end the dance covered in money every time.  Another similar dance happened at the second, but not the first. A scarf was draped across the bride and groom's arms, then guests placed folded bills or coins in either the bride or groom's mouth. If the coin started between the groom's lips, he would pass it mouth-to-mouth to the bride and she would drop it into the scarf.

That's all I have for today, except some pictures that will upload at their leisure!