Today’s Chinese word is re’nao, which is a word that is very hard to translate into English. It kind of means “noisy,” but in a good sort of way. Chinese people love re’nao, which was in great abundance at this wedding. The bride and groom arrived in a flower-draped Mercedes to lots of firecrackers going off. Then, inside the restaurant, the party started with an m.c. shouting over a microphone and with a familiar tune blasted at full volume. It took me forever to place the song—is it the theme from “Rawhide”? No. “Bonanza”? No again. Wait, I’ve got it, it’s the theme from “The Magnificent Seven,” a tune we were treated to again and again through the proceedings! I don’t really understand why Americans have lacked the imagination to make this song a prominent wedding tradition.
Then, the bride and groom entered the banquet hall, through a floral arch, to a different tune, Sarah Brightman doing “This Love,” which starts with the lyric, “This love…This love is a strange love.” They proceeded to stand on the stage and do all sorts of things—stand in front of a row of sparklers going off, light candles, exchange rings, sip beverages, fill a champagne fountain, etc. Periodically a bubble machine would start up, pouring bubbles all over the happy couple. Later, we ate and listened as various military subordinates to the bride’s mother serenaded the crowd (my favorite: “O sole mio”).
A few wedding photos:
If you look closely, you too will see bubbles.
This indeed is Great Wall wine, with the bride and groom on the label!
One way of hastening “till death do us part”—provide cigarettes on the banquet tables!
5 comments:
Was there an actual commitment(?) ceremony? Any religious stuff, or does the military relationship disallow that possibility?
Dad
What a long, strange trip it's been and what a unique cultural experience this must have been. Perhaps A cross between "Wedding Crashers," "Lost in Translation," and the Lawrence Welk Show. I'm enjoying your take on your ongoing experiences, Love. This is book material that will rival "Eat, Pray, Love."
We agree with Jim - definitely book material. And, your Dad has already given you questions that will need to addressed! Seriously, you are doing a fantastic job with this blog. You are gifted in so many ways and we are grateful you are sharing your gifts with all of us. Keep up the good work! We also agree with erietom - the attire sure looks like what we'd expect to see here. Love you, Mom and Dad Fitch
Sharon, I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog thus far. You write extremely well and I look forward to reading it. I'm all caught up now (Jean forgot to send me the link so I had a lot of catching up to do!) So anyway, thanks for sharing the cultural experience, and for the pure enjoyment of your writing!
Cathie Wright i.e. "The other Fitches"
The cigarette dish cracked me up and reinforced cultural stereotypes!
Post a Comment