Iram's Wedding...

We've been so fortunate this year to be invited to a Muslim wedding. What a great way to soak up the culture and spend our last week in Bradford. I'd been searching all over town for a showacameze for absolute ages. Finally a couple of weeks ago I found one to wear that I liked a lot. Not only though, did we have to find the dress, but we had to find the rest of the outfit. This included, BLING…so earrings, shoes, bangles, hair accessories, and a giant ring. What a huge undertaking. We found ourselves in the last week panicking about the things that we didn't have yet. 

On Thursday night we went the mendhi night. We didn't realize that if the invitation says that it starts at 5 o'clock, NO ONE would show up for over an hour later. As we were told, "We're Asian! It's Asian time!" Once everyone showed up it was a real treat and culture experience. Typically, the Thursday night is a fun party night with drums, music, mendhi and dancing, but the bride- Iram- had had a death in her family during the same week so they were mourning. Thus, there were no drums, but they still had the traditional mendhi service, and of course- amazing food. 

As the evening progressed we learned that we would be taking part in the ceremony. Iram was sitting on a swing type thing at the front and after many other things took place that I didn't fully understand, they said that we would be going on stage to sit with her and take part. We went up in our group and we all individually put henna (with a peacock brush) onto a leave that Iram was holding in her palm of her hand. Then we rubbed a bit of oil into her hair. After that we fed her a piece of fruit and gave her a smooch! All the family and friends did this. I felt of Iram though. I'm sure she felt like an over-stuffed oily-haired girl who was holding a leaf. During this process she didn't show much emotion. This turned out to be a theme of the week.

Then on Friday we had a local girl, Zaara do our mend for the wedding. She "doesn't really do it" as she said, but she did a fantastic job. She said that if she enjoyed doing it more that she would do it more. I was so impressed! 

And then on Saturday, the big wedding part happened. This was the day that Iram had the most Bling on and boy, did she look dazzling! Her dress must have been soooo heavy because it was full of jewels! This time, we showed up over an hour and a half late and we appeared to be right on time. When the groom arrived, there was drumming and as he approached the stage, Iram's girl cousins were asking money from the groom before he could sit by his wife. We heard that a groom could pay thousands at this point. Just depends on how pushy the sisters/ cousins are. 

A few other teachers from school were there so we ended up sitting all together. We ate more amazing food there. (I have really gotten much better at handling the spiciness.) And they had serious intimidating lights and camera/ videocamera that videoed us eating and looking like confused Americans. I guess this is so Iram can remember the week and how awkward we looked.

After we ate we went up on the stage and gave Iram the gift that we had given her.  Then lots of family went up and everyone was handing over lots of money to both the bride and the groom. I think the groom may have made back his money that he had spent earlier. Lots of pictures were taken. In most though, I think that the bride is meant to look sad because this is her last time with her family. She still looked beautiful! 

The whole week was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. Iram was so kind to invite us and let us be a part of this important day.  

Showing off our outfits!

Iram and Me

The yummy food that they served...

Good fun with the Cuz....

We actually found each other in London with VERY limited information- Long story!

I introduced Kristen to the Anglican service with a night service at St. Paul's cathedral.
It is quite high with lots of rituals so she got to see all the "good stuff".

We went to Salisbury church and a wedding of someone important was going on....

Stonehenge with a Druid service going on inside of it...

We pulled a "Marie&Kristen" and spent hours taking night photography of Big Ben! Whoops!

I introduced Kristen to the stone walls of Yorkshire. Pretty Impressive

She was here on one of the hottest days all year. This is what happens when the sun comes out!
People sunbathe with the cow. Poor Cows...

Angie took us on to Bolton Abbey. I thought that Kristen needed to see at least one
Abbey ruin while she was here.

Angie let us walk across the river on the steps this time! We both did it with our camera. Talk about nerve racking...

She got to see what British roads are really like...And the problems that occur!

She brought entertainment, a boobazwalia! Well, at least for me and for our ginger pirate balloon man!

Kristen got to meet all of the wonderful kids at Lidget Green! She also helped me with some of the bulliten boards. I was really thankful for her because I was swamped! Thanks Kristen! :)

I hope she had a good time. She was so go with the flow, which I appreciated with it being the last two weeks in England. I had a great time and now we can say our random trips have turned global...

My First Goodbye...

The taxi ride home was silent... Those who know us, know this is not normal. But last night everyone just stared out the window. We had just left our Norwegian, June, after helping her pack for her flight the next morning. It didn't seem real last night... In my mind, June left when we left, but in actuality, June left a week before us. As I was leaving I kept thinking- I'll see June tomorrow... But the truth is, God only knows when I'll see June again. I truly believe I will see June again in my life. I have to! Yoo-na was the consistant sunshine in Englnad. England does have it, but June did. Always there to brighten a day with a smile and a hug. AND- June's hugs are the BEST! I'm going to miss June quotes, and her laugh, and the random things that happen when she is around. Epic times! I would be lying if I were to say that I'm not worrying about this next week. This morning at Great Horton it hit me and I couldn't stop crying. This will be an emotional week... Goodbye June- till the next time I see you!

"Oh my GOD, that OUR Heeeelen! "- when June verified that it was out friend Helen on a pamphlet for unplanned pregnancy.
"Rinky- Tinky- Tinky"  Abby speaking Norwegian
"SHE SAID THAT!!!" - June trying to catch on to -That's what she said- jokes.
"School of Salmon" - our take on the Norwegian "cheers"
"You were so good, I couldn't tell if you were a tree or a June..." (Leigh) "IT'S A JUNE!!!" (June)

To Whitby...again...this time with year 6!

I found myself in Whitby again....this time with year 6. This was my 3rd trip with year 6. (Keep in mind that I have not been on a single out of school trip/activity with my year 4 class)

Just like the year 5 trip (even worse) the kids got completely soaked head to toe! This time they were even sitting down in the freezing water. It was so cold that my feet were in actual pain when I was standing in 2 inches of water. These kids were crazy!

10 days of Leigh's birthday fun...

We wanted to do something extra special for Leigh so she would remember her British Birthday. So, we asked ourselves, "What does Leigh like more than most things?" We decided it was music of course! And what place has Leigh really wanted to get back to and see closer and for longer? Liverpool of course! The mission of this trip was to keep Leigh in the dark and keep it a surprise for her. The night before we left I gave her a list of what to pack. Short of blindfolding her on the way to the bus station, we kept it under wraps! We figured the taxi driver wouldn't be to keen on transporting a blindfolded person around...

We got to Bradford Interchange and Leigh got her first clue: A card with a picture of a Liver and a picture of a pool. I didn't get the easiest to identify liver picture to give her a bit of a challenge! (it worked because it took her a few minutes to figure it out) Next gift...a bag of crunchy M&M's! Something that is no longer found in the States.

On the way to the Cavern Club! ***notice the light outside the car at 9 p.m.

When we got to Liverpool, we gave the next clue/gift. It was a bed at the YHA hostel and at that point she knew that we were spending the night. #4- Once at the hostel she got a card with food on it that represented the fact that she was getting food expenses for the weekend! I think that #5 was my favorite card though. Leigh got a card with a picture of a cave (cavern) and there was a man holding a club, but we cut out her face and put it on the man. This represented that we were going to the Cavern Club for the evening. We then filled her in that we were going to see a Beatles Cover Band for Paul McCartney's birthday celebration at the Cavern Club! (where the Beatles first played) I think she really was excited about this because she jumped around a little bit... Gift #6 was a journal where she could write quotes, memories and funny things from the weekend. 

We explored and shopped for the afternoon and then in the evening we got all dressed up and fancy to go to listen to some music. Abby gave Leigh a big button (badge) that we was suppose to wear for the night. Little did she know that the button was actually going to save her...

We spent the first 1 1/2 hours listening to an open mic Beatles karaoke session in the actual Cavern Club before we realized that what we had really bought tickets for (Beatles Tribute Band) was playing in the next room. Who knew? Abby finally figured it out when they were searching for the toilet. When we went into the sauna, I mean other part of the Cavern Club, we soon realized that this would be one hot night. It was absolutely a sauna with a very high uncomfortable temperature and moisture level. Leigh and I were the only ones to make it the entire time. I was completely drenched in my own sweat, plus other's sweat, and other peoples drinks! What's not to love. 

Helen, June, Leigh, Marie, and Abby

The next day we walked around Liverpool some more and ate on Albert Dock. The weather cooperated with us and it turned out to be a really great weekend. Of course, Leigh also got a ticket back home to Bradford and a Starbucks the next day... What more can a girl ask for? Everything done with love for Leigh...