Well, I pretty much found out that everything we've been hearing about Peruvians is true. The reasonable sensible side of me said about going to Ruby's wedding that I was tired and should go to bed because I'd been up since 6 am and running around all day. But the not so sensible side said take a tyelenol and go anyway.I did overall have a good time, but it started out slow. You know how her invitation said it started at 6? I got there at 7 and there was only 8 people. The bride and groom didn't even show up till 8 pm. I think they said it was traffic coming back from La Molina.Once Ruby and Edwin arrived, around 8, it was the typical festivities of Johel said something. Then Ruby and Edwin didn't exchange vows, but just sort of gave a small speech to each other. Then I think it was Ruby or Edwin's parents said something. Then they did their first dance.I saw Betty Castillo out in the hallway and went to talk to her. I flat out didn't recognize her at first because of her make up. She said that usually happens. Betty was the one I was telling you about that had lived in Provo for 10 years. She grew up in Mexico, but I guess her family decided to move to Utah at one point. Her husband, Mike, is Peruvian. They were supposed to be here for originally two years, but Mike's company is asking him to stay a couple more.Betty was in a mood that night to speak English and I was fine with that. She took pity on me and sneaked me an early plate for dinner because I was absolutely starving. (This is like at 9 pm!) In the kitchen she was telling me when she first came to Lima, it had only been two months when they asked her to be the Relief Society President. She couldn't stand how Peruvians would come to things so late. She said it was hard being President because people complain a lot and get upset over trivial little things. She said there's a group of little old ladies in the ward who are very "set in their ways." I told her I'm not sure how different that might be from the US. I had a friend who was a R.S. President and she said she used to get criticisms all the time from people about things. Betty also said trying to do visiting teaching was a nightmare because there are a ton of inactives. I had always heard that about South America. The baptism rate is high, but retention is not.She also mentioned some of the members just had warped views about the gospel and despite they were members they was still very much a lot of Catholic mindset in people. I wasn't too surprised by that because it happened in Hungary all the time. There were members who came every week to church that would mention to us about seeing visions of the Virgin Mary.Betty went on to say how difficult and expensive it was to get your children in a good school here. She talked about how many of the other children her kids play with had nannies and she was the only mom that stayed home with her kids. She also was complaining about the drivers here because I guess she drives. Mike, her husband, came over to join us in the kitchen and we started talking about the upcoming election. Mike was the speaker for the fireside I played at and he is a very charismatic type of guy.I didn't realize the election was happening next Tuesday. Mike was saying I guess there's a candidate from the independent party that is gaining a lot of ground. I guess there's a new strategy building up where if he can win several states, he can block both Hilary and Trump from winning.People were pretty much on the dance floor the entire time except when they ate dinner. That's the only time it was empty. And it wasn't one song started, another ended. It was techno, dance music that just transitioned from one to another so the music never stopped. I got literally pulled in at one point and danced with Mike a bit. We did some swing moves from the United States and people were impressed. As I was leaving Johel said I did a good job and I got "10 out of 10."Dinner didn't get served till 10 pm. It was rice with a type of cooked lamb. I saw in the kitchen they also had a whole roasted chicken ready to serve. It was delicious. Betty was saying it's a type of cooking where you finely chop an onion and a type of pepper they have here to make a paste that you put over the meat. She said she can help teach me how to make it sometime. I guess they cooked 4 lambs.Now this is the part I found different. You know how in the US when we have any sort of dinner activity we have tables and chairs set up? People were eating everywhere. Some adults were sitting down in the nursery, I followed Jose into his dad's office and there was Johel's whole family sitting around his desk eating dinner. But pretty much wherever anyone could find a table they sat down and ate.I think people realized though I was there for the cultural experience. Several came up to me and asked how it was compared to US weddings. Let me put it this way. I finally was able to slip out at 11 pm. They hadn't even cut the cake yet and EVERYONE was on the dance floor. Like, the chairs were all empty. Everyone I talked to said they expected it to last till 1 or 2 am in the morning. And yes, there were Johel's kids there and several other small children. Whatever.Overall I was glad I went, but at the beginning I felt I was wasting my time. I included pictures for you. I took the picture of Kelly and Erika though because I thought they looked so cute in their dresses. They weren't bridesmaids, but they were carrying some small boquets. Similar to the Halloween Party, there were some very nicely decorated chalkboards.
Dinner, delicious!
Decorated chalkboards
Two girls from the barrio that I thought looked so cute in their dresses
