Perpetual Change

The Kaleb and Lena Brown’s Wedding

Their wedding was truly beautiful, as are they, and their families. I got to stay with Lena’s family, and they were unbelievably warm and friendly (and thrilled that I spoke Ukrainian unlike the volunteers that had studied Russian there).
There were not many volunteers at the wedding, but we each gave a toast. I had been doing a fair amount of translating already, so when I stood to give mine, I started in English, but the crowd cried for Ukrainian first. I said, in Ukrainian into the mike, that I would tell the story in English and then translate; then I said in English that if Kaleb didn’t like the story I was going to tell, I would make something up to say in Ukrainian. Then I began.
The first time I met Kaleb, I felt like I had known him for years. We roomed together many times in Chicago, for our staging and when we first got to country. And once we had a discussion about how Kaleb said that he was tired of relationships, and didn’t think he would get involved with anyone until he thought it would really go somewhere. Then during training, I couldn’t help but think that these must have been light words, since the news of him and his host sister came within 3 weeks. I didn’t say this at the toast though; my opinion had changed by then; I said that little did we know that the day after he spoke these words, he would meet the woman of his dreams.
At the time, I also had forgotten how bizarrely true the part about knowing him for years was. You see (and I may have told this story before), in Chicago, we were supposed to be at the hotel for registration between 2 and 3. Well I got stuck in traffic, and came running in at about 2 minutes to 3 (big surprise, huh?); I was pretty nervous that they were going to kick me out or something. It is not exactly the first impression you want to make in Peace Corps. Well I come running in, trying not to look worried and slip in the back, when no sooner am I in the door, a man (Kaleb) who was talking to a woman by the door goes, “Hi, you worked on a boat in San Remo, Italy, didn’t you?”
I was a bit thunderstruck. I thought, “Do I know this guy? How can he know that? What have these people been up to already?” When he saw my (probably horrified) expression, he asked my name, and said I should probably go over and check in. With that introduction, and my state of mind, it took me a full ten minutes to figure out what was going on.
Well, all the other over-achievers had of course got there right at 2, and so they had this sheet with an interesting fact or experience of each person but without their names and you had to go around, introduce yourself, and fill in the names on the right lines. Well they happened to pick “worked as a deckhand on a private yacht berthed in San Remo, Italy” for mine, and since no one in the room (of 45) seemed to claim it, the group began to think that it was made up.
Those times seem so long ago and the feelings I remember from then seem so distant, strange, and fairy-tale like. It was really quite remarkable to me to be at Kaleb’s wedding. By the way, that was my 8th wedding in the last 3 years. I’ve been to 2 since, I missed 5, and there are 3 more coming up within the year. My life is really unbelievable sometimes.
Anyway, Kaleb and Lena looked so happy, as all wedding couples do. I hope I can find that someday. Marriage is almost a daily conversation here. My host mom actually said, with a bit of disdain that 26, is old to be getting married. I had just told her that it is the average age in America (all the wedding photos that I show my Ukrainian friends have done a lot of dispel the myth that all Americans marry at 35 – thanks Joanne, Mike, Meagan, Claes, Kaleb, Lena, Katie, and Joel). I then told her that I would be 26 in 4 months. She looked a bit shocked and then changed her mind, saying that I seemed younger, and 26 isn’t so old (this was several months ago).
It was interesting to be part of this wedding because my language skills were called on quite a bit. My performance was adequate but not admirable. Even fluently speaking two languages does not guarantee good translation, and I’m neither fluent or an interpreter. It was a good experience, and all and all, it was a fabulous time. I wish you, Kaleb and Lena (and all the others), every happiness, ever-growing love, and wonderful health. I hope all your dreams come true.

posted by jjs @ 6:05 AM