Now talking about cultural differences. What we are used to, coming from a solid Eastern European background, is a night of heavy partying, with alcohol flowing, loud music and dancing until you break your legs. This was literally the case with one of our female friends, who really suffered multiple fractures from shaking her body so hard. Your seating is assigned and that in itself creates so much headaches for the organizers trying to satisfy everybody's preferences. In the morning, half of guests have to be pushed out of door, because they still want to party. Fast forward to Dhaka and things are quite different. The is no limit on how much is spent on the hall decoration. Everything looks like in a fairy tale. The decorations, the dresses, the hairdos, the jewelry. People come in throngs. They congratulate the bride and groom. They take pictures. They eat at one of the first available tables. Trays and trays of food, chicken curry, spiced rice and thousand of other things made of lentils and curry spice. They hang out for a little bit and leave. More pictures necessary. More eating! Only one plate? Have a second one. You look so skinny. And dont forget the desert - various forms of milk, rice, raisins, cardamom, and what tasted like gallons of sugar.
And then goodnight! A fabulous Bangladeshi reception party. A good reminder that we have really amazing friends and feel so loved.
