Engagement Party

On Saturday the Galvez's had a big engagement party for their eldest son Matthieu and his fiance Claire. Claire's family arrived late in the afternoon, and then her mom came later. She has two siblings whose names I completely forget (yeah, kinda typical of me!), and her parents are divorced. We started eating around 9:30pm, and finished at 1am! Seriously, when people have ANY type of party in France, it lasts until midnight or 2am even if it is totally awkward. In America, we end things at 10pm! I think we need to learn something from the French... including eating.

Anyway, we ate a traditional Spanish food called Paella. Antoine Galvez is Spanish, and it's one of his favorites, so obviously Rosa learned how to make it even though she is Portuguese. Basically it's a mix of seafood in yellow rice... calamari, octopus, mussels, chicken, shrimp, etc. It's definitely not for someone who gets queasy because when you make it, you stick the shrimp heads out of the rice! HAHA. Believe it or not, I ate all of it even though I really don't like calamari or anything.

Matthieu and Claire's engagement gifts were a lantern representing the light they will shed together for the rest of their lives, and a tool to build their house with together representing that they have to take things one step at a time. Both of their families are religious, so it was different for me to be there because they do prayers for dinner. I am Christian-Protestant (and so are the Galvez's), but I have yet to believe in something... if ever.

All the Galvez boys played the guitar together, and did duets with the piano too. It was SO much fun, even though the neighbors probably did not appreciate French singing in the middle of the night. ;) I filmed a lot of the moments during the night, so I'll post some videos up!

By the way, here is the Galvez family:
Antoine- dad
Rosa- mom
Matthieu- 24 yrs.
Pierre- 22 yrs.
Etienne- almost 20yrs.
Melodie- 16yrs.

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