Let's Make This Official

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Chelly and I met on the Khao San Road in Bangkok, way back at the end of October. I moved in with her at the Sriracha Tiger Zoo the very next day and we spent Halloween night in our apartment watching The 40 Year-Old Virgin. That month we fell in love. My Thai visa expired, so I took a trip into Cambodia for two weeks. During that time, I decided that I never wanted to see another new place without Chelly by my side. We spent the next month planning a trip through India to Greece. After a bizarre Christmas and intense New Year, we set off on that trip. India was lovable madness, but it turned into a mess of stress when we found that the Europeans wouldn't let Chelly apply for an onward visa from outside of Kenya. So we spent the last of our money travelling to Kenya. We lived there for a couple months, easing into everyday mode as we applied for her visas to Greece and the U.S.A. Sadly, both countries denied her a tourist entry. But, in the meantime, I'd asked her to marry me. My folks flew in from Greece and we had a great couple of days. The highlight of the visit was our engagement party.

There was definitely some Planning going on, even if I wasn't in on all of it. The consensus was to have a big dinner at someplace nice and to invite only the adults in the immediate family (no kids!). Chelly and I favored Indian food and knew that all of our parents would agree. The easy decision was the Singh Restaurant next door to the Sikh temple--the owners are friends with Chelly's dad. There would be food, drink, and speeches. Also, the ladies decided that Chelly and I would be presenting ourselves in traditional Masai dress.

We'd bought our engagement rings a couple weeks early, but were too eager to wear them and so jumped the gun, presenting them to one-another in our room a week before the party. Oh well, the Masai clothing would be interesting.

Chelly already had most of her stuff, but the fun part was getting mine. She started me off with two basic pieces of cloth which are worn overlapping like something between capes and robes. Then she told me to wear all the bracelets and necklaces I could find. We picked up a few man-bangles at the Masai market in Nairobi, sticking to the colors of Kenya (Red, Black, Green, and White) for my right arm, and the True Colors (Red, Gold, Green, and Black) for my left arm. On the day of the party, I also wore all the necklaces I'd collected in my travels and a pair of locally hand-crafted leather sandals.

I was resplendent like a peacock and I thought I was hot shit, but I'd never seen Chelly in her Masai gear before. There was a red wrap below a blue wrap, both sewn with seashells. Over top of those was a purple shawl. In her hair, her ears, and across her chest were some amazing sets of beaded jewelry. Beautiful skin, bold colors, intricate beadwork: she blew me out of the water.

We brought all the parents, siblings, aunts, and one uncle together at about 8 o'clock and had a great meal. Everyone was hungry and all got fed. Everyone was happy and all got to laugh. Everyone was talkative and they all got a chance to make speeches (but mine was the best, of course).

There were a few gifts presented across the table. Chelly gave me Reggae CDs and I gave her a new pair of shoes: parting signs of respect for one-another's interests. We had some things for my parents, and Chelly had gifts for two of the ladies back home in Washington that she knew to be my Mom's biggest moral-supporters.

It was a formal engagement party, but it was a lot of fun. I discovered a new clothing style that'll probably crop up at future to-dos. We ate great Indian food. Our most important elder family members all got together to give us their blessings (though I've got an uncle I really wish coulda been there). In all, it was a great last memory of my visit to Kenya and a tentpole event for me and Chelly's relationship.

Now get ready for the wedding...

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Photos

Engaged
(pardon the red-eye)

Comments

[Odek Fred.]

Engagement Party.
I must say that was a great party and you have posted it well , we at Silver Africa Tours wish a happy union bro and remember Kenya is now your second home as you hae the daughter of the land. Always keep in touch Odek Fred [e-mail] www.silverafricatours.com

[Elena_Alexia]

Carpe diem!
Reading this story and the comments ppl posted on your previous blogs I just felt I have to add my thoughts too..Dont be afraid to live ur life the way u want it..ur only young once and u ll never know when the journey ends.I wish u and ur lovely Chelly all the best and may all ur dreams come true!...and if things dont come out the way u planned them keep this in mind: dont be sad it ended, be happy it happened (or smth like that, my appologies Im in the office not fully awake :)) ps: I asked around and one of my greek managers told me to wish u this: Na zisete!Hronia polla! - hope he didnt make fun of me.. have fun on ur journey

[Macko54]

Congratulations!
This sounds like a beautiful fairytale. You are both very very lucky good luck. I am jealous!