Where were we? Ah yes...

Before I started this blog, I was warned by an experienced blogger (aka R.O.) that if I didn't write things down as they happened I would start to forget the details. Well, dear experienced veteran blogger, you were right. There were so many times that something would happen and I would thing to myself, 'when I start my blog, I'll have to write about this...' Well, much to my chagrin (hehe, what a funny expression), I have forgotten many of those instances which I meant to write about. But fear not, my faithful readers, I shall bring you intriguing stories from my adventures even if they're not so fresh in my mind and many details are hazy. So for today's story, boys and girls, I'm gonna tell you about the first time I went to a 'cha de cozinha' or 'cha de panela'. This is the Angolan equivalent to a despedida de soltera or ummm... I forgot how you say it in English... someone please leave a comment and inform us all. No, I'm not forgetting my English, I just never really used that expression in English before. Leave me alone. Anyhow, it's kinda like the Bachelorette party but more respectable and not just with the brides friends but with the moms and aunts and church sisters and all that good stuff. (Wedding Shower? Ay, quien sabe...) Anyways, I loved it. It was so much fun. It was organized by the Woman's Ministry ladies and they made a whole show out of it. What happens traditionally is that a bunch of ladies who have been married for many years are asked to give advice of all sorts (financial, communication, sexual, cooking, grooming, etc) to the soon-to-be bride. So the designated ladies lined up and gave advice to the bride one by one. Each lady was given a category for which she was responsible. All of us single ladies were constantly encouraged to listen to theVERY important advice they gave. Each lady acted as if her category was THE MOST important in a marriage, and boy, these Angolan ladies LOVE the spotlight. Many of them would give their advice interlaced with funny anecdotes, others would bust out singing, others would break into dialect at random times (all the older ladies speak one of the dialects, and most of then in Luanda speak Kimbundu). Overall it was quite entertaining. What I loved the most, though, was the music. See, the Women's Ministry has a selection of songs that they play at every Women's Ministry event. I mean EVERY event: Campouts, retreats, funerals, baby showers, wedding showers, etc. These songs are all upbeat and catchy and they have a marching rhythm, so the ladies march to all of them (they call it marching, but it's really more like dancing. They're marching with their feet while swaying and clapping and turning and adding all kinds of personality to their march, lol). And every female in the church has heard these songs countless times. So in between each lady that went up to give advice, they would blast the track and everyone would break into song and dance/march for a few seconds til the next person was ready to speak. Have I mentioned before that Africans are BORN knowing how to harmonize? Seriously, it's the most beautiful-sounding congregation ever. And add to that all the joking and laughing going on, it's just an awesome experience.

When the advice-giving part was over, it was time for the gifts. And boy, that was quite a procession. Every single person in the place brought a gift. And the closer you are to the bride, the fancier the gift that is expected. So everyone lined up to give their gift (I had been invited by default because my cousin is a friend of the bride, so I brought a plastic salad bowl as a gift) and they started blasting the music again and we all had to march/dance to the beat in a long line. It started with acquaintances from church, then friends, then closest friends, then relatives, then soon-to-be-relatives in law, then immedate family, then mothers. Yes, this bride had two 'mothers', one was biological and one raised her. It was a LOOONG process, all filled with dancing and 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' brought by each present. As each lady proceeded to get in front of the bride, she would give two kisses to the bride and two kisses to the madrinha (the matron of honor) as a congratulatory greeting and move to place the gift beside them. Man that pile grew. It went from salad bowls, pots and pans, wooden spoons, to refrigerators and washing machines. She ended up with EVERYTHING she could possibly need for home furniture. The only thing missing was sofas, lol. (Oh, for the big gifts, the ladies would just present the box, they did not haul a whole refrigerator in...)
After that part was over, it was time for food. And yes, these ladies can COOK and they love the opportunity of a grand occasion for which to cater. So we ate a whole lot, sang and danced some more, and ended up exhausted but happy from the day-long event. It was so awesome. I wish I had taken pictures, but alas, my camera is a story in and of itself...

Oh, I just HAVE to mention the best part of Angolan cooking: the cakes. Ok, seriously, I'm gonna have to research the history of Angolan cakes because they are simply delectable. I don't know why Angola is not famous for its cakes. The most ordinary housewife knows how to make some darn fancy cakes that look like something you'd see in one of those Barnes and Noble gourmet cake books! (I love looking through those! *drool*). So there was a table full of REALLY GOOOOD cakes that I just could NOT stay away from for longer than a few minutes. I kept going back for more til I was stuffed! I know, I'm gonna have to work on this temperance issue. But the point is that THEM CAKES WERE GOOOOOOD!!! And I wont even get started on the cakes at my cousin's engagement dinner. OH MY LANDS!!! Best. Cake. EVER. Yes, better than cheesecake, better than 3 leches. There, I've said it. And now that I've got you all good and salivating, I'm gonna go ahead and end this post right here :)

More to come another time. Much love to all!