Jaron & Risa's Wedding -- My America Vacation

This month, after sixteen months of living in Fiji, fourteen of which were spent living alone in my remote village, I came home to America for a vacation. Oh, Risa (my sister) and Jaron also got married. So that was also very exciting. :-)

My village threw me a going-away feast two nights before I left. Here, I'm sitting at the head table with the chief lounging to my right, and the oldest man in the village on my left.

The ladies helped me pack all the mats I was bringing home. The mats barely fit inside my suitcase; even with the women's folding expertise.

My tickets from Nadi to LA and my Peace Corps passport

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The bride-to-be on the way to her Bachelorette Party in Palm Desert.

As an after-dinner activity, I changed into my sulu-jiaba and dressed Risa up in a traditional fijian wedding outfit given to me by my village friends Mareani and Ilimo.

Masi is a paper-like fabric made from soaked and pounded leaves. It is painted with handmade dyes from local mud and soil.

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After the Bachelorette Party, we all checked into the downtown San Diego hotel and started gearing up for the big day.

It was great to see relatives again, too.

Risa and Jaron even brought their adorable "golden doodle" dog with them to the hotel.

Jaron's brother Matt just proposed to his girlfriend Erika, so now I have two new brothers-in-law and a new sister-in-law!

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For the first time in days the sun came out and we had a beautiful rehearsal in Balboa Park.

Mom and Dad walked Risa down the aisle together.

Getting pampered and finally feeling clean for the first time in 16 months was definitely one of my highlights during wedding weekend.

Jaron's family friends were nice to talk to. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa in the 1980s where he met a Host Country National woman. They are still married, and very interesting people to talk to, today.

The Rehearsal Dinner was at an excellent Mexican restaurant. Yum.

After the toasts I presented Jaron with the Fijian wedding outfits Risa saw at the Bachelorette Party. ..

Then Tara and I dressed the two of them up for a preview.

Risa and Jaron, looking somewhat Fijian, also brought home a present--a kuta mat woven by the women in my village.

Risa and Jaron with their Bride and Groom pinatas.

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10-10-10

WEDDING DAY

Getting my hair done.

Of course, Risa also got pampered.

Pre-glam bridesmaids.

Glam bridesmaids and Tilli, the flower girl.

Risa looks like Cinderella here.

She made a beautiful bride, too.

First thing after arriving at the Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park, Jaron and Risa signed the katuba (Jewish marriage contract), and were privately married. Then we had the big ceremony.

After the ceremony, Jaron and Risa practiced their first dance under the beautifully decorated chupah (Jewish marriage covering).

Mr. and Mrs. Luksa!

The party was so much fun.

Tilli, the adorable flower girl, danced with us all night long.

The ladies in my village wove a small kuta for Jaron and Risa's wedding cake. It looked beautiful together with Jaron and Risa's wedding motif.

oh, the four flavor cake was a delicious, too...


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Now that all the celebrations are over and Jaron and Risa have left for their honeymoon, I've been chilling and trying to soak up as much America as possible before I go back to Fiji.

Part of my return-to-Fiji preparations included cutting off all my hair. It's almost the hot season again, and this will be so much easier!

Well, that's all for now. For all of you who I saw on this trip, thanks for putting up with my culture shocked antics and for making this trip so much fun. I'll miss you all!

xx

Milika