Weddings and Culture

This past weekend I went to a colleague's wedding. Weddings here are 2 days. I went on Saturday, Bride's Day, where the bride's family and friends party and celebrate. Sunday was Groom's Day. The day starts very early, a cow is slaughtered and many women begin cooking tons of meat and salads for everyone ( I am glad to have missed the slaughtering part). Later is the reception, just like in the U.S., lots of eating, drinking, music, and dancing. Everyone here knows how to have a good time! Later in the afternoon, the bride changed from the traditional white dress to another beautiful dress, satiny coral with matching hat and the groom's shirt had matching color - they made quite the picture.
Speaking of culture, you may have heard about recent xenophobic problems in SA, but please know that these are isolated incidents (not where I work or live) and do NOT represent the South Africans I have come to know and love. I think of being invited to weddings and graduation parties and feeling so welcomed here; I have even been asked to be a bride's maid in another colleagues wedding, but I will be back in the U.S. by then. People I know here are very inclusive; they want so much for everyone to feel at home, at ease. I think that is more of the true South African spirit. I fly off to Madagascar in the morning , so more when I get back...