At the end of the conference we got to join a smaller group of NMSI people (around 30 or so out of the 250 or so people there) who attended some Roma weddings in Berkovitsa.
It was definitely a cultural experience – with a range of emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Travis got to drive a car through the village, there was outrageously loud music, loads of different food, a bunch of Roma kids to play with and take pictures of (they really like digital cameras, because they can see themselves immediately afterwards), and lots and lots of dancing.
We all got to learn a traditional Bulgarian dance and dance several times…Melilla even joined in and had a blast.
Probably the funniest part of the whole thing was when Melilla needed to use the potty and we discovered that there weren’t any western-style toilets…just outhouses with holes in the ground. Melilla was having nothing to do with those…so we eventually just had to put a pull-up on and tell her it was ok to go potty in her diaper. I think it was about that time that Emilie and I agreed that when we move to Bulgaria that regardless of where we live it will be worth the extra expense to have indoor plumbing installed.
Emilie and Melilla Dancing at the Wedding: (see our the “Videos” link on the “Our Sites” secton on the right for more videos!)
