I attended a `typical´kichwa wedding a week ago in my community. I´m quickly learning that almost all celebrations have a certain `type´. Whether it be a pre-school graduation, wedding or birthday party; the series of events and elements are as follows (in no particular quantity or order): chicha, sitting, staring, sitting and staring, beer, chicha, obnoxiously loud music, people, generous portions of rice/soup/cassava/plantains/&/or meat, dancing (voluntary and involuntary), and joke telling. 
The couple for whom the wedding was for had actually already been married and have four kids, so it was more like a reception. There was no exchanging of vows, only a brief moment where Maria´s mom gave her advice and she changed into a red shirt and another lady put a red ribbon around her head. Afterwards, the gifts were piled before them along with family blessings.
(Oscar and I passing the time; making up games with beer tops)As the earth rotated through another day, this one Kichwa village in Ecuador partied like they know how: chicha, cerveza , plantains, people and perhaps dancing.* The music is still richocheting through my ear canals...
*Evangelical doctrine does not allow dancing and most of the attendees were Evangelicals.
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