Oklahoma: land of diversity

What with living between two houses, trying to brave the 100+ temps with the A/C sputtering, and getting engrossed in a very clever novel (Crossing California by Adam Langer) there’s been little time to write. Well, that and the fact that there sometimes isn’t that much excitement here in Norman, OK. But, there have been a few items of culture lately that I’ve found greatly enjoyable.

The first came when my dear Heidi invited me to a basically spontaneous (in true Heidi fashion) cookout that she was hosting for 20+ Angolans. There was all kinds of world music, dancing, deep-fried turkey, curry, booty-shaking, Portuguese chatter. Decidedly good times.

The second came from an invitation I received at the first. This event was a semi-traditional (since it was, after all in the states and not India and there was much family & friends missing) Hindu wedding shower for the lovely Nisha. I missed the part where each member in turn sprinkled/ rubbed various spices on her, each symbolizing something different. But, after I got there, there was a ceremony with incense, singing, and chanting in honor of a god (an image of which was sitting in a little shrine on a little table in the living room). We were all then offered a little of the food & drink offerings after they were offered to the god including some sort of tasty pistachio sweet, banana milk, and water with camphor and cardamom in it. It was all most interesting. And, of course, we ate delicious Indian food. After the ceremony, though, there were more traditional bridal shower games, and it was just a good old time. I ended up being the only non-Indian girl there for a good hour and a half at least. But, I knew Jeny & Nisha, and it wasn’t uncomfortable. Too bad I didn’t have a beautiful sari to wear like the other girls, though. They were gorgeous.

And Saturday's highlight (well, hard to call it a highlight wehn it takes up the whole day) was the first cricket match of Sam's that I've been able to attend. It was a home game, which was, finally, not called because of rain or failure to find a playing eleven. Although, even so, they were only able to scrape together ten dudes. Some of the starters (apparently not serious enough about their club cricket) went home to India. Anyways, it was a good old terribly hot time, and I actually enjoyed watching it, and it lasted a good 6 hours (with the lunch break). It was exciting to see Sam bowl and take a wicket lbw on his first ball, and also to see him take a catch in the field! I took my duty as only fan seriouisly and cheered loudly for all taken wickets. The other team's players were from all over the old Empire and unfortunately ended up besting the Sooner Cricket Club, but it was an entertaining day nonetheless.