| East meets West/Two cultures become one By Heidi M. Pascual |
| It was 4:30 p.m. on July 27, on the rooftop of Madison's Monona Terrace. The summer heat was on, but a steady stream of fresh breeze from Monona Lake fanned the well-dressed people seated on several rows of chairs facing the lake. It was the wedding of two beautiful people who came from two different cultures (Vietnamese and American): Jacqueline "Jackie" Nguyen and Christopher "Chris"Lawson. Jackie and Chris met in Madison while pursuing their graduate degrees, and through the years the relationship became more than friendship. This very day, they formalized their love for each other by saying "I do" twice: first in a traditional Vietnamese wedding, and then in a Christian ceremony officiated by Pastor Tonya Wenger. Vietnamese Tradition In Vietnamese culture, the clan is very important. Each clan has a patriarch and a clan altar which is the center of ancestral worship and a testament to the cultural emphasis on filial duty. Jackie's ancestral altar was placed prominently on the right of the ceremonial columns. The Vietnamese wedding was introduced by Mrs. Huong Nguyen, Jackie's aunt. Jackie and Chris wore the traditional Ao Dai (long dress) in red (with yellow headdress) and blue, respectively. The couple proceeded to the ancestral altar, bowed and prayed for the ancestors' permission to get married and for blessing. The candles were then lit by Jackie's father. The candle ceremony symbolized the joining into one of the couple and their families. The tea ceremony featured the bride and groom serving tea to their older relatives, another testament of Vietnamese culture that stresses respect of parents and older relatives. Jackie's father, Mr. Minh Ba Nguyen, spoke on behalf of Jackie's family. He welcomed Chris into the family and requested, "Take care of my daughter." The attendees roared into laughter when he gestured with two fingers over his eyes (in imitation of Robert de Niro) and said, "I'll be watching you!" After an hour of interlude, Jackie and Chris came back wearing "Western"wedding attire. Jackie and Chris fixed their eyes lovingly on each other as Pastor Wenger conducted the "Unity Ceremony." The warmth of their love surely felt warmer than the summer sun at that moment. As the "Apache Wedding Blessing"on their wedding program said in part, this is our wish for Jackie and Chris as well: Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other, Now you will fee no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness for you... Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness. May your days be good and long upon the earth. |
| Jackie's parents |