Wedding Interpreter

I was doing a favor for a college friend last week. She asked me to be an interpreter for a religious wedding ritual: the ijab kabul. In Islam, the groom must pledge the sacred oath to marry his bride in front of a legal government employee and several 'witnesses'. It's a religious thing so that's why it is so formal. And, I have never been an interpreter for such event before.:)

Fortunately, the Scottish groom said his pledge in bahasa (he's been practicing for two days, so I'd heard :) ). Phewww!!! What a relieve.... During the process, though, I found out that I had to play a 'liaison staff' part. I told him the full program: what's going to happen, who's going to say what, when his turn would be, where he'd sit and how he should behave (a kind of perias penganten role in traditional Javanese wedding ritual ;)). I even carried a box of tissue around just for him! :D

All in all, everything went pretty well. I was so relieved even though I couldn't say that I was satisfied with the result of my 'role'. But I know that my groom client was happy with my service.

He gave me two kisses. On the lips? Are you kidding? :D