From The Intern Corner / / Bite That Bullet

Applications = Headshots

Risk. That one, seemingly friendly, noun is thee most exciting yet thee most frightening word of my life. Everyone has that word that makes their throat a bit tight, and makes their heart start pounding deep within. That’s what risk is to me. Life is full of opportunity, chances, decisions, and those words’ alpha mother: risk. I never seem to be scared of taking daring choices, and actually I am quite fond of choosing the most adventurous option. However, when the decision I so easily pick (in the moment of, yeah, why not?) really starts going somewhere, I freak. Suddenly, I don’t want to chase my dreams, and instead I would much rather live under a large boulder and become a mime. In every major step of my story, I have always become hesitant to an extreme degree before taking the leap of participation and commitment. I think that’s called… not fully understanding what I’m getting myself into? Yeah something like that, hardy har har. Anyway, my next risk is the want to make another big move within the states- Denver, Colorado, specifically. Being that photography is one of the elements that drives my theoretical vehicle, I have a large appetite to further my knowledge in other means of media (Graphic Design, Websites, Videography, and so on). I’m not cut out for UNI (High school was enough for this soul), but there is a media program I found out about and it was love at first sight. Deep down, I am lead by the heart (sorry, full on sap over here), and I remember I visited Denver for the first time when I was fourteen and knew I was to live there sometime in my lifetime. So two things I love in one place? HECK YES. Well my application is being processed and the thought of me picking up (For the 6^th time in the past year) scares me to (excuse my triteness, and all of my parenthesis) DEATH. Its one of my biggest dreams, and suddenly coming face to face, I don’t know if I want it. I remember I even had the same thoughts about coming to intern with Jon and Layne (dumbest thoughts maybe of my life, other than thinking a tooney was a dooney). So I’m starting to think that chasing your dreams is a risk majority of us can't handle, and rather overwhelming. But somehow, I still have a hunger for more. Please, in the comments below (If it ends up being just my faithful follower aka mom who responds, fine, still interested) what were some of the biggest risks you took in life and how they ended up coming about? Also, leave advice, I love advice :)

From the Corners of the World//Mandi

Traditions Inspired by Jono & Laynie’s Worldly Travels

French wedding spread. Photo cred here.

Good day lovely blog followers, it’s Mandi here. We all know that here in North

America we have some pretty interesting wedding traditions, you know, something

borrowed, something blue ... the chicken dance. I thought it would be interesting

to go over some wedding traditions of some of the countries that Jono & Laynie

have visited themselves, they are a very worldly couple, if you didn’t know already.

Maybe you’d like to incorporate them into your wedding. So without further ado:

South Africa

South Africans practice an interesting custom, which is called “The Four Elements”.

Lemon, vinegar, pepper and honey are included as part of a floral center piece

where the guests are each given a spoon and invited to taste these four elements

with the bride and groom. They represent the promise to love for better for worse,

richer and poorer, in sickness and in health.

Thailand

In Thailand, the groom performs a “door ceremony” where he would offer up a

gift in order to go through the gates to the bride’s house. With each gate he passes

through and the closer he gets to the house, the gift gets larger. This was a way to

prove that he had enough wealth to take care of the bride. Nowadays girls, usually

the sisters of the bride, holding a chain, are replacing the doors or gates. For each

girl the groom approaches, she will ask if he is able to take care of the bride and the

groom presents the girl with an envelope of cash until he reaches the house of the

bride.

Czech Republic

Inviting kolache is a small bun that is traditionally baked a few weeks before the

wedding and given to friends, relatives and neighbours as an invitation to the

wedding reception. It is customary for the bun to have at least three different

fillings to showcase the culinary skills of the housewife. Non-traditionally, cookies

or cupcakes have been said to be used as an invitation.

Israel

Jewish weddings have what is called “The Yichud” which is a brief seclusion for the

bride and the groom where they can spend some time alone together. The bride and

groom can choose to break their fast by eating chicken soup or one of their favourite

foods. If they have not fasted, it is just alone time spent together to enjoy a calm

moment between the ceremony and reception. Along with the benefits of having

this alone time together, it also means there is no reception line.

South Korea

In South Korea, it is tradition for the guests to bring money instead of gifts. The

amount given depends on the relationship to the bride and groom or the parents.

Usually between 30,000 – 50,000 won is expected if the bride and groom or their

parents are acquaintances. The bills should be brand new straight from the bank

and presented in either a special wedding envelope or a pristine cash envelope.

Germany

In Germany it is not legal to be married solely in a Church, which is why the wedding

usually takes place over a three-day period. The first day is getting married at city

hall by the justice of the peace, the second day is the church ceremony and the third

day is the reception. The days can be spread out over a period of time or they can

be consecutive. During the reception it is customary for the best man to kidnap the

bride and take her to a pub or bar while the husband searches for them. Once he

has found them, it is up to him to pay for the drinks.

France

In France, the “croquembouche” is a wedding cake that is made of cream filled

pastries and piled high into a pyramid on the centre table. If the couple is able to

share a kiss over top of the croquembouche without ruining it, it is said they will

share a lifetime of prosperity and luck. Many times this kiss is met with a lot of fan

fare, music and sparklers.

So there you have it, a few new customs inspired by Jono & Laynie’s worldly travels.

There are a few great traditions listed here that could be well worth initiating into

your own wedding. I mean, who wouldn’t want a few minutes alone amongst all the

chaos, especially if that means no reception line? Do you know of any interesting

traditions or customs from other parts of the world that could be added to this list?