Saturday
Today in our village, there is a funeral. Although, to say "today" isn't quite right, because funerals are held for three days, not counting all the preparations. On Friday, the body was brought, and all the relatives and guests came. On Saturday, the body is put into the ground, and on Sunday everyone goes to church for a thanksgiving service. If someone does not come to the funeral, this may even lead to war. The body may be kept in the morgue for years, to (litterally in Russian,) “honorably escort him on his last journey.”
I have never seen such a funeral in my life. If in Russia, this is a quiet, somewhat depressing event, here it is very loud and noisy – car racing, an orchestra of trumpets and drums. There are big speakers playing recorded music in one part of the village and live music playing somewhere else. Since our house provides no sound barrier, you feel like you're inside a boom-box =) The music plays non-stop. It's no surprise that they have rhythm in their blood. It will soon penetrate our skin, too. =) People walk along the street, gathering in little groups here and there, talking, singing, eating, and selling. Periodically on the main roads of the village groups of singers and mini-orchestras go by. It is now after 10 PM, and and there is no end in sight. This has been going on since 4:00...
And in the midst of all this, the frogs croak loudly from time to time...
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