To honor tradition, I traveled to Serere, Eastern Uganda, to participate in the ceremonies marking the beginning of our union.  Given that it was an intermarriage between two different Ugandan cultures, there were several procedures involved, that differed from what I knew. For instance, during the traditional wedding ceremony, my bride was covered in a shoal for most of the event, and I did not understand the significance of this practice nor the basis for this anonymity. There were also numerous envelopes exchanged between the emcees at the wedding, which felt almost like a government operation. But the most significant moment was the negotiations for the bride appreciation. Before travelling to Serere, I had conversations with my prospective in laws where we set the negotiation parameters for the different items. It was understood that the ceremonies were a mere formality to solemnize the marriage. In spite of this, I heard of stories where negotiations went sour because of unrealistic demands from either side. This made me nervous and apprehensive about all the things that could go wrong. 

Having studied cognitive psychology in my commercial negotiation classes at Oxford, I was eager to put my world-class UK and US education to work in such an important setting. However, I quickly learnt that as the groom (and, similarly for the bride), I was not permitted to attend the negotiations. This raised my adrenaline even further—I was uneasy— but, I placed my trust in the representatives I had chosen—my brothers and older men from my clan. They handled the process well. I was briefed that the negotiations went smoothly, and the bride appreciation was successfully agreed upon, and exchanged. These practices showed me importance of traditions and the significance they carried. I was joined by a small group of close friends, including one of my Oxford classmates, who traveled from Munich, Germany to witness this marriage.  This journey was the culmination of nearly a year of planning, countless meetings, and many adjustments along the way. 

I am pleased to have participated and fulfilled the cultural practices that are so meaningful to us. This experience has been my most important milestone of the year—a celebration of love, family, and the enduring beauty of tradition.