Volume 4 Issue 3
Page 15
All “Dressed” Up
By: Patti Provencher, MAK 9
This morning the phone rang at 8:30 a.m. It
was my landlord's mother (Svetla) calling me to see if
I would like to come over to take a photo of the Macedonian traditional bride dress. I would love to but
could not come till the afternoon. I had a lot of people
to visit. Most of the people I am close to wanted me
to come to their house so they could serve me something traditional, go to dinner or keep them company
one last time at work. I told them I am only gone for 2
weeks but they acted like it was my last time I would
see them. They told me, " Once you go back home
why would you come back for a month to our country.
You will stay in America and forget all about us."
They can't seem to understand why we would want to
be in their country if we can have the option to be in
America.
That afternoon I arrived at my landlord's
house and they were eating lunch. Even though I had
eaten lunch already I took a seat and helped myself.
It was Jufki! My favorite!! Svetla asked me if I had
time to stay for a little while. I noticed she still was not
dressed in her traditional bride dress and said, "yes"
to give her time to change. She left the room to prepare herself and I just waited with the husband. He
decided to get into the past and what it was like with
Tito in charge. I had no understanding at all of what
he said. We sat there for 10 minutes while he talked
and I listened. He would go on and on rubbing the top
of his bald head from back to front as he talked with a
soft smile and a head bobble during this whole conversation. I would just sit there, shaking my head in a
yes gesture to soothe him while he told me his story
of the past.
After 15 minutes passed Svetla came into the
kitchen but not dressed in the dress. She had a handful of material that was covered with rich colorful embroidery that I am sure took a long time to make. She
told me she did this all herself. She placed the bulk of
material she had in her arms over the back of the
chair and told me to stand up. Next thing out of her
mouth was take off your pants. I was really confused. "Why am I to take off my pants." Well if you
are going to put the dress on you cannot be wearing
your pants. It won't fit right." I didn't realize I would
be wearing the dress, but sure this would be really
great to be able to put on this dress that she made
and has been in the family for over 50 years.
I took my pants off and put the first layer on
which was a thick, white, heavy, long-sleeved dress.
Then a white shirt proceeded over the top of
this. Next came the hand-weaved apron that
wrapped around with strings of metal coins that
hung in rows around that. I put an embroidered
head scarf on me which also had coins on the top
that lay flat above my head. After I was set with all
the right buttons buttoned, all the ties tied and all
the coins placed just so, it was time for Svetlana to
start to change. I thought I was done and ready to
go outside and take my photo in this beautiful handmade dress but all of a sudden, she, this short
stocky woman started to take her shirt off and prepare herself for the photo. We were both undressing
in the kitchen while the husband was waiting outside for us.
After she put her best dress pants and best
dress shirt on we were ready to meet the husband
outside and take our photo together. I can say that
this was one of the most touching moments for me.
It felt good that they wanted me to have the opportunity to put on what they once used in the day. It
was the best way to end my Peace Corps experience.