Your Incredible Neighbors: GV woman travels to Malaysia for wedding

When Louise Netherton received an invitation to the Muslim wedding of friends in Malaysia, she didn’t think long before deciding to go to an event that she said was unlike any she’s ever attended.

Netherton and her late husband, Ned, had met Dr. Zakaria Hamzah, his wife, Nora Hassan, and their three young children in 1980 at the International Club at Michigan State University.

Along with their three daughters, they formed more than a close friendship; they’ve become second families to each other and haven’t let the great geographical distance get in the way of maintaining the close relationship.

Attracted to the family by their friendliness and openness, Netheton said, “I fell in love with their children; we became their American family.”

During more than two decades of friendship, they’ve been communicating by mail, e-mail and phone calls.

One call in March 2007 was from the wife Nora telling Netherton that their son, Azmil, who was two when they met in 1980 and is now 30, was getting married in December… she hoped Netherton and her daughters could attend.

“I thought about it for awhile, then decided to go,” she said. “It was a chance to see the girls, who are married, and their families.

“I spent a week in Darwin, Australia, visiting friends and two of my daughters joined me in Malaysia.

“The wedding was a fairy tale, so lovely, beautiful and interesting. There were four different events and the bride wore a different wedding dress or gown for each.

“One event held at the Madrine Hotel included 1,400 guests including the Queen and many sultans. It was so lovely, as were the other three events,” Netherton said.

The groom Azmil and his bride Farah are involved in setting up “play labs” for pre-school children in remote villages of rural Malaysia.

Netherton said they’re very interested in helping educationally and even worked between the wedding events held on Dec. 20, 23 and Jan. 3.

The well-to-do families of the bride and groom each hosted two of the four wedding events.

“It was a most unusual wedding… the groom’s family had gifts for the bride — a ring of gold coins, diamond jewelry, chocolates and other gifts — each in a treasure chest.

"The groom received a video movie camera, jewelry and a Rolex watch from the bride’s family.”

Netherton’s gift to the couple was a music box she bought in Sedona that plays the “Anniversary Waltz.”

The bride told her she keeps the music box in their bedroom.

On the tables at the various events were boxed gifts for the guests.

Through photographs and personal recollections, Netherton told about the first ceremony held at the bride’s home that had more than 1,000 guests.

“Gifts lined a red carpet in the prayer room; 10,000 white roses were flown in from China and decorated the prayer hall and garden.

At this ceremony, prayers were given, rings exchanged and both fathers told stories of the couple growing up.

“Then relatives gave their blessing to the bride and groom… they sat under a rose-covered canopy and guests sprinkled rose petals and a bit of water… I was asked to do this, too, which was a special honor,” Netherton said.

One event was held at the groom’s penthouse, where there was a ceremony to welcome his sister’s four-month-old baby.

The last event was a fun evening. “It was held in the beautiful Niko Hotel and was less formal.

"It had an Indian theme; most were dressed in gorgeous saris and there were Indian dancers.”

Netherton told of a niece and nephew who took her and her daughters for a Christmas dinner in the highlands of Malaysia, where they traveled through some jungle and encountered monkeys.

“We stopped the car and one dominant male jumped on the windshield; it made a super photograph.”

She explained that a strong part of the ongoing friendship has been the rich cultural experience; she told about the love, caring and values of Malaysians who are comprised of Chinese, Hindu and Muslim people.

From the lush vegetation of the country, the vibrant colors of the dress and the warm welcomes from family and market vendors alike, Netherton said, although the Muslims are aware how Americans feel, they along with the Chinese and Hindus, made her and her daughters feel most welcome.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.