Non Impediment

Getting married abroad is a great idea I think. There is nothing better than having something that is relatively simple and taking it to Africa to making is a little more complex and hence, interesting J And what better thing to make interesting than the most important thing in your life; Marriage to your life partner!

So Farah and I are in the process of getting the necessary forms for becoming man and wife in Arusha, Tanzania. Our marriage will take place on the 18th of August 2007 and all are welcome! That same day we will be heading off the climb the world’s highest free standing mountain, which is kinda like Toronto’s CN tower, the world’s tallest free standing building….

So anyways…. We have to get certificates of non impediment to marry from our respective local authorities, mine the Australian Consulate in Dubai and Farah from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department in Ottawa. It’s funny, mine takes 30 minutes and Farah’s takes 10 – 15 working days and has to be sent via mail, same outcome different process. On top of this I have a standard form to fill out provided in .pdf on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs website, whilst Farah has a vague statement on a hard to find website, which basically states that a lawyer has to draft up some affidavit, which then needs to be signed and sent via mail with a certified copy of Farah’s birth certificate….All this for a form to allow us to get married!? Imagine what must be required to have children…. Well that’s the funny thing isn’t it. We have to jump through hoops, fill forms etc to say we love each other and stick together for life. But to bring a new human being onto the planet requires nothing, no Government involvement whatsoever. How did the bureaucracy ever miss this jurisdiction?

Well it is a funny process to organise and who knows if it will work in the end. I am still relying on Geofrey Kimaro from Tanzania on ensuring that the Government Official is available and organised to marry us on the day. But this is part of the adventure. One of many we will have in our lives together. Let’s face it. We could get married in Toronto, and honeymoon in some western run resort, but would this be real and true to ourselves? No. Yellow fever injections and dealing with foreign bureaucracies is much more fun, annoying yes, but these things stretch you and help you learn more. I cannot imagine a better way to start our married life together… Our honeymoon will be climbing Kilimanjaro together. We truly are a lucky couple!

This is the plan then. Married in 53 days, at the top of Africa 5 days later and then saying our vows in front of friends and family two weeks after that. It’s going to be a blast!