From: Kamal E Y [email protected]>

To: Sabrina [email protected] >

Sent: 11 April, 2000 10:43 PM

Subject: more thoughts

Honey,

So you haven't gone to sleep yet. Good, we can chat together for a while.

Traveling or leaving the house or spending money is my own decision. My parents will not say anything about it, because that doesn't affect their reputation. But when it comes to marriage, they will have strong opinions. Because they have to answer to all the relatives and neighbors why I chose a foreign woman to marry. It is very very rare in my state. I will be a piece of news around the place I live in. That is why all my friends ask "what is your plan?" Our situation is something they never have come across.

Between us, cultural differences may not matter, because we both are educated and have a healthy attitude towards each other's culture. You are right, the problem is with the parents. Both my parents are over 50 years. They do like to live with their sons and grandchildren. They may prefer to live in the same place they have lived all their life. I can't imagine you living in our village, because you don't know our language and it will be difficult to go out and make many friends. You see, I have thought about so many things, now you may think that I am thinking too much, right?

I know that my role in our dreams and my parents are very hard. I feel the full pressure. You are the only one I can talk about this so openly.

Love

Kamal