Cyprus-Forum.com

[baby-come-fly-with-me]

Dont you wish that was cyprus!

its one of those gypsy festivals!

[SSBubbles]

Did you notice................
................she chews at her nails. yuk!

Sorry, for some reason I missed that, I must have been looking at the beer!

At least the beer looks real!

[miltiades]

Haven't had one for years , wine is my preferred drink rather than beer ¬!

[wyoming cowboy]

Cyprus is undoubtably a changed island. If you compare the society pre 74 and today everything has changed. Money money money is the rule today and nothing else matters. Pre 74 it was the ethnic conflicts and the split among Makarios and Grivas, either way we are again being led into destruction. When i went to Cyprus february of 2009, and the women found out i was an american they would all ask me about "Sex in The City", even though the show here in the USA had long been cancelled. "..oh i love that show its so me"...etc etc. i nodded my head in politeness and continued to listen.. The women in Cyprus want to fit in and be better then the transient Russian Ukranian or other eastern european women..The competition is fierce. They dye their hair blond and dress and act like them to the best of their ability...One night i was buying cigarettes and i saw a couple get out of the car their age not more then 24, The woman was dressed and looked like Marilyn Monroe, thick blond hair lipstick and red dress with white high heels, the guy looked like Kurt Cobain from Nirvana, torn jeans undone hippie hair and a half asleep look to him...The guys gets out and while passing the front of the car the Marilyn Monroe screams out "....re fermou tzai mia coke cola tzai mastixi"

in a thick cypriot accent...I thought i would die laughing while driving away...one of the funniest things i had seen in a long time...In the beginning i really thought that there was a masquerade party somewhere but watching the people in the clubs i saw the same thing basically.. If these women ever want to have their individuality they should at least be original.

people c`mon give the poor cyps women and men chance here, think about it.. does the women ask for this life style as a must!! or they simple have enough money,you said some of them , im not cyp, i have a cleaner, i dont cook, i dont work, i love my hair and would do what ever it takes to take care of it, my skin also etc... but i do that because i can, when i didnt have enough money before, i used to clean my house my self, cook bla bla bla but why not make life easier if you can pay for it !! if not well welcome to the real world, we all work hard and we all enjoy spending our money.. so please dont be harsh on the some of cyps women who gets to live like that.. i only can see jealousy here to be honest.. wouldnt you do the same thing if you can!!!

[Free Spirit]

Your right, I second everything you said. I refuse to accept the idea of a maid.

I don't ours was a cracker, even had an attachement for holding my beer.

Did you notice................



















................she chews at her nails. yuk!

Sorry, for some reason I missed that, I must have been looking at the beer!

its gross to say the least. bitten nails on a lady is vile

Is that a bottle opener in her navel?

[Medman]

What has happened to Cyprus Women?

As a young boy, Cyprus was never really a proper holiday. It was just an excuse to visit relatives catch up on old times and laud it a bit especially if you were from London (how the world has changed). There were occasional visits to the beach where you could actually see your feet in the transparent water of the Mediterranean. However it got boring being shuttled around from village to town and the crocodile tears at Ercan Airport. The one thing I remember most is the insistence by my family that my sister and I would marry in to our own. Namely Turkish Cypriots, English no chance, Mainland Turks forget it, and Greek Cypriots don’t go there. On speaking to my school friend, Nick the Greek from Morphou he proclaimed the same pressures. Even Greek Cypriots had their own codes and ethics and we started asking the question who would we be marrying and for whom? The glorious Cypriot family circle, clique, etc obviously!

Back in London, my older sister was first up. The traditional Turkish Cypriot way of doing things and no doubt the Greek way too was having the boy visit the house. I would make my presence known and meet and greet the wannabee suitor. I could tell straight away from my sister’s reaction whether the male victim would survive the initial test of her credentials and most importantly that of my dad. The usual questions were asked- job, prospects, income, compatibility (which meant what village in Cyprus were they from- this seemed the most important at the time). The guy would sit there as the families went through the formalities. There were moments of quiet on the couch in the lounge as each family member eyed each other up. My sister was expected to bring in the Turkish coffee and give it to the visiting dignitaries. The poor lad sat there was saddled with his mum, dad and possible other relatives with no real room for manoeuvre. I made a conscious effort there and then that I would never go through such an ordeal or experience of being placed on show for all to see. You can keep that part of Cypriot culture thank you very much.

As life progressed it became my turn to meet the woman of my dreams. I was told of kismet (fate) well so far it has been fatal. I had read a book about Turkish Cypriot arrivals to the U.K. in the 1940’s up to the 1970’s when arranged marriages were the in thing. It both puzzled and amused me in equal measures how where the person came from the most vital element in making the marriage work was. Forget your current north/south divide this went across districts on the island. Where family members could find out vital intelligence of prospective partners. I mean they operated better than the C.I.A. and unearthed stuff on the other person’s family right out of an Alfred Hitchcock novel. All laughable now, but deadly serious then.

I made it clear that I would like to meet someone on my own turns. A Turkish Cypriot dating agency had been set up in London, but closed after a few months due to bad management and people not paying their fees, well you live and learn. However blind dates were becoming the norm. Gone were the days of visiting the girls’ house and turning up liked a prize pudding for all to feast on. Times had changed even in the world of the Cypriot, where technology in the form of the mobile phone allowed easier communication between relevant interested parties.

However I’m hard to please apparently. I was supposed to get excited about meeting a girl I knew nothing about. It was hard and still is. I have been on a couple of blind dates if that’s what you want to call them and how the Cypriot women have changed especially on the shores of the U.K. I’m no oil painting, but some of the one’s that I’ve met just didn’t really seem interested and were going along with their parents wishes with no attempt to impress. I listened to their comments and the hopes that I’d meet someone slightly resembling Eva Mendes never materialised. I’m sorry but they have to float my boat and you’re lying whether you state that looks aren’t important. Of course they are, it what attracts you to a person first isn’t it? Yeah here comes the nonsense about personality blah, blah, blah. Yeah I’m shallow, but I know what I want.

Mum and dad would call with anticipation that I had made contact and arranged a date. They were disappointed when I told them there wouldn’t be any second opportunity. Their hopes for marriage and grandchildren put on hold once again. They would have to tell the family back in Cyprus that kismet hasn’t got around to me yet. I analysed things and came up with some conclusions based on my experiences. One, that marriage seems to be the number one priority for the Cypriot community and stuff the consequences. In all of this no thought about asking me about my feelings and this left me very resentful and frustrated. I don’t have a problem with marriage, but it has to be with someone that I want to be with, not my folks or the family hordes back home. My parents roll their eyes and think that I’m not serious and that time has passed me by and no one will want me. Well maybe that is kismet! Like everyone we’ve all had our hearts broken, but you live and learn. I told an English girl who I had lusted after for 12 years a few years ago that I like her in that way. Never saw her again though we were good friends. I took a risk and didn’t care that she wasn’t Cypriot. It was about what was going to make me happy in the long run not anyone else.

The last Cypriot girl I dated rolled her eyes at me when I told her I would like to see her again after our initial blind date. That spoke volumes to me, she wasn’t interested and that was that. However through my mum’s contacts she told her that she was interested in me, yeah right, more likely that she just wanted to appease her mother. I did have a stand up row with my mum over this and I felt she hadn’t taken my side. I was there on the date and could tell that she was just going through the motions.

So on it goes on searching for Miss Cypriot right. I’ve had to attend family weddings where I’m sat there with people staring and wondering why I’m not with someone (very much like being back at home on an arranged visit). I find it all very uncomfortable and feel like telling people where to go. Heh it’s my life! The secret of life is being happy with oneself and society is a lot different these days. People are more materialistic, my folks want to keep traditional Cypriot traditions alive, but that’s not me and we’ve fallen out over such issues.

Cypriots have changed with London Cypriots more likely to dress like their an extra from the film ‘Boyz N the Hood’ where gang culture is more important and having a nice ride. I’ve seen them and though there are clubs now servicing Cypriot youth, money and how much you earn is the key to status and success. My Cypriot friends have married successfully with Jewish, Ukrainian and Australian females. It didn’t go down well initially within the community, but once grandkids turned up the mood changed. As the song goes ‘Just liv your life!’ people just live it.

[baby-come-fly-with-me]

What has happened to Cyprus Women?

As a young boy, Cyprus was never really a proper holiday. It was just an excuse to visit relatives catch up on old times and laud it a bit especially if you were from London (how the world has changed). There were occasional visits to the beach where you could actually see your feet in the transparent water of the Mediterranean. However it got boring being shuttled around from village to town and the crocodile tears at Ercan Airport. The one thing I remember most is the insistence by my family that my sister and I would marry in to our own. Namely Turkish Cypriots, English no chance, Mainland Turks forget it, and Greek Cypriots don’t go there. On speaking to my school friend, Nick the Greek from Morphou he proclaimed the same pressures. Even Greek Cypriots had their own codes and ethics and we started asking the question who would we be marrying and for whom? The glorious Cypriot family circle, clique, etc obviously!

Back in London, my older sister was first up. The traditional Turkish Cypriot way of doing things and no doubt the Greek way too was having the boy visit the house. I would make my presence known and meet and greet the wannabee suitor. I could tell straight away from my sister’s reaction whether the male victim would survive the initial test of her credentials and most importantly that of my dad. The usual questions were asked- job, prospects, income, compatibility (which meant what village in Cyprus were they from- this seemed the most important at the time). The guy would sit there as the families went through the formalities. There were moments of quiet on the couch in the lounge as each family member eyed each other up. My sister was expected to bring in the Turkish coffee and give it to the visiting dignitaries. The poor lad sat there was saddled with his mum, dad and possible other relatives with no real room for manoeuvre. I made a conscious effort there and then that I would never go through such an ordeal or experience of being placed on show for all to see. You can keep that part of Cypriot culture thank you very much.

As life progressed it became my turn to meet the woman of my dreams. I was told of kismet (fate) well so far it has been fatal. I had read a book about Turkish Cypriot arrivals to the U.K. in the 1940’s up to the 1970’s when arranged marriages were the in thing. It both puzzled and amused me in equal measures how where the person came from the most vital element in making the marriage work was. Forget your current north/south divide this went across districts on the island. Where family members could find out vital intelligence of prospective partners. I mean they operated better than the C.I.A. and unearthed stuff on the other person’s family right out of an Alfred Hitchcock novel. All laughable now, but deadly serious then.

I made it clear that I would like to meet someone on my own turns. A Turkish Cypriot dating agency had been set up in London, but closed after a few months due to bad management and people not paying their fees, well you live and learn. However blind dates were becoming the norm. Gone were the days of visiting the girls’ house and turning up liked a prize pudding for all to feast on. Times had changed even in the world of the Cypriot, where technology in the form of the mobile phone allowed easier communication between relevant interested parties.

However I’m hard to please apparently. I was supposed to get excited about meeting a girl I knew nothing about. It was hard and still is. I have been on a couple of blind dates if that’s what you want to call them and how the Cypriot women have changed especially on the shores of the U.K. I’m no oil painting, but some of the one’s that I’ve met just didn’t really seem interested and were going along with their parents wishes with no attempt to impress. I listened to their comments and the hopes that I’d meet someone slightly resembling Eva Mendes never materialised. I’m sorry but they have to float my boat and you’re lying whether you state that looks aren’t important. Of course they are, it what attracts you to a person first isn’t it? Yeah here comes the nonsense about personality blah, blah, blah. Yeah I’m shallow, but I know what I want.

Mum and dad would call with anticipation that I had made contact and arranged a date. They were disappointed when I told them there wouldn’t be any second opportunity. Their hopes for marriage and grandchildren put on hold once again. They would have to tell the family back in Cyprus that kismet hasn’t got around to me yet. I analysed things and came up with some conclusions based on my experiences. One, that marriage seems to be the number one priority for the Cypriot community and stuff the consequences. In all of this no thought about asking me about my feelings and this left me very resentful and frustrated. I don’t have a problem with marriage, but it has to be with someone that I want to be with, not my folks or the family hordes back home. My parents roll their eyes and think that I’m not serious and that time has passed me by and no one will want me. Well maybe that is kismet! Like everyone we’ve all had our hearts broken, but you live and learn. I told an English girl who I had lusted after for 12 years a few years ago that I like her in that way. Never saw her again though we were good friends. I took a risk and didn’t care that she wasn’t Cypriot. It was about what was going to make me happy in the long run not anyone else.

The last Cypriot girl I dated rolled her eyes at me when I told her I would like to see her again after our initial blind date. That spoke volumes to me, she wasn’t interested and that was that. However through my mum’s contacts she told her that she was interested in me, yeah right, more likely that she just wanted to appease her mother. I did have a stand up row with my mum over this and I felt she hadn’t taken my side. I was there on the date and could tell that she was just going through the motions.

So on it goes on searching for Miss Cypriot right. I’ve had to attend family weddings where I’m sat there with people staring and wondering why I’m not with someone (very much like being back at home on an arranged visit). I find it all very uncomfortable and feel like telling people where to go. Heh it’s my life! The secret of life is being happy with oneself and society is a lot different these days. People are more materialistic, my folks want to keep traditional Cypriot traditions alive, but that’s not me and we’ve fallen out over such issues.

Cypriots have changed with London Cypriots more likely to dress like their an extra from the film ‘Boyz N the Hood’ where gang culture is more important and having a nice ride. I’ve seen them and though there are clubs now servicing Cypriot youth, money and how much you earn is the key to status and success. My Cypriot friends have married successfully with Jewish, Ukrainian and Australian females. It didn’t go down well initially within the community, but once grandkids turned up the mood changed. As the song goes ‘Just liv your life!’ people just live it.

wish it would fit on the screen

[cyprusgrump]

What has happened to Cyprus Women?

As a young boy, Cyprus was never really a proper holiday. It was just an excuse to visit relatives catch up on old times and laud it a bit especially if you were from London (how the world has changed). There were occasional visits to the beach where you could actually see your feet in the transparent water of the Mediterranean. However it got boring being shuttled around from village to town and the crocodile tears at Ercan Airport. The one thing I remember most is the insistence by my family that my sister and I would marry in to our own. Namely Turkish Cypriots, English no chance, Mainland Turks forget it, and Greek Cypriots don’t go there. On speaking to my school friend, Nick the Greek from Morphou he proclaimed the same pressures. Even Greek Cypriots had their own codes and ethics and we started asking the question who would we be marrying and for whom? The glorious Cypriot family circle, clique, etc obviously!

Back in London, my older sister was first up. The traditional Turkish Cypriot way of doing things and no doubt the Greek way too was having the boy visit the house. I would make my presence known and meet and greet the wannabee suitor. I could tell straight away from my sister’s reaction whether the male victim would survive the initial test of her credentials and most importantly that of my dad. The usual questions were asked- job, prospects, income, compatibility (which meant what village in Cyprus were they from- this seemed the most important at the time). The guy would sit there as the families went through the formalities. There were moments of quiet on the couch in the lounge as each family member eyed each other up. My sister was expected to bring in the Turkish coffee and give it to the visiting dignitaries. The poor lad sat there was saddled with his mum, dad and possible other relatives with no real room for manoeuvre. I made a conscious effort there and then that I would never go through such an ordeal or experience of being placed on show for all to see. You can keep that part of Cypriot culture thank you very much.

As life progressed it became my turn to meet the woman of my dreams. I was told of kismet (fate) well so far it has been fatal. I had read a book about Turkish Cypriot arrivals to the U.K. in the 1940’s up to the 1970’s when arranged marriages were the in thing. It both puzzled and amused me in equal measures how where the person came from the most vital element in making the marriage work was. Forget your current north/south divide this went across districts on the island. Where family members could find out vital intelligence of prospective partners. I mean they operated better than the C.I.A. and unearthed stuff on the other person’s family right out of an Alfred Hitchcock novel. All laughable now, but deadly serious then.

I made it clear that I would like to meet someone on my own turns. A Turkish Cypriot dating agency had been set up in London, but closed after a few months due to bad management and people not paying their fees, well you live and learn. However blind dates were becoming the norm. Gone were the days of visiting the girls’ house and turning up liked a prize pudding for all to feast on. Times had changed even in the world of the Cypriot, where technology in the form of the mobile phone allowed easier communication between relevant interested parties.

However I’m hard to please apparently. I was supposed to get excited about meeting a girl I knew nothing about. It was hard and still is. I have been on a couple of blind dates if that’s what you want to call them and how the Cypriot women have changed especially on the shores of the U.K. I’m no oil painting, but some of the one’s that I’ve met just didn’t really seem interested and were going along with their parents wishes with no attempt to impress. I listened to their comments and the hopes that I’d meet someone slightly resembling Eva Mendes never materialised. I’m sorry but they have to float my boat and you’re lying whether you state that looks aren’t important. Of course they are, it what attracts you to a person first isn’t it? Yeah here comes the nonsense about personality blah, blah, blah. Yeah I’m shallow, but I know what I want.

Mum and dad would call with anticipation that I had made contact and arranged a date. They were disappointed when I told them there wouldn’t be any second opportunity. Their hopes for marriage and grandchildren put on hold once again. They would have to tell the family back in Cyprus that kismet hasn’t got around to me yet. I analysed things and came up with some conclusions based on my experiences. One, that marriage seems to be the number one priority for the Cypriot community and stuff the consequences. In all of this no thought about asking me about my feelings and this left me very resentful and frustrated. I don’t have a problem with marriage, but it has to be with someone that I want to be with, not my folks or the family hordes back home. My parents roll their eyes and think that I’m not serious and that time has passed me by and no one will want me. Well maybe that is kismet! Like everyone we’ve all had our hearts broken, but you live and learn. I told an English girl who I had lusted after for 12 years a few years ago that I like her in that way. Never saw her again though we were good friends. I took a risk and didn’t care that she wasn’t Cypriot. It was about what was going to make me happy in the long run not anyone else.

The last Cypriot girl I dated rolled her eyes at me when I told her I would like to see her again after our initial blind date. That spoke volumes to me, she wasn’t interested and that was that. However through my mum’s contacts she told her that she was interested in me, yeah right, more likely that she just wanted to appease her mother. I did have a stand up row with my mum over this and I felt she hadn’t taken my side. I was there on the date and could tell that she was just going through the motions.

So on it goes on searching for Miss Cypriot right. I’ve had to attend family weddings where I’m sat there with people staring and wondering why I’m not with someone (very much like being back at home on an arranged visit). I find it all very uncomfortable and feel like telling people where to go. Heh it’s my life! The secret of life is being happy with oneself and society is a lot different these days. People are more materialistic, my folks want to keep traditional Cypriot traditions alive, but that’s not me and we’ve fallen out over such issues.

Cypriots have changed with London Cypriots more likely to dress like their an extra from the film ‘Boyz N the Hood’ where gang culture is more important and having a nice ride. I’ve seen them and though there are clubs now servicing Cypriot youth, money and how much you earn is the key to status and success. My Cypriot friends have married successfully with Jewish, Ukrainian and Australian females. It didn’t go down well initially within the community, but once grandkids turned up the mood changed. As the song goes ‘Just liv your life!’ people just live it.

wish it would fit on the screen

Get a bigger screen you cheapskate!

[baby-come-fly-with-me]

What has happened to Cyprus Women?

As a young boy, Cyprus was never really a proper holiday. It was just an excuse to visit relatives catch up on old times and laud it a bit especially if you were from London (how the world has changed). There were occasional visits to the beach where you could actually see your feet in the transparent water of the Mediterranean. However it got boring being shuttled around from village to town and the crocodile tears at Ercan Airport. The one thing I remember most is the insistence by my family that my sister and I would marry in to our own. Namely Turkish Cypriots, English no chance, Mainland Turks forget it, and Greek Cypriots don’t go there. On speaking to my school friend, Nick the Greek from Morphou he proclaimed the same pressures. Even Greek Cypriots had their own codes and ethics and we started asking the question who would we be marrying and for whom? The glorious Cypriot family circle, clique, etc obviously!

Back in London, my older sister was first up. The traditional Turkish Cypriot way of doing things and no doubt the Greek way too was having the boy visit the house. I would make my presence known and meet and greet the wannabee suitor. I could tell straight away from my sister’s reaction whether the male victim would survive the initial test of her credentials and most importantly that of my dad. The usual questions were asked- job, prospects, income, compatibility (which meant what village in Cyprus were they from- this seemed the most important at the time). The guy would sit there as the families went through the formalities. There were moments of quiet on the couch in the lounge as each family member eyed each other up. My sister was expected to bring in the Turkish coffee and give it to the visiting dignitaries. The poor lad sat there was saddled with his mum, dad and possible other relatives with no real room for manoeuvre. I made a conscious effort there and then that I would never go through such an ordeal or experience of being placed on show for all to see. You can keep that part of Cypriot culture thank you very much.

As life progressed it became my turn to meet the woman of my dreams. I was told of kismet (fate) well so far it has been fatal. I had read a book about Turkish Cypriot arrivals to the U.K. in the 1940’s up to the 1970’s when arranged marriages were the in thing. It both puzzled and amused me in equal measures how where the person came from the most vital element in making the marriage work was. Forget your current north/south divide this went across districts on the island. Where family members could find out vital intelligence of prospective partners. I mean they operated better than the C.I.A. and unearthed stuff on the other person’s family right out of an Alfred Hitchcock novel. All laughable now, but deadly serious then.

I made it clear that I would like to meet someone on my own turns. A Turkish Cypriot dating agency had been set up in London, but closed after a few months due to bad management and people not paying their fees, well you live and learn. However blind dates were becoming the norm. Gone were the days of visiting the girls’ house and turning up liked a prize pudding for all to feast on. Times had changed even in the world of the Cypriot, where technology in the form of the mobile phone allowed easier communication between relevant interested parties.

However I’m hard to please apparently. I was supposed to get excited about meeting a girl I knew nothing about. It was hard and still is. I have been on a couple of blind dates if that’s what you want to call them and how the Cypriot women have changed especially on the shores of the U.K. I’m no oil painting, but some of the one’s that I’ve met just didn’t really seem interested and were going along with their parents wishes with no attempt to impress. I listened to their comments and the hopes that I’d meet someone slightly resembling Eva Mendes never materialised. I’m sorry but they have to float my boat and you’re lying whether you state that looks aren’t important. Of course they are, it what attracts you to a person first isn’t it? Yeah here comes the nonsense about personality blah, blah, blah. Yeah I’m shallow, but I know what I want.

Mum and dad would call with anticipation that I had made contact and arranged a date. They were disappointed when I told them there wouldn’t be any second opportunity. Their hopes for marriage and grandchildren put on hold once again. They would have to tell the family back in Cyprus that kismet hasn’t got around to me yet. I analysed things and came up with some conclusions based on my experiences. One, that marriage seems to be the number one priority for the Cypriot community and stuff the consequences. In all of this no thought about asking me about my feelings and this left me very resentful and frustrated. I don’t have a problem with marriage, but it has to be with someone that I want to be with, not my folks or the family hordes back home. My parents roll their eyes and think that I’m not serious and that time has passed me by and no one will want me. Well maybe that is kismet! Like everyone we’ve all had our hearts broken, but you live and learn. I told an English girl who I had lusted after for 12 years a few years ago that I like her in that way. Never saw her again though we were good friends. I took a risk and didn’t care that she wasn’t Cypriot. It was about what was going to make me happy in the long run not anyone else.

The last Cypriot girl I dated rolled her eyes at me when I told her I would like to see her again after our initial blind date. That spoke volumes to me, she wasn’t interested and that was that. However through my mum’s contacts she told her that she was interested in me, yeah right, more likely that she just wanted to appease her mother. I did have a stand up row with my mum over this and I felt she hadn’t taken my side. I was there on the date and could tell that she was just going through the motions.

So on it goes on searching for Miss Cypriot right. I’ve had to attend family weddings where I’m sat there with people staring and wondering why I’m not with someone (very much like being back at home on an arranged visit). I find it all very uncomfortable and feel like telling people where to go. Heh it’s my life! The secret of life is being happy with oneself and society is a lot different these days. People are more materialistic, my folks want to keep traditional Cypriot traditions alive, but that’s not me and we’ve fallen out over such issues.

Cypriots have changed with London Cypriots more likely to dress like their an extra from the film ‘Boyz N the Hood’ where gang culture is more important and having a nice ride. I’ve seen them and though there are clubs now servicing Cypriot youth, money and how much you earn is the key to status and success. My Cypriot friends have married successfully with Jewish, Ukrainian and Australian females. It didn’t go down well initially within the community, but once grandkids turned up the mood changed. As the song goes ‘Just liv your life!’ people just live it.

wish it would fit on the screen

Get a bigger screen you cheapskate!

its my mini laptop and i love it, what a dont like is a pair of...oh it doesnt matter!!!

[Twilight]

Such an interesting story , bit off the thread though .. but who cares ! I did just what you said , and married out of my culture ( but spending my childhood in Australia , then family returning to the UK , had and still does play havoc with what culture i belong to !!) So at the tender age of 16 , having Ma going through a breakdown, suppose left me running a home for both my parents. I fell for the charms of an oriental friend of my Fathers, though he was only a few years older than me. I ended pregnant , before knowing what it was all about, got married as a sense of duty . Remained faithful , worked hard , had 3 adorable children, was juggling bringing up my children , with running a restaurant a few of them ! Early in the marriage I soon realised that I was more of a commodity and not a pertnership. As in good buisness woman , Good Mother , but never the less English and the children also half English. So yes we was treat differently by my own people and my husbands people. My husbands true colours came out as a gambler as we earned the money he would hit the casino's.Of course with that addiction came all the rest drinking, violence, cheating.So life went on and as my Mother said ..you made your bed , you lie in it . Thats what i did for 23 long years , bringing up the children , protecting them , working with them . laughing with them.Now they are grown and the elder 2 did marry into their Fathers culture , one ended in divorce.The younger one also married a different culture , but all have happier live ....And me , am so much happier ...But what culture is my culture !! That i have still not worked out ...But life is for the living and everyone is different , many do marry their own culture and end up divorced also ..So Hey who knows what ..Gosh you must have inspired me , for me to write all this lot Oh and before the nasty comments start .. if you have ever lived in an abusive relationship , your self belief also your self esteem slowly disintergrates .. But it does return , and is so much stronger ,so you are able to withstand any problems thrown your way .. Always look on the bright side ...The nomade of cultures ...Me