| Having lived abroad in various Asian and South | | | | be close to in his own country? Women especially |
| East Asian countries for over fifteen years, I | | | | seem to have a difficult time figuring out what |
| have some awareness of the challenge a mixed | | | | drives men in this way. |
| Asian and Western marriage can face, especially | | | | I think I know why men look overseas, |
| when the bride is brought back to a Western | | | | particularly to Asian countries, when looking for a |
| country. | | | | wife. Without wanting to stereotype any race, |
| I was not married when I lived abroad, and as is | | | | and at least from my observations, Asian women |
| natural with youth, I ended up with an Asian | | | | are generally meeker, more willing to serve and |
| girlfriend more often than a western girl. I adored | | | | please, and often content with a husband who |
| my Asian girlfriends. They were warm, cheerful | | | | provides for them and their children than their |
| and had a delightful, innocent manner that | | | | Western, fiercely independent counterparts. Many |
| definitely charmed my heart in those days. When | | | | men like those qualities in a woman, or at least |
| I was young the relationships were very simple | | | | they think they do. |
| and uncomplicated. As I grew older however, and | | | | Of course, until you actually live with an Asian |
| my marrying potential grew, I found that what | | | | woman you really don't see the other side. They |
| had once been a casual relationship became much | | | | can be very jealous and suspicious, they have |
| more complex. Perhaps that's the same with any | | | | also been known to pretend love but marry only |
| budding relationship, the more deeply involved you | | | | for a foreign citizenship and money. Many a man |
| become, the more issues you have to sort | | | | has been duped out of a fair bit of his life savings |
| through. In my case, however, I believe that the | | | | by his new wife who promises him the world, |
| cultural differences and expectations about | | | | then divorces him after a couple of years, taking |
| relationships added a new level of complexity. | | | | half of his property and savings with her. Not only |
| It's not that I haven't seen successful inter-cultural | | | | do you marry the cute Asian woman, but you |
| relationships. I have, of course. One of my best | | | | also marry her entire family, or so it seems! |
| mates ended up with a lovely Malaysian wife, and | | | | Asians are very loyal to 'family', and you will be |
| they've been together now for over twenty | | | | expected to be just as loyal and devoted if you |
| years, have three beautiful daughters, and a | | | | marry an Asian. |
| successful hardware business. With some of my | | | | I do understand certain men's yearning for a soft, |
| other friends who married Asian women, a few | | | | meek Asian wife. But I do think there's a fair |
| are still happily married and quite a few have split | | | | danger and you're taking a real risk ordering one |
| up--usually citing the cultural differences were too | | | | on line. Holiday romances seldom seem to work |
| difficult to overcome, and often mentioning that | | | | out either. If you're seriously considering taking an |
| honest, open communication was difficult to | | | | Asian bride, I'd suggest you go and work in |
| achieve. | | | | Thailand, or Malaysia or Vietnam, get to know |
| Yet today I see many advertisements on the | | | | people there, make friends, and then see what |
| internet, offering Asian brides or mail-order brides. | | | | develops. It's much more natural that way, and |
| What is it that causes a man to seek overseas | | | | you can be sure that you're really getting what |
| for a bride, rather than finding a woman he can | | | | you're looking for in a wife. |