|
|
|
|
|
GOLDSEA |
YOUR TRUE STORIES
[NOTE TO READERS: This page is closed to new input. You can post new true stories and continue discussions at the new improved Instant Polls & Comments area. --Ed.]
East Indian Man Meets Viet Wife on the El
am the typical Mid Western American male for the most part. I was born and raised in Chicago to immigrant parents. If you talk with me, you will soon find out that I may look Asian Indian, but that is it. I am as American as one can be. My thoughts, my lifestyle, and philosophy is typical Chicagoan, and I speak English with a Chicago accent. I am also scheduled to join the US Air Force as a Project Development Engineer/Commissioned Officer in April 2003, after I complete my Master's degree and training. I am perhaps one of the most Americanized of Asian Indian males.
Anyway, while I was working in the Chicago steel mills I met the loveliest lady in 2000. This happened to be on the famous Red Line "El Train" in Chicago. She was a Vietnamese on vacation from Ho Chi Minh City. Being a nice guy, I talked with her, and helped her a little bit, as she was lost and not sure where to get off for the Vietnamese section of the city. Her name was Duong, and that short conversation I had with her turned into something more eventually. Duong eventually returned to Vietnam, and we kept in contact by all different kinds of means. Over this time I had decided to leave my job and go for graduate school.
I started my graduate studies in August 2000 as a full-time student and my friendship with Duong turned into a relationship. In July 2002, over my summer, I flew to Vietnam to spend time with her and her family, as well as tour the beautiful country. My only regret is that I did not spend more time with her. Her family, relatives, and friends were jealous of her, and said that I am an honorable man, and that they have no problems with her associating with me
Anyway, upon my return to the states in the August 2002, I started my last term for my Master's degree, and Duong and I started discussing marriage. I have informally asked her to marry me, but within the next 6 months I will be flying back to Ho Chi Minh City to formally propose to her in front of her family. This is after I enter the US Air Force.
My own parents, while initially worried, are actually very happy for me, as my previous relationships before Duong always ended up in me getting hurt. I guess I chose the wrong type of lady those previous times. My parents worry stems from the fact that I am the first generation American in my family (along with my little sister). They are worried that I will forget my Asian Indian roots, and all of the things that have made us so successful. I was however able to convince them that this should not be an issue.
While my parents and sister have accepted this, my relatives in India have had a difficult time. They were hoping I would marry an Indian girl, maybe one of my distant cousins.
There problems stem not just from this but also the fact that I decided to join the US Air Force. They also are worried that I am no longer in touch with my Indian roots. For the most part though, it is only a few relatives in India that have problems, as most of them have accepted the fact that I am indeed American. I have been wished good luck by those that support me.
Anyway this will be an interesting story to tell my children when that time comes. It is not every day that you hear about a man who meets his future wife on Chicago's El, or even the fact that Duong is South Vietnamese.
If I had not met Duong, I would probably be married to a South Indian lady of similar background to me. I guess one can never say never.
Rahul Laxman Iyer
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 16:58:13 (PST)
[141.218.205.79]
This page is closed to new input.
Stories and comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
To post your new true stories or to comment on these stories, go to our new improved Your True Stories area at
Instant Polls & Comments
CONTACT US
|
ADVERTISING INFO
© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.
|
|
|
|
GOLDSEA |
YOUR TRUE STORIES
[NOTE TO READERS: This page is closed to new input. You can post new true stories and continue discussions at the new improved Instant Polls & Comments area. --Ed.]
READER COMMENTS
NEWEST COMMENTS |
EARLIER COMMENTS
|