Gori Girl

Hi!

A little about me:  I am in my mid-20's.  I was raised in the midwest, where I still live.  I graduated on Saturday!–with my Bachelors in Science, Nursing.  I have also been taking some pre-med courses and hope to continue on this path.  I have found that life tends to get in the way sometimes though…

I found this website in March.  I was searching online for tips about meeting parents from another culture.  This was the only website I found that addressed this issue for me!  I have been dating my significant other (who is South Indian) for about 9 months now.  In March, I went to India to meet his parents…I was beyond terrified!  My boyfriend is in his mid-30's and I am the first girl he dated that he has ever introduced to his parents.  No pressure right!?!  Anyway, the meeting went very well.  His parents love me and I love them too!  They are amazing people! 

I hope to learn more from others on this site!  It is always nice to have a resource to turn to!  As I found with my situation about meeting his parents, I don't always have someone to ask with experience in things such as that…

Way to steal the ADL format, Gori.

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi everyone! I'm in my late 20's and have been married to G for 2 years but we've been together for 11 years (met in college). We live in the northeastern US. I'm a medical writer, he's a reformed salesperson who went back to school full-time a couple of years ago to transition into another (also medical-related) career. Yay, vauge Internet-friendly response!

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

It was a long and winding road involving several other sites to get there, but I've been following the blog for quite awhile now.

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Yup. I'm an American mutt. G is Indian but was born and raised in the US. His family is very Americanized (even the ones who live in India) and open to the intercultural marriage thing, luckily. However, the relationship with them still has to be approached in a slightly different way than I would approach it if G was white.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

It's my first initial. Very creative, I know.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

It's my wedding mendhi. G's aunt who was visiting from India for the wedding did it for me and it was gorgeous.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

Looks good so far!

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

Probably everywhere. I love to cook (and eat), so I might have to get that section going soon.

Post edited 10:06 pm – August 7, 2009 by Gori Girl

I'm glad you mentioned ADL, Gori! I've been lurking around there lately and need to do my intro there too!

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a 31 year old "American mutt" and have been married for almost 9 months to a wonderful Indian guy (M). I'm from the same area of California as Gori (even went to the same high school – although long before her!) but now live in Illinois outside of Chicago. In the past year, I finished up my second master's, moved, got married, and started a new job as an academic librarian (btw Heather, I love that cartoon!).

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

I've been a fan of Gori's blog since its inception. I haven't had much time to comment lately but still enjoy the great posts!

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Yes, my husband is Gujarati. He was born in India and lived there until age 5 when his family moved to Africa. He lived in Kenya until age 10 and then his family migrated to the U.S. I've also got a best friend who is Taiwanese and is in an intercultural marriage to a white American. And my family is full of Indian-white intercultural couples – my cousin is married to an Indian man, my husband's sister is married to a white guy, my husband's cousin will marry a white woman this summer, and my husband's uncle (the trailblazer) married a white woman back in 1968! It's becoming par for the course among our family. I also have lots of friends of different cultures and feel most at home among a diverse group. Did I mention my boss is from China, one of my close co-workers is from Mexico, and I'm on the multicultural committee at work?

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?
CT is short for CaliforniaTransplant because I'm a fourth generation Californian transplanted in the Midwest. It became my name the first time I was compelled to comment on a blog post in order to defend my home state. It just stuck after that.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?
Picture of M and me at our wedding.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

Love it so far! Thanks for setting it up, Gori!

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?
Not sure – here and there probably.

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm the youngling of the group! I'm your average 20-yo girl, completing my undergrad in Canada. My ethnic background is Pakistani Muslim, although I've grown up in various parts of the world (North America, the Middle East and South Asia to name a few).

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

I remember googling about South Asian interracial relationships, and your blog came up =)

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Yes, I've been with my Canadian boyfriend for over 2 years now (we started dating when I was 18). I have had friends of several different races and religions when I was growing up, so interacting with different groups of people comes naturally. Being exposed to different cultures throughout my life has also changed my outlook on many things (including interfaith/interracial relationships), which is quite a contrast to some of the opinions my parents or elders in my family have.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

My name on this forum is incredibly random. I can be quite the environmentalist, so rain and trees kind of go together for me hehe.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

None yet, but I'll definitely have to get one soon!

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

I love the simplistic layout of this. Very easy to maneuver through.

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

Media, Entertainment and Hobbies, for sure!

CT-
What's your 2nd master's in?  I'm pursuing a Masters of Ed in Instructional Design.  Got the MLIS back in 02. I'm a ref/instruction librarian. and you?

Post edited 10:30 pm – May 15, 2009 by Auroracoda

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hmmm…I'm a goofball.  I thought I should say that first because it describes me so well most of the time.  :)  Seriously, I'm a East Coast girl living on the West Coast, in my (cough cough) late thirties and engaged to a wonderful but younger man from Maharashta India.  By day I am a Business Systems Analyst…by night I am able to read tall blogs in a single setting(!), pay for outrageously high phone bills(!) and kill myself with excersise so I look good in a wedding sari!!!  Ok, seriously, I am a semi-professional photographer working weddings and the like.  I volunteer with the local SPCA.  I read far too many old novels like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Persuasion by Jane Austen.  And just like any English Professor (even though I'm not) I am perpetually writing my 'novel'.   

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

Out of pure desperation.  Google Search topic: “India + Intercultural Relationships”  or my all time favorite “India + Parents + acceptance of Intercultural Relationships”.  

I thank God everyday that I found GoriGirl…she helped me more than she can ever know.

I used to print her blogs off, read them on my lunch break and then discuss them with Bear after work.  Her blogs helped open up all new topics for us.  Thanks G >:D<    

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

I am engaged to a wonderfully intelligent, loving and generous man who tends to enjoy 'pulling my leg' far too much.  More than is good for him actually…but he's addicted to me getting flustered and calling him a pooterhead so what can I say?  He was born and raised in India (moved around a lot) and I was born and raised in the good ole' south.  Virginia.  Shenandoah Valley.  About half of my friends are from other cultures.    

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

Aurora Coda.  Hmmm well…I was in the Triple Trio (chorus) of my high school.  One day, I had a piece to sing during group voice practice and someone complained that I always got the coda (which is the concluding passage of a movement) and that became my nickname in high school. 

Aurora is a favorite character of mine (10 points if you can guess who and from what). So, Aurora (meaning the Begining or the Dawn) and Coda (for the End) and you have my name.  :) 

Bear got his name because I couldn't say his real name for several months, was utterly ashamed of myself and called him that because to me he is such a big teddy bear.    

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

I went to spend time with a friends wife and wore a sari and bhindi.  He was so shocked he kept sneaking up to take pictures of me for “posterity's” sake.  I finally got fed up and made that face at him.  hehehe

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

Love it!  Can't wait to see more posting!  More members!  Let the sharing begin!

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

Dude, Aditya TOTALLY took my answer and that's the only reason why I wrote this.  :P  hehe

Wow, congrats, Heather! Sorry I can't help you with Guju weddings, but you should be able find lots of general stuff online and then get his family to fill in their specific customs.

Hi Aurora and LMD! LMD, I'm impressed with your language skills, seeing as the only Hindi I know is nai and I know only a few words here and there in G's language (which I don't like to reveal as his community is only about 30,000 people – ridiculously tiny!).

Post edited 8:08 pm – May 16, 2009 by mocroidh

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Meg, and I'm a 31-year old American woman living in Southern California.  I'm a history professor, although I'm not currently working (I've been taking some time off from teaching this year, and now the job market sucks even more than usual, so God only knows when I'll find something permanent).  Right now I'm working on turning my dissertation into a book proposal (or at least that's what I should be doing) and enjoying being a housewife.  I'm trying to decide whether I want to stay in academia or (gulp!) jump ship and find another career path.  I love reading (pretty much any historical fiction or fantasy), singing (I currently sing with my church choir), watching TV and movies (Hollywood and Bollywood), and cooking (I'm slowly learning to cook Indian food).

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

Hmmmmm, let me see if I can remember!  I think I found GoriGirl last year when I was planning for our wedding and was looking for advice on how to successfully incorporate American and Indian traditions.  I've since realized that it's just about the best blog on the web regarding intercultural relationships!

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Yup, I've been married for almost a year now (wow!) to a wonderful Indian man.  My husband came to the US decades ago when he was 10, so he's pretty Americanized, but still retains a lot of the Desi culture.  His parents are living with us as he's the only boy in the family, and for the most part, it's really wonderful having them around.  In addition to becoming a part of Indian-American culture, we have a lot of friends with very diverse backgrounds.  Our wedding party, for example, consisted of: two Ecuadorian-American brothers, a guy from Italy, a guy from Turkey, a guy from India, his wife (also Indian, but born and raised in Hong Kong), my best friend from college who is Japanese-American, my best friend from grad school who is Irish/Jewish, and my younger sister (who, like me, is a WASP).  So we've got quite the United Nations contingent among our circle of friends!

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

“Mocroidh” is a Gaelic term of endearment – it basically means “my heart,” or something to that effect.  I use it for a couple of reasons: a) because I've been into all things Celtic since I was in high school; and b) because the spelling is so funky that it's usually not already taken.  So there's a little more multi-culturalism for you!

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

Like D (hi there, btw!), I use a photo of my mendhi-decorated hands from my wedding.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

I haven't done too much exploring of the forums yet, but I have to say that the GoriGirl site as a whole is awesome, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the forums have to offer!

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

In my family room, on my laptop (if I can pry it away from my husband!), in front of our TV.

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm Mahi. I'm in the middle of my twenties and I live in Europe.

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

When I started dating my Indian boyfriend I started looking for answers to some questions I had on the net. I ended up on GoriGirls website. 

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

I started dating an Indian guy about 6 months ago. He is my first intercultural relationship and I don't have much experience with intercultural communication, or even with India for that matter.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

I couldn't come up with a name, so I made one out of my initials. Of course, it only occurred to me after signing up that "mahi" might actually have a meaning in another language. Turns out mahi means "fish" in persian and "lover" in punjabi.  Not so bad. 

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

I don't have an avatar, yet. 

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

 I like the forum. It seems very organized and I hope it will become a valuable source of information.

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

I don't know yet. 

Post edited 12:01 am – May 25, 2009 by Nidhi

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a white American girl in my mid 20s and from the west coast. I love all things nerdy and probably ask too many questions.

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

I was googling stuff about how Indian guys “break the white news” to their parents and how often it goes over well.

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Indeed! I have been dating my boyfriend Arjun for almost three years. Ever since, I have loved every Indian tidbit I can get my pale little hands on. He was born in the U.S. as were most of his siblings and cousins that are his age. Two thirds of his family still live in India, though, in the New Delhi area. Arjun being thoroughly American but still steeped in Indian culture has been quite interesting. His parents (and the rest of his family) are unaware that I exist, which has admittedly gotten to me at times. He has met my parents and siblings, who adore him, but my extended family are still in the dark.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

This is actually Arjun's sister's name. I thought it was very pretty… so I stole it! According to Wikipedia, it means “treasure.”

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

It's from a cover of Bombaby, a comic about an Indian girl who finds out she's an avatar of a Hindu goddess.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

It's a bit bare still, but I have high hopes that this will be a fun, informative place to be!

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

No idea. Everywhere, I suppose (I don't have anything cool to say like in my pants!). I will likely be asking more questions than I am answering because I am a total noob.

Manveri said:

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

One of my many passions is Tolkien (one of the best interculturalists i'd argue – though probably he didn't know or plan it) and its just a name i came up with browsing one of his Elvish languages.  

YAY!!

Another Tolkien fan!!!!  And you are so right…I do believe that if Tolkien had wanted to, he could have created his own religion or culture…Middle Earth was so real to so many people (and still is today!)!

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

My husband and I met online.  We got married quickly and have settled in to a multicultural city in SW Ontario (Canada).  He works in computers and I work p/t for a local ad paper.  My background is agriculture, but a little hard to do in a city :)  I grew up in a rural area and lived on a farm (I miss those days).  My family is European and we still enjoy our culture.  My husband grew up in Bangalore, India and moved here after a stressful sponsorship application to Canada.  We are happily married and have a furbaby (listed below) and have a great relationship with both of our families (this was work to repair the relationship with his family).  We are both practising Christians, so religion has never been an issue with us.  We both desire to live oversea's even for a short while, but we don't know what that entails (and he isn't interested in going back to India).
2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

Surfed on in to the blog and then found the forums.

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

We are the ultimate in intercultural.  I am European, he is Indian and we live (and love) our life in Canada! We both grew up with a lot of different people around us.  His father travelled with the WHO and developed many relationships with foreigners and my family grew up with a Chinese family who we consider family (gather for all the big holidays, weddings, funerals, and just to hang out).  So we have a diverse background and love learning and enjoying other people's culture.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?
Minu is our 7.5 month old boston terrier (terrorist) puppy.  It was the only thing I could think up quickly, esp since she spends her time sleeping in my lap while I post.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

This is a picture of us last winter in India, for his brothers wedding.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

It seems easy to navigate and there is a nice cross section of people here. 

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

Wherever I see something of interest….so I may be everywhere!

First of all, hello to all and especially to GoriGirl for having this space.

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a Mexican girl in my early thirties recently married (almost 3 months) to a wonderful born-and-raised-in-India Bangalorean and we have lived in Scotland for 3 years.

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?
Mmhh I don't think I remember. Probably I just googled intercultural – india or something like that and this great blog came up. It was a few months ago though.

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Yes. Coming from a closed country like Mexico and joining a master degree in Manchester, England in 2004 opened my eyes to other worlds. I fell in love with my now husband and after trying to go back to our countries for 7 months, we realised ours was real love so managed to find jobs in a neutral land as Scotland and married only 3 months ago. I don't consider our relationship interracial since our skin colours are similar despite of me being 'hispanic' and him being 'dravidian'. Ours is multicuisine since my dear love is what some ppl call lacto-ovo vegetarian.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

Anilú is a nickname a friend gave me a while ago.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?
A caricature of us for our beautiful wedding.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?
I just joined so let me see but I love all GoriGirl posts and recommendations. I also enjoy knowing about other intercultural relationships and life in India.

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello everybody! First off, thanks for creating this forum! What a resource!

OK, as far as introductions go, I'm a media industry analyst and former newspaper reporter from Mississippi who was lucky enough to find the best man imaginable three years ago. We were on the same dance floor, and he asked me if I cared to dance. Handsome and well-mannered as he was (is), it just wasn't even fair. Of course, I said yes. Well, we talked about English-language newspapers in India, a career move I'd been eyeing for some time. Being that he was from Chennai, he plugged The Hindu, and we talked media and the aviation industry (the subject that makes him geek out beyond compare) for the rest of the night. He also happened to be the first guy to ever receive my real name and real phone number. He called the next day, and the rest, as they say, is history. We married last December and now live in Northern Virginia. Our home smells of fried onion, cumin and ginger-garlic, and I catch him singing Hank Williams, Sr. songs to himself every now and then. When I get nervous, I find myself fidgeting with my mangalsutram and feel just as naked without it around my neck as I would without my wedding ring on my finger. We don't have it all figured out, but we're learning from each step through 'married life'. :)

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

When I was entrenched in graduate school (Master in Public Policy, what!), work and wedding planning, GG's blog (discovered via indiebride.com) offered frequent breaks from insanity. For that, I thank you so much! I only recently noticed the forum's hyperlink on said blog, and here I am today.

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Well, there's the husband, G. His parents are among the two most warm, welcoming and loving people I know. I was blessed that they immediately took me in, despite differences in culture, color and religion. They speak English light years better than I speak Tamil (Maamaaya's language) or Telugu (Aththamma's language and the one spoken at their home). I'm really trying to learn. My dream is to have a conversation with Aththamma without G's famous 'English-to-English' translation. :) We have several Desi friends, mostly among our respective grad school classmates, as well as coworkers who hail from South and East Asia and Europe.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

It's the names of our respective hometowns smushed together. And for some geeky reason, I like to replace letters with numbers. Fear not. I'll resist the urge to do that in this response.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

Work in progress. Scout's honor.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

Truth be told, I've developed a slight obsession with reading each thread fully since first stumbling across the forum a couple of nights ago. I look forward to learning from y'all and hope I might share a thing or two that helps someone else.

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

If you're talking re: forum, I've got my eye on the food section. Lots of trial and much error have combined to produce episodes of yummy deliciousness in our kitchen!

Post edited 10:48 am – October 16, 2009 by talldrkandninja

I bet. 

But my mom is no “old auntie” though. :P

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello!! My name is Kayla. I am a white American Southern Belle from the great state of Louisiana ;) Although, I won't be in Louisiana for much longer…will be getting married soon and will be moving! Super excited!

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

I was searching on google for a forum that connected people that are intercultural relationships and I came across Gori Girl…and fell in love with the site!

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

I am engaged to (I think) is the most wonderful man! from India (Mumbai). We are planning a wedding here in the US in July of 2010. It will incorporate both my culture as well as his. Then we will have a second marriage in India in December of 2010.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

It is just a combination of the letter of my first name and my fiance's first name with my (soon to be!) last name :)

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

It is a picture of my fiance and I while attending Garba.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

The forum is awesome. I enjoying reading the advice from all of the women who have been in intercultural marriages and relationships for years. It is a place that I can come and relate.  

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

I have been looking through all of the forums. I don't just spend time in one section. Everything that is here fascinates me and I enjoy reading what everyone has to say.

1.Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi Everyone, I am UncleTom don’t feel like revealing my real name. I was born in 1990, and was raised in Lahore, Pakistan. I moved to Toronto, Canada, when I was 15, with my family while my dad was living here for 4 years. I like reading (novels, articles, blogs etc), debating on cretin topics (which I don’t want to reveal), I also own a website which contains more than 220 books and the number will increase by time, forum, blog. I am also a full time student in local college trying to study Aircraft Maintenance.
2.How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?
I took grade 11 world religions and our final project (which I didn’t do because of my laziness lol) was to write about wedding of other religion. I chose Hinduism. I was searching for Hindu wedding on Google, jumped onto Gori’s blog started to read it and found very interesting stuff going on. From that day I would visit her blog and read stuff but didn’t write to many comments. Today in lunchtime I came to the blog and found the forum.
3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?
I am single right now and available :P. Some guys in college also make fun of me because of this. One day some guys were convincing me to buy a cell phone because they think if you don’t have a cell phone you don’t have a girlfriend. Since I don’t work and am kinda homesick person who doesn’t go out too much, feel no need of having a cell phone. But I am facing a similar problem in my family. My father is a typical desi who wants his sons to marry in “family” like with cousins etc. My brother has a girlfriend who is a Pakistani girl, lives here in Toronto he stays out all day with his gf and barely stays home. And some more crap stuff.
4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?
My name ,,, uncle tom is an expression used for dumb people … if I thought someone is dumb I would call him or her uncle tom so one day I thought that i am stupid enough to be called uncle tom from that day I use it for myself.
5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?
Don’t have one
6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum. What do you like/dislike around here so far?
It’s good to have a forum where people can freely discuses its batter then having long discussions though comments.
7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?
Here and there or maybe every where

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am white-american woman in her late 20s living in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area.  I am Catholic, work in politics and I recently started dating an Indian/Muslim man, things are going well so far but the idea of an online community where people share their experiences with the relatively unique situation appeals to me.

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?
G-O-O-G-L-E-GOOGLE!

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

Recently started one, this is my first, I have dated white catholics up to this point.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?
its my name, I am pretty straightforward with screen names.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?
n/a

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?
Seems very supportive.

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?
for the time being I am mostly lurking  but as my relationship grows I am sure I will have many questions/stories!

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself.

The name is Amit.  Pleasure to make your acquaintance.  I am an Indian-American male (though full-blooded American if you ask me) in my mid-20's.  I am currently an engineer in Florida.  25 years it has been since I have been in a sort of limbo of servitude/guilt trips, or as a lot of people commonly have come to know as the Indian culture.  I have recently given my life completely to following Jesus.  Currently, I am the only child as my older brother is estranged with my parents.  I recently finished my Masters in Systems Engineering at University of Miami and am looking forward to pursuing either a Doctorate or a Master's in Aerospace Engineering in Stanford University's Distance Learning program.

2. How did you make your way here? Where did you find out about us?

I found this blog when I googled in the term: "arranged marriages are evil."  No joke, I literally entered those words into the search query.  Once I found this blog, I became more and more fascinated, especially with Gori Girl's personal story.  Some of the other stories are really interesting too.  The search query led me straight to the posting on arranged marriages.

3. Are you in an intercultural relationship or somehow deal with multiple cultures in your life?

I was once in an intercultural relationship with a wonderful girl.  She had a very kind heart and was not a "proper woman" (in my parents' eyes).  We had met online and started to chat quite a bit and whenever we went out, it was for long periods of time.  We had a lot in common.  I had a chance to meet her parents, who were very kind and supportive.  Unfortunately, she had to break off the relationship because she saw the conflict of meeting my parents, well before I could.  She knew, before I even had a chance to bring the subject up, that my parents would never accept her.  We had dated for quite a while and grew pretty close.  I am here to understand the dynamics of intercultural relationships and to see if there is even a modicum of hope when facing the insurmountable obstacle of facing a generation of people who are completely blinded and enslaved to their vanity and pride in their culture and heritage to see past their unfair biases.

4. What does your name mean? Any story behind it?

The name Kratos is from the Playstation 2 and Playstation 3 game series: God of War.  Kratos was once the proud general of the entire Spartan Army and quickly rose, through unusual means, to become the new God of War after defeating Ares.  He then invited a cataclysmic war against the other Olympian Gods, which shook the entire ancient world to its core.  Kratos would not be controlled, neither by the Fates nor by the Olympian Gods.  Though he had impeccably been a paragon of duty and honor during his short stint under the guise of the God of War, he saw how empty and vain the Olympian Gods were and decided to act upon his own accord before he would be under total subservience and subjugation of Zeus.

5. What is your avatar (if you have one)?

My avatar is a mini-animation used also as my AIM avatar.  The picture is of the Joker from Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight. It is possibly one of the best movies this side of the millenium – regardless of where it stands financially against the movie "Titanic" (which was a complete snooze fest since it was a drool 3-4 hours of nothing more than meaningless social rituals of the "Robber Baron" aristocracy and the sinking of a bloody cruise liner!).  The character of Joker represents one of "upsetting the established order."  He pushed the envelope and had everyone wondering what he was going to do next, since his level of predictability was off the charts. Nothing was the same after he entered the scene and played his role.

6. Give us some feedback on your impressions of the forum.  What do you like/dislike around here so far?

It seems rather supportive and very diverse.  The only concern I have is that there has been a lack of participation and activity for a long time.  It could be because a lot of the regular attenders are on Christmas vacation, which is understandable. I haven't really met anyone on here.

7. Where do you think you'll spend most of your time posting?

I will mostly be spending time posting under the Introduction/Personal Stories Category – under the titling of Paradigm of Pain – which is my personal life story – abridged version.  Please feel free to comment and give feedback.  I welcome all feedback.  Thanks.