Homeslice,

Great post, mate. Really captures the moment, and I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of your adventure.

Ted's post just after it creates a nice contrast between first meeting and 30 years (or so) later

I am a little jealous now as I didn't have the experience of the tension of not knowing how reactions would be at NAIA where we would meet for the first time, as I met Marah here in Ireland. I do, however, remember the culture shock as I walked down the ramp at NAIA and turned the corner and instantly felt EVERYBODY's eyes on me, and realising that for the first time in my life, I was in the minority. From that moment on, everything was new to me, and I did my best to embrace it all.

I think everyone should experience culture shock at least once in their lives to create awareness of the diversity of life that we live in. There are certain people, however, who need and actively embrace the diversity that another culture brings, and I think these people are good candidates for inter-cultural relationships. I would count myself as one of these. I have never been able to settle with an Irish girlfriend. Always went fine for a while, but then found it getting stale and humdrum. With Marah and Noreen, it's not as if we do anything out of the ordinary on our daily lives, but without fail, at least 2 or 3 times a week, something will come up, either in conversation, or on webcast programmes, or however that opens up a new thought process, or just something different that makes me sit back and go "Huh".......

So ... Homeslice, you are on the start of what I hope will be a lifelong adventure which will be unique to your experience, but which most of us here can relate to in some form or other. Congrats, hold on for dear life, and enjoy!

Steve