Reply to Nora

Submitted by Isis (Australia), Dec 22, 2008 at 18:08

"Why are we here in the first place? I believe it is to learn and to help others."

You are so right Nora.This site is a great source of information for every western woman involved with a Muslim man. You are also right in stating that when you have actually been to Morocco or as in my case Egypt, many times you absorb the local knowledge and customs far better than from the remote distance of a computer.

As for scamming - this is too much of abroad brush statement. A woman with an ounce of intelligence and dignity would see through a scam in moment but I firmly believe that ignorance of the culture and the people and the vulnerability of women who are carrying baggage from previous relationships also plays a big part in perpetuating scams. BUT not everyone in the middle east scams and this is where Luigi and some others have got it all wrong. If you meet a middle eastern man on the internet, then of course the chance of being scammed is far greater as you have no personal contact with the man at the other end. Only his words and body language will give you an inkling of what he is about.

I knew my man in Egypt 12 months before a relationship started between us and I was aware of the reputation of Egyptian men from day one but never rushed into anything with him until I knew what I was getting myself into. There was so much to consider before I took the plunge - the fact that it is illegal in Egypt for a foreign woman to be alone in a hotel or a flat with an Egyptian man and the fact that this "coupling" is monitored by the police. This issue is over come with an "Orfi" marriage or a contract marriage but even considering this step was huge for me. The A3 size legal paper was presented to me to sign but it was written in arabic but I did not sign it until I received a translated copy. The fact that he is Muslim and I am Christian was initially an issue of concern for me but where he lives Christians and Muslims live in harmony and there isn't a problem.

As for the age discussion - feel comfortable in the skin you are in. Middle eastern men do not worry about age and it is not an issue with them ...

All the best.

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