Marriage

Recently we talked about marriage in class, but you haven't had a chance to share your ideas with the whole class.

When English speakers talk about "Mister Right" or "Miss Right", they mean the one man or woman who is perfect for them as a partner in marriage. In the old days, many people believed there was just one perfect partner for them, but that idea is not so common anymore.

I think there are probably several people who could be ideal partners for you. The most important thing is timing. Are you both ready for marriage at the time you meet/ start dating? Of course you need to share common values etc, and find each other attractive, but that is not such a rare thing to find in others.

I met my wife on a flight from Bangkok to Osaka about 9 years ago. She was travelling with her friend (who had been my student several years before), so I talked with them for a while on the flight. We dated for 3 years before marrying in 2005.

For me, looks are not the most important thing. I think my wife looks nice (not beautiful). What I like about her is her character. I know I can always trust and believe her 100%. Also, she has common sense and is not shy about telling me her opinion, especially if I have a foolish idea/whim (I sometimes do). She's also independent (she has a job, and doesn't depend on me to entertain her all the time), and talkative, which means I don't feel pressure to always think of conversation topics.

Tell us about what kind of person you hope to marry, where, when, how etc.

What kind of person would be your ideal partner? When do you think you will feel ready to marry someone? What kind of wedding/ honeymoon would you like to have? Please respond in your next post.