Marrying Hakka Wife

["Teoh, Jonathan" <eagle@eastman.com>]

My fellow Hakkas, I would like to share my experience in marrying a Hakka
wife. Both my parent are Hakka of YongDing county, Fuk Kien province. I went
back to my ancestor's area and marry my wife through my relatives'
introduction.

She arrived here about a year ago, and began to adapt to USA. She is
learning English, driving and computer skills. 
At first, both of us have some adjustment to make, she could not even eat
the cooking oil bought at kroger, and for a while we relied on Pork's oil.
Eventually she adapt(and I also adapt) to the new life style.  

>From a cultural point of view, She reminds me many of the slangs that I have
forgotten since my mom's last spoken and pick up many local Hakka cultural
traits from her.  She reinforces my Hakka heritage, and the best thing is we
speak Hakka in my family, and that is the way it will be!   It was a hassle
for me to marry her as I travelled several times to China to straigthen the
paperworks due to our inexperience and lack of info.  But it is worth every
penny of it.

I would encourage the Hakka singles, marry a Hakka wife, if you are a
culturally Hakka concious person. Well, you can marry a Hakka man too if you
are a single women. Why not ?   I do have experience now, if you want
advices and tips, let me know and I will be glad to offer ideas and advices,
even set up pen pals for you ! 



Jonathan Teoh       423-229-6506
Corporate Quality,  Eastman Chemical Company