Hi everyone, I'm new here and very curious about Assyrians customs and culture (Chaldean). My primary reason is because I'm currently in a relationship with an Assyrian.
I'm a young man in his early 20's with an Italian background. Not long ago (couple of months) i met this beautiful Assyrian girl who i fell in love with. She equally feels the same way for me. I met her family and they like me a lot and its the same thing in regards to my family with her. However, things are worrying. One thing is notice is that among Assyrians, women have expectations to get married as soon as they reach adulthood and it generally involves a man asking for her hand. Males on the other hand can wait til later (mid to later 20's). One day i went to her house to pick her up for a small night out for a coffee, but was confronted by the parents. They informed me that the fact she is out with me could possibly make her look like a loose woman, if not a slut because in their culture they don't believe in girlfriends and boyfriends. I can see how they take it very seriously because when I'm out with her and a member of the Assyrian community spots her, he/she gives her a bad look. The parents told me, if people are together they should get married, simple as that. They suggested i should do some custom where it's like a 'declaration of a relationship' and it has family members who witness it. They suggested it because it would be good for the family and her reputation. Problem is that they claim its part of the road to marriage. I can see the potential, but I don't feel ready for such a massive commitment yet and this goes for any girl. I'm too young for this, I just started my career and i need time. Not only that, but my own family are very suspicious about the whole thing and don't want me to be heavily committed yet. They know little about Assyrian customs.
I registered in this forum to get a greater understanding about Assyrian culture so it can help me take the right course of action in my relationship. Please tell me how Assyrians view relationships.
I'm a young man in his early 20's with an Italian background. Not long ago (couple of months) i met this beautiful Assyrian girl who i fell in love with. She equally feels the same way for me. I met her family and they like me a lot and its the same thing in regards to my family with her. However, things are worrying. One thing is notice is that among Assyrians, women have expectations to get married as soon as they reach adulthood and it generally involves a man asking for her hand. Males on the other hand can wait til later (mid to later 20's). One day i went to her house to pick her up for a small night out for a coffee, but was confronted by the parents. They informed me that the fact she is out with me could possibly make her look like a loose woman, if not a slut because in their culture they don't believe in girlfriends and boyfriends. I can see how they take it very seriously because when I'm out with her and a member of the Assyrian community spots her, he/she gives her a bad look. The parents told me, if people are together they should get married, simple as that. They suggested i should do some custom where it's like a 'declaration of a relationship' and it has family members who witness it. They suggested it because it would be good for the family and her reputation. Problem is that they claim its part of the road to marriage. I can see the potential, but I don't feel ready for such a massive commitment yet and this goes for any girl. I'm too young for this, I just started my career and i need time. Not only that, but my own family are very suspicious about the whole thing and don't want me to be heavily committed yet. They know little about Assyrian customs.
I registered in this forum to get a greater understanding about Assyrian culture so it can help me take the right course of action in my relationship. Please tell me how Assyrians view relationships.