I'd sit them down for a LONG series of serious counseling sessions - both individual and couple counseling, maybe some family group sessions as well. What I see is a guy who has some issues surrounding a rescue/white knight fantasy that he is transfering to this girl. I'd be be rather worried about what happens when the princess no longer needs to be saved from her evil family/kingdom. I'd talk to her about her reasons for seemingly repudiating her family and culture - has she had some real abuse that has happened to her here and/or is she showing emotional immaturity in playing into this "save me" game? I'd be concerned about what he would do when she becomes homesick and blames her situation on him. I'd like to explore child-rearing issues with them. What would happen if she has some traditional cultural ideas about children that she accepts as normative and he sees as restrictive (such as treating boys and girls differently.) We all have mutliple motivations and family issues, I'd just like to make certain that these aren't the principle reasons for their action, that they are mature enough to discover and respect the actual person they wish to have a relationship with instead of projecting their fantasies and ideas on an unknown. I'm not sure I see him particularly as able to accept the parts of her that are traditionally Qatari - and yes, I'm sure she has some. I'd ask her about her ideas and expectations of marriage and Australia. "Happily ever after" doesn't always happen. I'd liek to make sure theya re prepared for the difficulties which WILL ensue.
Mandi
I'd sit them down for a LONG series of serious counseling sessions - both individual and couple counseling, maybe some family group sessions as well. What I see is a guy who has some issues surrounding a rescue/white knight fantasy that he is transfering to this girl. I'd be be rather worried about what happens when the princess no longer needs to be saved from her evil family/kingdom. I'd talk to her about her reasons for seemingly repudiating her family and culture - has she had some real abuse that has happened to her here and/or is she showing emotional immaturity in playing into this "save me" game? I'd be concerned about what he would do when she becomes homesick and blames her situation on him. I'd like to explore child-rearing issues with them. What would happen if she has some traditional cultural ideas about children that she accepts as normative and he sees as restrictive (such as treating boys and girls differently.) We all have mutliple motivations and family issues, I'd just like to make certain that these aren't the principle reasons for their action, that they are mature enough to discover and respect the actual person they wish to have a relationship with instead of projecting their fantasies and ideas on an unknown. I'm not sure I see him particularly as able to accept the parts of her that are traditionally Qatari - and yes, I'm sure she has some. I'd ask her about her ideas and expectations of marriage and Australia. "Happily ever after" doesn't always happen. I'd liek to make sure theya re prepared for the difficulties which WILL ensue.
Mandi