They met at a trade show in Singapore

His name: Sagheer Jan

Her name: Jasmina Jan

He is an Indian from Simla, raised in Germany.

She is Indonesian.

He is a university graduate who ran for the Conservatives during the 1996 provincial election in the Pt. Grey riding. Now he works as a civil servant in the field of Transport Planning and Logistics.

She is a college graduate who is taking time off work to raise their firstborn.

He says: "The main thing that motivated me to marry interracially was her character and simplicity. I don't like certain manners. I like simplicity. The Indian girls here are losing their morality, acting like Westerners and have lost touch with their own language. They've changed. I see it all the time."

She says: "It came as no surprise to me to marry interracially because I've been working with foreigners for many years in my line of work. Also, it seems to me that Indonesian men are very dominating. They think that they're better than women and their wives can work like their servants."

He says: "What I don't like about her culture is how naive the people are. They're so impressed by foreigners that they think they're lower than them."

She says: "What I can't stand about his culture is the exact same thing I can't stand about mine: the people are never punctual about time or appointments."

He says: "What I love about her culture is the simplicity and hospitality of the people."

She says: "I'm not too sure as to what I like about his culture yet, I haven't been living here long enough. But so far, I love their dancing, dresses, food and friendliness."

He says: "It doesn't matter what race you are. I pray people do away with this kind of mentality. Only then we can end the racism and finish it. But I think people should still marry within their religion. Otherwise there can be chaos in the relationship."

She says: "Interracial marriages lead to more respect and understanding for other people's cultures."

He categorizes himself as a maverick, adventurer and lovebird.

She categorizes herself as the same.

+(Fourth of a series on the lives of interracial couples in Canada by Zahra Jamal)+