Meeting Ahmed, Zain, and Alla for the first time on San Francisco State University campus lets us know that love still exists in the 21st century. Love is alive and still means something to everyday people.

“We are to be married”. answers Zain as she looks deeply in my eyes accompanied by her  fiancee’.

“My mother had to meet her see  if she likes her. She then described her to me, she said she was beautiful and American also”. Ahmed chimed in excitedly as he speaks of his plans to marry Zain.

Eager to tell how marriage is done in the Middle East; but specifically Saudi Arabia these cheerful and vibrant students say some things have changed from their motherland but many things have stayed the same.

“We did something like and interview or a date. His mother and him came by to see my hair without my scraf to see if everything was okay, if he cared for me or not” . Zain explained. “Then we talk about money”.

Ideally money is a very compulsive  topic. What couple doesn’t discuss money nowadays? Ahmed and Zain outlook on finances are relatable to some American values of finances. The male is sole provider.it seems to be the same universal relationship law in different countries and cultures that have not changed.

Soon walks over Alla who is sporting an all black turban with a reddish colored scarf wrapped around her neck and a faux fur dark brown vest. She is very beautiful like Zain. She tells her reality of marriage in the Middle East. “It’s called Dowry”. Alla says. Which means  a gift of money or property by a man to or for his bride. Alla says that he can give fine jewelry or money but it goes to support the young bride to buy her clothes and to purchase her wedding dress.

“Then we date for three, to six months to a year. Then pick a month for the wedding. Then begin picking out a houses. If the wedding is in Sadui Arabia it will be a really really big and expensive wedding”. Alla a friend of the bride tells us.

Ahmed and Zain are the definitely in love and it shows in their eyes and their whole demeanor. Their smiles are bright and you can tell they are still warming up to one another. The two have plans for children but not right now their focus is school and each other but “Yes in the future”. They both reply.

They have their whole lives to live out what seemed to be a first date.