February 3, 2025

Letters on the Beauty of Blending Cultures

Love has a funny way of making the world feel large and yet small at the same time. This time, we’re diving into the rich, colorful world of intercultural dating as seen through the eyes of our alumni Cypriana and Eben, Class of 2016. Whether it’s discovering how your partner’s tribe celebrates love or navigating the unique traditions of a faraway land, these stories remind us that relationships are as much about learning as they are about loving. Get ready for a delightful mix of laughter, lessons, and cultural surprises!

Dear Diary,

You know what’s funny? When I first heard about Fish Fridays from my husband, I thought it sounded odd. But after trying it, I get it. In honor of Holy Friday, no meat, just fish. It’s a simple yet meaningful Austrian tradition. Oh, I have also come to admire the tradition of gifting during special occasions, like birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. It has inspired my approach to gift-giving with more thought and intention. If I could steal one memory from my husband’s Austrian childhood, it’d be a White Christmas, snowy rooftops, glowing lights, pure holiday magic!

With love,

Cypriana

Dear Wife,

Being with you has been an adventure filled with laughter, culture shocks, and lessons I never expected to learn. From dancing to traditions, every day with you is a story worth telling. If our tribes had a dance-off, you already know I’d put my money on the Chaggas. We move with grace, rhythm, and style. But I know you’d say the Nyisanzus are better. Love is blind and apparently deaf to rhythm!

If you had to live like a Chagga for a day, working in the banana farms would be your biggest challenge. After just one hour, you’d run faster than Usain Bolt at the Olympics! Bananas may be sweet, but the work? Not so much! One word I’ll never forget from your language is “Temilebono,” meaning “chop someone.” I remember stories you told of your strict grandmother; that woman knew how to discipline and she brought her share of drama.

I admire how your tribe guards their ancestral land like a treasure. My tribe could learn this level of loyalty. If I had to challenge myself to cook one of your dishes, it would be Ugali Mlenda because I am not one to back down on a food challenge! A cultural shock I’ve now embraced is how your tribe takes greetings to an entirely new level. You don’t just greet someone; you greet their family, cows, and even the neighbor’s chickens. At first, it felt like a never-ending interview, but now I see its beauty.

Yours truly,

 Eben