Our Eritrean Culture is diluted more with time, acquiring new norms and cultures of our surrogate country of citizenship. In the past mostly our Eritrean traditional culture did not allow dating and cordial interactions between man and woman was forbidden. However, with time, especially in our generation we defied that culture and liberated ourselves and start dating (nothing wrong with it). However, we denied and deprived our parents from the role of choosing the right woman for their son (Alert-Chauvinism) and I hope they get used to it with this new Eritrean generation.

A young man went to Eritrea from the U.S.A in search of a woman to marry. He found the right young woman and started dating. One night he decided to engage into romantic rendezvous (kissing). The young woman was uncomfortable with Western styled dating. Practicing a new culture (dating) was a new phenomena and revolutionary step for this young lady. The parent was very cautious and uncomfortable. The young woman was under high alert (red) to sell herself that she is the best woman for him to marry (one way ticket to the U.S.A).  She was well groomed and eloquently responded to his damn and rude questions with politeness and a shy smile. 

After finishing dinner in the restaurant, the young man made a move to kiss this well cultured and shy woman. As a gesture of warming up he kissed her on the cheek.  The lady was shocked, surprised and flabbergasted thinking that the evening has come to an end and started contemplating why he is cutting it short.  She thought that he is kissing her saying Good-Bye.  She responded back politely asking him “why are you leaving? We did not spend enough time even to know one another” (.:.).

The moral of the story is when you are in Eritrea do what the Eritreans do. Respect the culture and abide by the Eritrean norms.

Fickak