Love Conquers All

By Connie Zhang & Joei Villarama & Winner Wang

Lovely truly can be found in the most unexpected places. This Valentines' Day we'll introduce you to four couples who prove that love can overcome any obstacle, any superficial or cultural differences. We'll learn how they met, hear their stories and how they've dealt with the contrasts between their respective cultures.

Wang Aili & Saori Gotou "We Plan to Have Five Kids"

Fraser& Satomi "I Surrender Unconditionally"

Lorne & Lisa Weinberg "Here We are Something of an Anomaly"

Hank & Jeannie "He is My King Kong"

The first time I went to visit his family at Baodi, we sat in the yard and watched the shining stars together. It was so romantic.

Wang Aili, Saori Gotou

Nationality: Chinese & Japanese

JIN LIFE: How did you first get to know each other ?

WAL: We met at a party. One of my Japanese friends introduced me to Saori. Later, we went to the Library Building to buy books together.

JIN LIFE: Where do you live at the moment?

WAL: We are currently living in my hometown of Baodi County, Tianjin. I run my own factory, and Saori stays at home, studying English and Chinese and practicing piano.

JIN LIFE: Any conflicts due to cultural differences?

WAL: We have never quarreled because of any cultural differences since we met. We both love travel, Japanese cuisine and romance.

SG: I'm very happy with his family. I love Chinese musical instruments such as the Erhu and Hulusi, I also love Chinese food such as dumplings and baozi.

JIN LIFE: What are the characteristics of your lover that most attracted you, and made you decide to marry him/her?

WAL: She's so lovely and soft.

SG: I like the way he takes things seriously and is responsible, considerate, and loves my family.

JIN LIFE: What are your wishes for the future?

We wish that we can immigrate to Canada after 5 years. We also plan to have 5 kids.

“Finding Lisa and knowing what's most important to her which is her family and the Chinese culture which I am in awe of Ð all these made me decide to stay.”

Lorne and Lisa Weinberg

Nationality: Canadian & Chinese

JIN LIFE: How did the two of you meet?

LORNE: I knew an art teacher from primary school where I taught and a good friend of hers wanted to learn English because she wanted to go to Australia. So I met this girl who didn't know any English and started teaching her.

JIN LIFE: What are some of the romantic things that Lorne does?

LISA: Last Valentine's day, he asked me to marry him. I also think it's very romantic that he leaves little love notes in my lunch box so when I go to work I see it. My co-workers think it's very sweet that we call each other up during lunchtime everyday. Recently, we had pizza and I went out for a while and when I came back, Lorne used the pieces of pizza to form the words “I love you.”

JIN LIFE: What are some of the “cultural” problems you encounter?

LORNE: Mostly to do with language because when we met, Lisa spoke very little English. In the beginning, we had the dictionary practically attached to our hands. But now, we found out we could communicate very well. I'm trying to learn Chinese and her English has very much improved. We can talk about everything although my Chinese is “yidianr.”

JIN LIFE: How did people around you take your relationship?

LISA: It's a bit rude when people stare at us sometimes.

LORNE: People stare because what they see is a beautiful young Chinese girl and a western guy. If we moved to Toronto where there are thousands of people like us, it wouldn't be a big deal. Here we are something of an anomaly.

JIN LIFE: How did your family take it?

LISA: I'm very lucky that my parents instantly liked Lorne and they think he's a good man.

LORNE: My family in Canada was surprised, but now Lisa talks to my Mom every week. It started out, they would talk for only a few minutes but now I just pass the phone to Lisa and they talk for much longer. I'm excited for all of them to meet Lisa when we visit Canada.

JIN LIFE: What about the Chinese culture are you in awe of?

LORNE: I've always believed that Chinese people look at what's inside and what's outside is not important. In Western culture, if you're not one of the beautiful people, you'll get passed by in terms of opportunities from dating and marriage to jobs.

“It just gets planted, gets exposed to sunshine and rain. Before you know it, there's a tree.”

Hank and Jeannie

Nationality: American & Chinese

Love like life can never be planned. When Hank Martin came to China as a business consultant for a company five years ago, little did he imagine that he'd end up with a Chinese woman was especially not the one who started out nearly a nemesis. Jeannie Zeng served as his translator and being two highly stubborn people, they butted heads in grueling duels. However, the more time they spent together Ð Hank couldn't go anywhere without Jeannie -- the more they grew on each other.

In Jeannie's words nobody knows how a seed grows, “It just gets planted, gets exposed to sunshine and rain. Before you know it, there's a tree.” Given time, it becomes a sturdy oak no bulldozer can uproot. Lovers could easily relate to that analogy and like all love stories, Hank and Jeannie's tale warms the heart, making one believe in the awesome power poets capture with their pen but couples live every day.

Born in Chicago and having lived in America for 48 years, Hank struggles with the wide chasm of doing business where things are not as speedy and efficient. Born and raised in Tianjin all her life, Jeannie has to clarify people's reactions and attitudes that seem far removed from Hank's relatively tidy Western world.

Aside from being culturally challenged, Hank and Jeannie also had to contend with a wide age gap but those who know love understand that everything else pales in its light. Add that to the fact that you have to wake up everyday to your business partner. Hank and Jeannie have quite a handful running what they regard as their “baby” -- the Upper Deck Sports Bar and Grill. There's the tension between lugging work back home and setting aside time purely as a relaxation period.

Despite the differences, the similarities still rise above the din. They are in their own terms, “two cranky and crabby” personalities who happen to love one another. They have the same goals and ideals in life. They both want to leave a lasting legacy through the people whose lives they touch -- the employees they want to mold and train as managers, the expats who go in as strangers but leave as friends, foreigners in

search of alternative activities, fellow inter-cultural couples seeking advice, and young people who are inspired to pursue their own vision of success.

What amazes Hank about Jeannie is the fact that she may have taken on the role as a Westerner's wife but she maintains her old Chinese values of prioritizing her family. When Hank took her to Indiana to introduce to his parents, they were so smitten with her that they didn't care if Hank came back as long as Jeannie did!

Recently, Jeannie came across a description which fit Hank perfectly. King Kong bravely stood his ground amidst a barrage of attacking planes and was most devoted to his love. “Hank's like that Ð big and strong on the outside but soft on the inside.”

From that first kiss that changed their destiny forever in a tiny street in Beijing where a Filipino band performed, Hank and Jeannie have moved mountains to fulfill their dream of putting up a restaurant where that very same group could play great music in Tianjin. The Filipina is still singing rock and roll for them, while “the big monkey” and his lady continue to hatch wild ideas for the future.

“I'm not sure we have a motto. We chose some songs for our wedding though. One nice one was “I would walk 500 miles” by the Proclaimers. But then again we also played “I can't get no Satisfaction”!”

Fraser and Satomi

Nationality: British and Japanese

JIN LIFE: How do you first get to know each other?

We taught together in the International Division of Shanghai High School.

JIN LIFE: Where do you live at the moment?

We are currently living in Scotland. We are renting an apartment on the south side of Glasgow. Satomi has just started a job as a shipping manager with JVC; Fraser is working as a freelance journalist.

JIN LIFE: What is the most unforgettable conflict you've had because of different cultural backgrounds ? How did you overcome this kind of problem ?

Fraser : All our conflicts tend to be forgettable, fortunately. Although I do find it's a mistake to criticize Japanese electronics. I now understand that if they break, it's because British people don't treat them with enough respect. The best way to solve this sort of problem is to surrender unconditionally.

JIN LIFE: What are the characteristics of your lover that most attracted you, and made you decide to marry him/her?

Satomi : I like the way he is always thinking of new ideas. I also like that he is not afraid of putting himself in a new situation.

Fraser : I admire her patience, humour and ability to put up shelves.

JIN LIFE: What are your wishes for the future?