I can really relate to that story Mynydd, and I do think it is a southern European thing. It can even be seen in much of the media world's protrayal of Southern European family values(remember in the godfather when the man mentioned his daughter married a non-Italian man and everyone almost had a heart attack?)
My aunt is a very well looking woman, she was even a model for some time. For one reason or another, at one point in her life she decided to date an Albanian
my grandfather fell ill and was completely sure that his daughter didn't love him anymore. It became difficult for her to stick with this man because the family just gave her rejection and..things just did not look good.
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"I failed my metaphysics exam when my teacher caught me looking into the soul of the boy next to me"
Some find it in a flag, some in the beat of a drum
Some with a book, and some with a gun
Some in a kiss, and some on the march
But if you're looking for Europe, best look in your heart
-Sol Invictus