Future family: future husband in 8 days. MY family is in Spain, Extramadura. Family in law has Austrian and Persian roots. Spread in different countries.
My family didn’t have any contact with any other European countries. No direct contact. They get to know other cultures through me. And other way around. Mother in law was very surprised how many similarities we have, Iran and Spain. More than Austria and Spain. Empathy towards people and culture.
Family is supportive no matter what happens, no matter what decision I make. For example, my wedding. Beach, no one’s country. Everyone is excited about it. Before they thought it was going to be easier if it was organised where they live. When we came, went all together 3 weeks ago. They were like WOW, now I understand.
My future husband thinks my family is fun, spontaneous. Something he really likes. They are heart-warming people. Make him feel welcome. Part of the family. Exactly the same. They are not fun. More serious. They are like my family here. More serious. Not so many jokes. With my parents we party together. They are younger. They are very supportive, super supportive. In general. E.g. when I got sick, they called me, are you okay. They consider you a part of the family.
Always feel connected. Not a special moment. I have Europe-calls for free. Sth important, silly, I just call them for a second. We talk a lot. Especially my mum, father, uncle and aunt, brother. Studying law. In Extremadura. We’re different. But it’s fine. I know he will stay local. He knows that I like knowing all the cultures, having different experiences. Very different. He’s more reserved. We look different.
Not really ever felt disconnected. They were supportive in what I needed. Would have been different if it was here in Vienna or there. Would have loved if they were more involved but I decided to not involve them. I was surprised. That we had the same thoughts and ideas. Not really. Encouraging me.
Brother. Differences in interests, But not differences in core basics. Values are the same.
When we got engaged. We did a kind of theatre where we had to reply the way he asked me. We were in the middle. My family was doing a human heart. Jumped in the pool. It was really funny.
We play guitar. Sing together. We have a lot of fun. We play paddle together (like tennis). We make a lot of plays. Friends of parents. Both: culture and my family. My parents go out and say: 3 am we’re early back home. Out going people. Very spontaneous. Nothing planned. If you plan, it won’t happen. Can’t explain. I wake up, my parents have a house in countryside, people coming around for lunch, more people coming, it happens: why don’t we play paddle, why don’t we swim.
My father is more sociable and outgoing, my mother is more reserved. She needs more time. Not reflect in me and my brother and me. I didn’t take my mum’s role. We’re similar in some ways and very different in other ways. You’re influenced but unique.There is only one Sonja.
Most memorable when my brother on his graduation from high school. Taking pictures. American style. I did it in the same high school. 10 years ago. 7 years younger. It was nice. And to see how my brother grew. Super feeling. Very proud of him.
We’re just a family. Empathy and fun is part of my family.
New family. Vision: new experiences, new life together. For sure a mix of bother. But also new. You can build it. Mould it according to your view. Exciting part. Being able to shape your own family. Fun part — want to continue. And the spontaneous part. Don’t want: maybe to have more dialogue with my partner and have more consensus. Parents have different points of view about education. Mum was like “leave her”. Dad: strict.
Had a lot of discussions.
Have a lot of dialogue. Have consensus. Work that out. Passion, then comes love. Have to work that on a daily basis. So far we complement each other. He’s logical. I’m passionate. He says: we need to evaluate that. He needs my spontaneity. We couldn’t be both crazy or analytical. It makes sense, from my point of view.
Financial strategic consultant.