A Tale Of Two Long Distance Lovers (PART 2)

Many expats fall in love with local people when visiting another country. Here are two letters from a Canadian expat living in China and his Taiwanese girlfriend at the time, Jasmine.

BY JASMINE WU-CHARTRAND

Hello Alain,

I couldn’t buy a phone card tonight and I really wanted to talk to you. I am really happy that you are coming back to Taiwan. You know it means a lot to me. I can’t really show much emotion while talking on the phone but really I can’t wait to kiss you and hug you and say thank you for asking me out on the 12th of last February (2004). You know I started thinking how we met and how we started going out often, and I didn’t forget anything.

Also, I do feel different now. To be honest, I was really afraid of getting hurt again and I didn’t really want to give much. I was being selfish and besides I had all of my friends with their “they think it is better for me” ideas about our relationship. So, I didn’t enjoy loving you as much because of all the negativity.

However, like I said, those thoughts have changed. I am braver now–and I can tell you that I am as brave as when I fell in love with you the first time. I enjoy these kind of feelings a lot. It is so easy and great just to love like this and I feel free, because I don’t care what my friends say anymore. And, really I don’t worry much now. All I need to do is to love you.

And, you are a great boyfriend, even though you change your mind all the time and you are not so stable, but it is part of the reason why I love you. I love when you don’t know what to do sometimes because I am like that too. I love when you don’t do anything but just enjoy your life. For example, watching three movies a day. I love that you want to travel around the world, because I love it too–even thought I can’t follow you every time.

Being with you is not so predictable, but I like the adventure. I don’t need to see our future clearly because I know I will always be happy whenever I am with you–and that is enough. I am just willing to take a risk and no matter what the ending will be like, I am sure I will never regret it. You gave me a chance to love and of course it is great to love a perfect guy like you. I just love you so much.

I hope you are smiling now.

Have a great day

Jasmine

Recently married, Alain and Jasmine Chartrand currently live in Taiwan, still very happy together.