One union, two worlds: Sanjeev & Li Yee
Thu, October 21 2004

Li and Sanjeev moved to Vancouver from Montreal.

They met through common friends.

His name: Sanjeev Marje

Her name: Li Yee Chou

He is 36. She is 30.

He was born in Montreal with part Indian and part European roots.

She was born in Montreal with Chinese roots.

Li and Sanjeev

He has two university degrees and is an insurance advisor.

She has two university degrees and is an ICU nurse.

He says: "Society definitely has a reaction to us. When we go out you can see people looking.

But I've gotten used to it from dating interracially in the past.

I'm not going to interpret what they're thinking. Everyone is entitled to think what they want.

I'm not hurting anyone, it's my life.

What I can't stand about her culture is the same thing I can't stand about my dad's.

It's very closed, set in their ways, patriarchal. I look at it from my sister's perspective. I feel sorry for the women."

She says: "Since arriving in Vancouver, I've noticed large populations of Indian and Asians.

The younger crowd looks at him, but it's never more than a glance.

What I love about his culture is how hard working the parents are. Also, the family is

very close-knit. I can relate. I come from a big family of seven kids and we try to stay close.

In our mother countries, the population is so high and the parents struggled for a better life for us; I really admire that."

He does not bother dwelling on the differences, just the similarities.

She sees no color in love...it just feels right...and she knows it's right.

On Kids

He says: "No I'm not concerned for the future of our kids. I think it was tougher

for me than it will be for them."

She says "No I'm not concerned about our kids future."

On Parents

He says: "My parents are open-minded. They were happy because I was happy. Her mom was a bit more reserved, but not because she's close-minded, it's just because she can only speak Cantonese."

She says: "My mom liked him, especially the fact that he was so nice and calm."

He describes himself as a lovebird.

She describes herself as a lovebird.

(Second in a series on the lives of interracial couples in Canada by Zahra Jamal)

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