Can I UPS This?

What can be said about mail-order brides? On the news tonight was a story that concerned the downfalls of marrying one these catalogue beauties (not!). The newscaster said that often many men are afraid to speak out about some the sinister behavior of these C.O.D. stamped packages because they were embarassed about how they obtained them in the first place. Well buddy, looks to me like you bought a hooker, only the price you paid was YOUR LIFE!!! What are some of these guys thinking. I know, I know, it's the 90's, many people meet their significant other on-line. We've got so many on-line dating services that if they didn't serve alcohol, most bars would have closed down by now. However, to go to sites that offer brides for a price?

One guy was complaining because he found out that he was being used for his visa. He came home one day and all traces of her was gone. He said that he got her over here on a fiancee visa (one that allows the girl to come into the U.S. providing that a marriage take place within 90 days). He became a little suspicious when she insisted that they get married right away. But he said that he thought they were in love. He was convinced that this was the love of his life. He had finally found someone (I would insert a Barry Manilow tune here, but I don't know how and I don't think that Mr. Shife would like it very much). And just as soon as the romance had started, the carpet had been literally pulled from underneath his feet and she was gone.

On the flip side, there are also stories about the poor girls being abused. I read a story in either People or Newsweek about an Asian bride being brutally murdered by her husband. I can't remember all the details but the guy was able to hide it for quite awhile because she had no family here. There was no one to check up on it and no one to called the authorities. He was finally caught and jailed.

Back to the idiocy of mail order brides. While I was in school abroad, I remember studying in the school lobby and hearing some guy speaking English to the school guard. I looked up to see a blonde haired blue eyed guy. The guard wouldn't let him onto school grounds so he started shouting "Does anyone know blah-blah-blah"? Some of the other students ignored him (or didn't understand him-take your pick). However, me and the other American students quite intrigued walked over to the gate that separated us from the streets. We asked him who he was looking for and he was thankful that someone was paying attention to him.

This was our conversation (remember this happened a few years ago and I'm remembering it as best as I can--plus it's Fat Tuesday night and I've had some Coronas, pizza and chips).

Groom-to-be: "Oh thank God, other Americans. Do you guys know blah-blah-blah".
Mark: "Nope, should we?"
Groom-to-be: "Yes, she's a medical student here at this school"
Me: "What year? We're in second"
Groom-to-be: "Third."
Ed: "I don't think so. We pretty much know all the other Americans in this school".
Groom-to-be: "She isn't. She's one of them".
Me: "It's a small school. Let me ask one of the third years" I walk away to a classroom within.
Me: "No one has ever heard of her. Are you sure it's this school? There are two others in this city"--yelling from within a hallway--disturbing other students who all say in their language 'there's that loud American again'
Groom-to-be: "Nope it's this school, see here's her letter".
Ed: "Yeah, that's this school but no one has heard of her"
Groom-to-be: "That's impossible, I've sent her money for tuition for the last three years. We got engaged a few months ago. I sent her a ring. She said 'yes'"
Mark: "And yet you've never met?"
Groom-to-be: "On the phone and web cam. We would chat for hours. How can I find her?"
Me: "What's the bitch's address?"
Groom-to-be: "I sent the money Western Union. I sent gifts to a postal box".
Mark: "Yeah, you're fucked"
Me: "Cash? You didn't send the money to this school? You're fucked"
Groom-to-be: "My family is waiting back in the hotel. I've gotta tell them"

And so we rode in a taxi back with him. Dropped him off at the entrance. I wonder what happened inside. I don't think he ever found her because we told him to come back to the school if he did. The guard said he never came back.
I don't know what the point to my story was. I really was going somewhere, however I think the Corona took me on a different path.