I read that last blog post and felt like I didn’t put much personal touch to that. I wanted to wait and ask Rami if he minded me really going into detail about it online, thinking perhaps it might be incriminating somehow in the future or what for. I got his approval...

So in 500 words or less, how does it actually feel to be in a binational relationship?

It feels exciting. It was so exciting to show Rami some of my favorite spots in America. The Big Apple and the White House take on a whole new meaning when your with someone who has only dreamt of going there. On our first time in New York City together, we drove into the city while it was dark out. Rami stood up out of the sunroof and was in total awe, shouting ‘hello New York!” It was equally exciting for me to get to Egypt and see the Pyramids, Luxor, and his family and friends. In this respect, it is very exciting.

Its also exciting spending time in Australia. Australia isn’t home, but its really awesome. Its sunny, we live on the beach, we eat fresh fruit and drink good wine from nearby vineyards. I work 20 hours a week, we cook together, and most of all we aren’t split apart. Regardless, its certainly been an adventure exploring Australia.

The other side of the coin is the not so pleasant reality of things. I had to make the decision to leave my family and my social life. I have great friends, and my life was filled with spending time with them and my family- whether long road trips with my father, bike rides with my brother, or having my nephew come for a weekend sleepover. I also had to leave a career in luxury boutique hotels that I felt could “take off any minute now”. Its not easy spending holidays and such away from my family. Its not easy for Rami either, in much the same respect.

Its also not easy for him to watch me when I get lonely for home. In much the same way, I know its not easy for me to always know that when I show I’m sad, a bit of him feels bad for taking me away. But when all is said and done, its so great to be together whether here or there.

Sometimes I feel sad about my country. Sad that I am a good citizen, a tax paying, birthright citizen that has worked hard to put myself through school, purchase a car, travel, rent a nice apartment, etc and not be able to have my loving relationship recognized in the same manner that my brother can have his. Its hard to feel proud of a country where a political party can sway voters with an anti gay marriage equality platform. Its shameful, to me, that “all men are created equal” except when it comes to gay’s and marriage.

Truth is, I don’t care about what its called. I just want the same right to legally join in union with my partner and sponsor his immigration, as my brother could should he marry a foreign born women.

So how does it feel? A little bit desperate, a little bit hurtful, most certainly unfair... but at the same time, I’m grateful that there’s somewhere I get to be where I can be with my partner. And I know, eventually, we will get home together to the US and I’ll be able to show him the rest of the country that promotes life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

600 words. woops.