by Mary Katengu

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 18, 2009

It is with much confidence that I endorse online dating participants as honest. At least most of them are, given some personal positive experiences of my own.

Right now I am in a long-term relationship with a guy I met online two years ago. Jeff and I were looking to date someone from home country and coincidentally we had been on the site (black people meet) for the first time. He read my profile first and contacted me. Then we started chatting before deciding to meet on yahoo messenger for discreet talks. Within a month he wanted me to meet his family at home because he has been working abroad for many years. It was awesome when he called his father on the phone the night I arrived and talked at length about us and our intentions. Apparently he had not taken anyone else home before me. His family members have since taken me as part of them in all manner of family matters. My family too has welcomed them with open arms. As my sweetheart completes his working contract in a foreign country in less than a month our first meeting is the talk of our both families. Some of the members from extended families think we met abroad and started a relation which culminated into long-term plans. They cannot understand how two people who have never met in person could find love and establish such a strong foundation for future plans. But we let them believe what they want and giggle at the fact that online dating is real and here to stay.

Recently he sent me an expensive diamond engagement ring via courier service, just a month before he comes home for our big day. Our wedding arrangement are underway as his parents are church elders and it's awesome to note how far we have come, all thanks to online dating.

Previously I had met two guys on other sites respectively, who also seemed genuine and honest about their backgrounds. But somehow we did not blend well.Mainly the distance between us always played a major role in our fall out. As the passion begun to set in there was strong desire to be together. Either side could travel but for a reason which I call jinxed we could not get travel visas for friendly visit. The embassy rules dictated full migration with a lot of paper work and committal documents to be filled, which we were both not yet ready for. Anyhow it was a nice experience to have transparent relationships online.

I must say it all depends on what an individual is looking for in the first place. Genuine motives will attract and keep genuine participants.

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