Do you believe in true love? We do! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we’d like to share a few love stories from couples right here in Beijing. Forget the fairy tales of princesses being rescued from castles, here’s what love in the real world looks like.
We asked couples to share their stories and to shed a piece of advice for how to keep relationship alive and thriving year after year. Today, let’s meet Meng and Sidney Hardy.
Can you tell us a bit about you and your partner?
[Meng] have been here most of my life! I’m a hutong girl. My husband is from a small town in northern England and has been here for the past 1 1/2 years. He is the General Manager at the Conrad Beijing. I am the mother of our two children.
How did you meet and who made the first move?
We met via the classic friend of friends. Of course, I’m a shy traditional girl it was my man that made the first move. Lol.
How did you know he/she was the one?
I fell in love at once. Although I didn’t tell him straight away… It took him a while longer.
What do you love the most about your partner?
He is caring, responsible, and adaptable. My wife is the loveliest person I have ever met, he always says!
Is there something that you can’t stand about your partner? How do you handle it?
Having children with a person from a different culture is tough. We have a totally different mindset at times on how to approach things. But we take the best of both worlds and make the most of different points of view.
What’s the most valuable piece of relationship advice all couples should know?
Communicate, discuss then talk some more!
Images: Meng & Sidney Hardy
