UNIT 1: FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS
My name‿ is Sofia,│ and‿ I have been married for six years. My husban(d) proposed to me on‿ a beach‿ in‿ Italy,│ and‿ although it was raining,│ I still think‿ it was the mos(t) romantic moment‿ of my life. We got‿ engaged‿ in March‿ an(d) had the wedding‿ in September,│ with‿ about‿ eightyeigh-dy guests.
In my country,│ mos(t) couples choose their‿ own partner,│ but‿ arranged marriages‿ are still normal‿ in some families. My cousin met her husban(d) for the firs(t) time one month│ before her wedding,│ an(d) today they get‿ on very well. I asked her│ once‿ if she was nervous. She said,│ "Of course‿ I was,│ but marriage‿ is‿ a commitment,│ not‿ a lottery."
People say the firs(t) year‿ is the hardest,│ and‿ I agree. You have tohafta learn to share‿ everything:│ money,│ time,│ and‿ even your‿ in-laws. My husband's parents live ten minutes‿ away,│ so we see them‿ almost‿ every week. It has not‿ always been‿ easy,│ but we trust‿ each‿ other. If‿ a couple cannot talk‿ honestly,│ no wedding partypar-dy will save the marriage. That‿ is why I do not believe you can plan‿ a wedding│ an(d) forget the marriage‿ itself.