The Second-Date Question I Now Ask First
Mariam explains why she asks about money, kids and family on the first date now, and Reem argues it scares people off. A listener in Abu Dhabi tests it on a Thursday.
He Is Only Here for Two Years
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Show notes
This week at dinner
Reem met someone lovely. He is Canadian, he is kind, and his contract ends in 2028. Dubai is full of expiry dates, so tonight is about dating when the calendar is already against you.
- The expiry-date conversation: when to have it and how not to make it a proposal
- Mariam's history with a Lebanese banker who left, and what she would do differently
- Why some listeners choose short, clear relationships on purpose
- The family angle: explaining a temporary partner to a permanent mother
- Reem's decision, made live, with the dessert menu as a witness
Next week: a listener who got engaged at 36 after swearing off apps, and what actually changed.
Transcript
Welcome back to Dinner at Thirty-Four. I am Mariam, Reem is here, and Reem has news. Reem met someone. I know, I know. He is Canadian, he is an engineer, he is polite to waiters, and his contract with his company ends in two years, after which he goes home to Calgary. This is the most Dubai problem there is. Half of this city has a leaving date, and if you only dated people who are staying forever, you would date nobody, because nobody is sure. So tonight we talk about dating with a clock on the wall. When do you mention the date? Is a wonderful two years worth it? And how do you explain a temporary boyfriend to a very permanent Emirati mother? Reem is going to make a decision before dessert. You are listening on Witspeak Podcasts.
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