It was serious as a heart attack for me. This is the choice I was facing when I lost my job there. Get married and stay, or just simply leave.

I can drive here. I did get an education here. I can get a job here. I would get paid less than a man here. I would have to do all the housework here on top of my day job. All check.

The only thing that would be different in my day to day life would be having to wear a scarf. I think being 8000 miles away from my family balanced that equation for me, not to enter a loveless marriage and stay over there. So there you have my list of pros, cons and things that don't make a difference based on which I made a decision.