My Life with an Arab man

My life with my husband was a roller coaster ride. It took us awhile to get used to our ideas and cultures. I am a typical Filipina strong willed,independent. He was a typical arab man, the "Man" of the house, his word is law, you are his servant beckoning to his whims. Well, that can't happen. We Filipinos always believed in sharing, in fairness, in give and take. Even with money matters ,the husband always gives his earnings to his wife to handle,budget and save. Work in the house was always shared by both husband and wife. We don't believe that just because the husband is working that he doesn't take his share of house work. Oh,it was a long journey for me and my husband. We had a lot of twists and turns. We argued, fought and then later compromised. Even with money matters, typical arabic men won't give their earnings to their wives. They would buy the groceries themselves. Tell them what you need and they'll buy it for you. And that became the root of our arguments.We Filipinos base our relationship with trust. So when my husband wasn't really telling the truth,hell would break loose.There would be times when I wouldn't speak to him in days,although I would still do my obligations but it was in total silence. Silence is the greatest insult. After some time he started to adjust. He helped around the house . It wasn't a man's job like what men would normally do around the house ( those things my husband was great with- handy work) . What I was saying was giving our son a bath, chopping and cutting veggies, etc. ( laundry was out of the question unless you want the whites to be colored) He even told me that it was a first to take on kitchen work. I told him that a relationship should be shared fairly and harmoniously.
We would joke and laugh when I let him chop onions cause we very well know what onions can do. I would lovingly scold him if he would ask me to hand him something within his reach. And after seven years of marriage, he finally understood what being married to a Filipina would be.He was happy and contented everytime I pampered him( manicure,pedicure ,facial and a massage).  He is gets amazed by the craft projects I make that becomes a work of art. He would  proudly show my in-laws stuffs I did. He learned to look out for things that I can recycle into art. I am now happy and contented with my life. We are not well off only comfortable. He knows how to give his earnings to me now,unlike before. Unfortunately, he is now jobless but that doesn't stop us from being happy and that's another story.