Here's a modified poll to the other one. Hope I captured it all.

I answered as if i would have dring the wait for the visa.

Hachemi did live at home with his parents and 2 younger sisters. His 2 older brothers that are Doctors lived away from home. His father provided the main support although Hachemi had his own shop and helped out as much as he can. The only money I sent to him was 100 dollars to pay for the visa. Hachemi had to make 8 trips to Algiers in the 8 weeks prior to getting his visa, first to get the pkt 3 he never received, 3 trips to complete the medical and the other trips for other visa related things. It was a 4 hour trip each way and he had to stay overnight in a hotel each time, so it strapped him for money. He bought his own ticket here and I sent him 400 dollars to have for the trip just in case of emergency. When he got here to the USA he handed me 400 dollars minus the money he spent at McDonalds in the airport at JFK. He has never asked to send money home. One day earlier in the year Hachemi was talking to his dad on the phone. His father asked him was he happy and was he ok. Hachemi said, I am fine, just need to get my GC so I can work. His father said, "Do you want me to send you some money?" I thought that was sweet to offer, but we didnt need his money.

Meriem

Hey Doodle, Do these replies to ths poll tell you anything?

I answered as if it were prior to my husband coming here.

No because you can't correlate who's SO supports a family on his own to who's SO has accepted money from their US SO. I think it's a lost cause and like I said before every case is different. Plus this particular poll asks if you've supported your spouse which is different than helping out on occasion.

maybe a poll on if someone has sent their so money and a range of amounts?

nah. this is giving me a headache.

what you're not a glutton for punishment?

Ok you can post it though in the poll section but I don't think it'll work. How much do they send and what country their from. I have my suspisions on what country gets the most but I'm not sayin'. lol

ME's a lot different from western society. Everyone can have a great job, but live at home (eg, with parents) - example, I know a couple doctors & dentists ... live at home. Why? They don't need a house yet - don't have a full family of their own yet, so - why bother? People don't think twice about it. Everyone chips in, everyone lives good. It's more tight-knit family stuff in the culture than over here in the west. Even the towns and cities - everyone knows everyone, talks to everyone. It's just different.

Let's drag some anthropological research / historical insight into the fray. Just take a look at the region - desert. Food and water are scarce. You need a communal system for everyone to survive - people are forced to stick together.

It's what they've done over the ages ... habits stick.

Take western society - Europe, USA -

Water and food are abundant. You can walk outside and kill some game - eat great daily. Do you need anyone? Nope, you can head up to the hills and live by yourself easily.

Don't need anyone, move along on your own.

Thus, differing cultures.

You might be surprised.