Love that blossoms

Susan and Cornel Jasire

When did you guys meet and did you know at first glance that you were meant for each other?

Susan: My parent’s home is in Machakos and Brian works for East Africa Breweries Ltd and had been posted there. When we first met in 2000 he was dating my friend and I was just out of high school, we just became casual friends.

At the time there were no feelings. In 2002 we met again and by then I was in campus pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree and he was at Meru where he was working with my cousin.

We met at Rugby Sevens. At the time I was still young and not ready to settle down or a steady relationship, I just wanted to have fun but Cornel was ready to settle down.

Cornel: The second time we met I knew she was the woman I wanted to marry. I had reached the point where I had everything except someone to share my life with. We hit it off that night and began to date.

How did he propose?

Susan: He proposed in the most romantic way, although a little embarrassing. It was my on my birthday on April 24 in 2003 and he had taken me to Rangers Restaurant, Nairobi, then in front of everyone he got down on his knees and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes.

Cornel: I wanted to propose to her in a special way because she is special to me. I wanted the memories of the day to linger with her for the rest of her life.

Did any of you have any second thoughts?

Susan: At the time although I said yes I was a little confused, I was still young and thought of the fun I would miss.

I sat down and weighed everything and realised I was lucky to have found love, something many search for and never find. When one is young sometimes they are a little blind, but I’m glad I realised just how much I loved him. A year after I graduated we were married on my birthday.

Cornel: I knew she was the one for me. Everything about her made my heart sing. I had reached the point in my life where I needed to settle down.

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

Cornel: There have been mountains but the whole experience has been wonderful.

Susan: We had our two children immediately after getting married, in the first two years and this brought us closer. My husband was always around and he would help with children, bathing and feeding them.

We were a team. We survived that period of change and became better friends. When the children grew a little older, we decided that it was time to concentrate on our careers so we could give them the best life possible.

I got a job as a Marketer in a bank. The job was so demanding, I would leave very early in the morning and come home very late. It reached a point where I was barely seeing my children or spending time with my husband. That was when all the quarrelling began; there was no communication or peace. I was always at work and although my husband also worked, he was the one who spent more time at home with the children.

I was never home and for a while that was our marriage life, we would quarrel about anything. But in December 2008, I knew I had to make a decision, my career or family. It was the hardest decision of my life but I decided to quit. Looking back now it was the best decision I ever made. I’m back in school and I run a flexible business that enables me to spend time with my children. I even get to pick them up from school every day.

I’m glad that I have a chance to raise my children and not some stranger. So many children today are raised by the house-helps and never get to bond with their parents. My husband and I are as close as ever because we make time for each other.

What do you think kept you two together for almost three years despite the fact that the marriage was suffering?

Cornel: I love my wife, I did not know how to solve the problem but somehow I knew we would make it. Also we had gone for counselling before we got married and I believe it was what helped us stick it through.

Susan: I love my husband and I had made a commitment before God to be by his side

till death do us part and I was not going to give up.

What advice would you give other couples?

Cornel: Marriage is a beautiful experience but you have to work at it, constantly spending time with each other. When you have a problem just deal with it together, don’t bring others who are not in the union.

Calm down then sit down and talk to one another, don’t involve your friends or relatives.

What are you two doing for Valentine?

Susan: My husband is very romantic; he always gives so much of himself. Last year he took me to dinner at Panafric hotel.

Cornel: It’s a surprise, I can’t tell you because it will spoil the surprise.