Globalizing Love

L-O-V-E is the word the infamous Frank Sinatra sang when describing his passionate feelings for his soulmate. True love is not easy to find, but when a person finds their love, a courtship begins. A simple date, then a kiss, intimacy, a possible move to live together, and hopefully marriage. This is how it should go…

Sinatra nailed it on the head for international relationships when he said “love is more than just a game for two.” International relationships everywhere are fighting for the chance to play the “game” legally or not, in order to be together.

A little history

In 1930, the Oxford English Dictionary printed a word that would change how the world viewed each other; Globalization. When a country spreads an idea throughout the world, that is considered Globalization. We globalize economically, technologically, socio-culturally, politically, through languages and pop culture. However, the one thing we do not spread through Globalization is love.

To look at the situation in a metaphorical way, the international couple are playing a re-run of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Except, European country A are the Montegues and non-European country B are the Capulets. Each country has their immigration and touristic laws set in order to secure their country’s economy. However, Person from European Country A loves person from non-European Country B, but because of length-of-stay restrictions, residential/working/touristic visa restrictions, person A and person B are forced to bend the rules and dodge all these restrictions countries put on immigration.

Schengen Zone

In Europe, there is a special area called The Schengen Zone. This zone consists 25 European countries. Although each country is their own, they run borderless, making traveling without showing or receiving an entry/exit stamp more suitable for travelers. Unless researched, the typical traveler has no idea of the horrible reality of this borderless zones. By the law of the Schengen Agreement of 1985, a traveler can stay in all these countries combined for 90 days (3 months) in an 180 day (6 month) period. This means forget your 7-month spiritual conquest around Europe and that “special someone” you met in Greece, because by law, you can not “border hop” to renew your European stamp. This is the law. This is the way it is.

The question of the century is, if people are internationally and romantically linked, what is the solution? If the couple is not ready for marriage, and there is no option for residential or working visas in either country, then they are forced to bend the rules. Our great, great grandparents did it, our great uncles and even our own international parents might have gone against the code for love.

The point is, who is to tell human beings that they must marry within their own country or culture? We cannot choose who to fall in love with. If an international couple is legit, there should be easier options for love. Besides, if Sinatra’s words,”two in love can make it,” then it is worth a shot, legal or not.

Sources: “The Schengen area and cooperation,” www.europa.eu” http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/free_movement_of_persons_asylum_immigration/l33020_en.htm