Yesterday my bf called me (I live in Moscow and he is visiting his home in Qatar) and told me that it’s really important we see each other. His mom has cancer and we were supposed to meet next January but apparently there is some concern as to if she’ll still... be here then.

So he told his mom abt me, how were thinking of getting married, and she bought me a plane ticket to fly down to Doha that same day. Meanwhile his dad pulled some strings and arranged a hotel in city center for me to stay at totally free (he is friends with the owner). And now 12 hrs later here I am I’m Doha.

And tomorrow, I’m due to go to tea with my bf and his mother so she can meet me. Apparently she’s very excited but... I don’t think she knows I’m not Muslim. And while Ive heard she very sweet and kind, I’ve also heard that she broke a plate on her daughters head out of anger, and has said that if my bf marries a non Qatari woman, his children will be “mutts.”

Safe to say I’m extremely nervous. It doesn’t help that I’ve never met a bfs parents before. Does anyone have any advice? Both for meeting parents in general, and respectfully... cooperating with overbearing Arab mothers?