Wang Lihong and her husband Suma [China Central Television Screenshot]

Wang Lihong, a 48-year-old woman from Beijing, married a Ugandan man 20 years ago and has been living in the east African country ever since.

Wang originally moved to Uganda in 1996, and assumed her position there alongside her husband to become part of a local rural family, after falling in love with her spouse, Suma.

The cultural differences between the two countries can be stark. In Suma's hometown, one of the oldest villages in Uganda, men have much higher status than women. The males can take their seats, while the females are supposed to sit on their heels.

In a culture where polygamy is practiced, Wang's elderly father-in-law has some dozen wives and at least 40 offspring.

The village where Wang live is mostly Muslim, and she has to go native and wear a headdress outside just as the other local women do when she is in public.

While the Chinese population in the country has been on the rise, and recently reached 20,000, most of Wang's compatriots work there for their careers, and few arrived because of marriage.

"I am quite optimistic, and that has played a role in much of my life," Wang said in a recent TV interview. "For example, many things I saw here that might have reduced people tears interested me a lot."

The route that brought the couple was not without its challenges. Growing up in the Chinese capital with many material comforts, Wang was dissuaded by her parents from marrying an African guy.

They could not imagine how their daughter who was even unable to cook would manage to live in such an underdeveloped region.

To prevent the couple from seeing each other, Wang's parents even moved her to Japan. Beyond their expectation, Suma quickly followed them to the island, making it hard for them to say no any more.

Now, Wang works as the headmistress of a local children's school and gives Chinese classes, while Suma is an engineer in the airline industry. She and her husband live a happy life together.

"She came because of love. For me, I appreciate it," said Suma.

Wang (L2) wears Muslim headdress in her husband's village. [China Central Television Screenshot]

(Source: China Central Television/Translated and edited by Women of China)

Editor: Eileen Cheng（Women of China）