He first saw her at a café.
A 32-year-old Australian man accepted in order 'to marry the girl of his dreams'. He came to this decision after immersing himself into the culture, religion and traditions of his Iraqi wife.
According to an ABC News report, Bogart Lamprey first met 31-year-old Noora Al Matori in a café in the town of Wagga Wagga, Australia. Since that time, Lamprey decided to spend the next six months visiting the café in hopes of meeting Al Matori and talking to her.
"Every time I was in the café, I asked the staff there about Noora," he said.
His perseverance paid off as their paths crossed again and he was able to meet her for coffee. Despite this, Noora only considered Bogart as a friend. "I kept it as friends. I grew up around Australian guys and had plenty of friends, so there was no problem with that," Noora said.
"I could never see myself marrying somebody who was not from the Middle East."
Over the course of their friendship, Lamprey was getting more immersed into Noora's culture and beliefs. He then decided that if he wanted to be with her, he would have to do things the 'traditional way'.
"I got to know and understand the culture, I embraced it, I studied the Quran every night and accepted Islam," he said.
Her family, however, had some reservations about him. When he requested Noora to ask her dad for a meeting to ask for her daughter's hand in marriage, her father took a three month leave to put off the meeting. "When I told my father that Bo was interested in me and coming to ask for my hand, he decided to go on a holiday for three months and keep Bo on hold, He wanted to see if Bo was going to stay around or turn around and go," Al Matori said.
But Lamprey stayed and spent his time building a rapport with other members of Al Matori's family. When Noora's father returned, he again asked for another meeting; this time he brought his family with him. Lamprey's efforts paid off as he got her father's blessing. After this, Noora said yes to Bogart.
The couple has been happily married for four years now. They are also the proud parents of a three-year-girl named Jamila.
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