If you have a similar story, please share. I'm more than eager to read about it.

Do your relatives throw their own rules at you regarding who you should or shouldn't date? I'm not talking about suggestions like "only date supportive people who know how to treat you like a person." I mean "stay away from (race) or (group)" and such.

My parents always sent me mixed signals, but I saw right through them. Mom's guideline is simple: Chinese girls are well-brought up, honest, and won't turn their backs on you. Other Asian girls aren't as good, but they're acceptable. White girls can turn into bitches anytime. Hispanics lack sexual morals. Blacks are just dirty and smell bad. My parents say they're not prejudiced and that they're fine with me dating whoever I want, but I'd be lying if I said they really feel that way.

My grandmother has a much simpler point of view: anyone who doesn't have yellow skin is ugly, and that's final.

My cousins have all told me they don't mind who I end up with, as long as she's not Japanese (they say they'd never be able to accept a Japanese person as part of the family due to Japan's history with China).

It should go without saying by now that I'm slightly tired of hearing these "rules."