In Afghanistan, the process of dating, engagement and marriage are three very organized circumstances. A lot of planning on the part of the parents of the bride and groom goes into the union of the two children. Planning can begin as early as the child's age ten, at which time parents sometimes begin looking for suitable suitors for their child. When they think they've found the one, they get approval from both families, and that's when the two are reunited, or "engaged." The families then plan the wedding, and it is then that the two men are legally bound to each other and marry. Romantic encounters are a very rare situation in Afghanistan, even almost unheard of. Young people generally don't have the chance to hang out with people they know because they have gender-segregated schools. Another factor that makes dating almost impossible is the strict law that prohibits them from leaving their homes after a certain time; 7:00 p.m. for women and 11:00 p.m. for men. They are also not allowed to meet without a responsible adult, similar to a chaperone, watching over them. These factors make dating a very complex situation, which is why it almost never happens. Rather than dating, most boys and girls are "introduced to each other by their families once their marital union is already established" (Crawford, "Dating Customs Around the World"). Some Afghan unions are organized when the child is only ten years old, without even giving him the chance to have a romantic relationship. When the women of the family believe they have found a suitable husband for the girl, they seek the advice of the men of the family. If the men agree with the women, then the couple becomes “engaged.” In Afghan... middle of paper ... whether it is the family finding a loved one for their child, or the child. an incredibly improbable “courtship”, until the engagement of the two, the marriage which formalizes their union. It takes a long time to legally marry two people in Afghanistan, and it is very different from marriage in any other country, making it a very unique and special situation for everyone involved. Works Cited Muzaffary, Fazl R. "Afghan-Muslim Wedding". Afghan Muslim Wedding. Np, August 17, 2013. Web. January 13, 2014. Crawford, Colleen. “Dating Customs Around the World.” Dating customs around the world. Internet. January 13, 2014. “Afghan Weddings.” Afghan weddings. Web.January 13, 2014. “Traditional marriage in Afghanistan”. Traditional wedding in Afghanistan. Web.January 13, 2014.Monsutti, Alessandro. “Culture of Afghanistan.” Culture of Afghanistan. Web.January 11. 2014.