Dialogue is the essence of a strong relationship. We listen and learn every week

Christine Ruschke was a successful insurance specialist in Germany before moving to Dubai four years ago. The 34-year-old gave up her career to look after the couple's two sons - one-and-a-half-year-old Ben Said and three-year-old Nik Omar - and loves every minute of it.

Stefan Ruschke, 35 years old, is an outgoing, sporty person, who loves the rigours of his job, which has him travelling around the world quite often. He is an established figure in the community and the two have been married for four years.

Christine Ruschke

Stefan and I met at a Christmas party over seven years ago. It was a gathering for investors and bankers. There were only the two of us, who were not from the same field.

We knew of each other through common friends. However, that evening we started talking. From there we went to other places, we had a good time. We discovered that we lived quite close to each other.

Later he invited me out again. After two weeks, I knew that I was in love. If Stefan had asked me to marry then, I would have said yes. On Christmas eve, which is my father's birthday and Stefan's, too, I was spending some time with my friends. Stefan was celebrating his birthday with family.

I told my friends that I had met the perfect man. Love according to me is what we see in the movies, and when I was with Stefan, I could hear music in my head.

He makes me feel completely safe and taken care of... it's a feeling like I have come home.

We did have our ups and downs, especially in the first three years when we were seeing each other. There were bad fights, but deep down we knew this was something worth sticking it through.

And after a while, the problems just disappeared by themselves. Now we look back and wonder at them.

I come from a small town close to Frankfurt. I have lived and grown up there, I am not a very adventurous sort. Stefan opened up the world to me. He has travelled and has had more exposure.

Living and working in Stuttgart, Germany, which I did because Stefan was there, was a big move for me. As an example, in 1998 we travelled to Mexico, took a local bus to Belize and looked around for a place to stay.

We did not have any booking, just a tourist guide. I did it only because Stefan was with me, I would never have done it otherwise.

He takes care of me and has done more for me than I thought it possible for a person to do for another. I remember once I had a very bad experience while on a holiday. I rushed back and told Stefan about it.

He didn't turn around and say, you should have said or done something. Instead, he said 'I'll sort this out'. That was just incredible for me, there was no judgment.

Maybe when he promises to come home at 7.00pm from work, he will arrive only at 7.30pm, but where it matters, I can depend and trust him completely. He is my strength.

Stefan has made me more open to people. In the past, people have always accused me of being snobbish and distant. It's just that I am a shy person by nature. If I'm not sure what to say, I would rather be quiet. But people misinterpret that and presume I don't want to talk to them.

Stefan is more outgoing in nature. He needs a lot less sleep than me and likes to go out often. So I persuade him to go out some evenings without me, because by 10.30pm, I am too exhausted.

People might find it odd, but I do that because I trust him completely. I also know that he would love it if I went along... the choice is always open.

He is much more relaxed than me, helps take off the pressure that I put on myself.

In 1999, we got married, after 12 days, Stefan arrived in Dubai to take up his posting. I joined him a month later, as I had to organise things at my work place. I was going to start looking for work, but got pregnant. I was very sure that I didn't want to work when my children are young. I do miss the exposure sometimes, but wouldn't want my life to be any other way.

Stefan Ruschke

Christine is like my safety net... I have a strong emotional element, she is much more controlled and to the point. It helps balance me out, my tempering force. I will think about a problem and 20 different approaches to solve it. She is more direct and helps solve the issue almost immediately. All decisions in our home are taken together.

If I have a problem or issues from work, I can unburden myself with her. She hears me out, and I can go back the next day and deal with the matter objectively. She acts as my filter.

As far as I am concerned, she is the perfect woman and has given me the biggest gift of all... my two sons. I now live and work for my family.

I know that beneath Christine's tough exterior, is the warmest heart you can ever know. I love her for it and wouldn't change it for anything in the world. We are all different, it's our differences that add to our personalities.

She is not at all into sports, but I like outdoor activities. I am grateful for the fact that she gives me the space to do those activities. I have now managed to coerce her into playing tennis with me, which is great because we can do it together.

Christine allows me to be myself and let my guard down completely, in fact, in those moments, she protects me.

She left a successful career, family and friends to come here and create a family with me. She has never complained and given me steadfast support, without which it would be difficult to cope, especially the daily demands of work. Even when I have to travel, she has always been very supportive.

We do have our disagreements, but we stop before it becomes explosive... we walk away from it. After a while one of us comes back and we talk it through, the heat is taken out of the problem. It's a system we evolved, other couples might find other methods. However, it is important that we never harbour grudges.

Also we express our love often, which is crucial. It is vital to show you care, no matter how many years you have been married.

Ours is a marriage which is strong, close, happy and forever. I know statistics are against us, with one in three marriages ending in divorce. But when I look at Christine, I know this is the person I want to grow old with...