Long distance lovers

When CSUS student Mohammad Sadiq left the United States this summer for an arranged marriage in Pakistan, he had no idea his life would become so difficult. Sadiq missed his flight home, had to begin the semester two and a half weeks late, and was unable to bring his wife with him when he finally returned.

"I thought the marriage was going to be the hard part," said Sadiq. "Doesn't this defeat the idea of arranged?"

Sadiq, a 22-year-old engineering student, left for Pakistan on July 29 to meet the woman his parents had arranged for him to marry three years ago.

"I don't think I could have chosen a wife better than the one my parents chose for me," said Sadiq. "Our hearts are the same."

In Muslim tradition, when a boy and a girl reach adulthood, the boy's parents arrange a marriage with the parents of a girl they feel is compatible with their son.

Although the wedding went well, Sadiq's wife was not able to obtain a visa to get out of Pakistan.

"When the Embassy closed a couple of weeks ago, everyone panicked and wanted out of the country," said Sadiq.

The Embassy closed because when the US bombed Afghanistan in August, it hit the Pakistani border and killed six people, according to Sadiq.

The US State Department claimed the Embassy has not been closed, but visas are being distributed on a limited basis.

Sadiq ended up missing his flight and could not reschedule for two and a half weeks. In the meantime, he went to the Embassy -- which was 300 miles from Pakistan -- four times in an effort to obtain a visa for his wife.

While Sadiq was trying to get himself and his wife into the U.S., he had to call on his friend and fellow engineering student Lawrence Vidaurry to explain his situation to the dean of engineering.

"I went to the dean right after Mohammad called me and told him what was happening," said Vidaurry. "Then I had to tell our boss so Mohammad wouldn't get fired for losing his student status."

Vidaurry and Sadiq work together as interns at the Sacramento Wastewater Treatment Plant in Elk Grove. Sadiq's internship requires him to carry at least 12 units in school.

Sadiq finally returned on Sept. 18 only to find another problem waiting for him: He was only registered in nine units because one of his professors had not been contacted.

"I tried to reach all of Mohammad's professors, but I was unable to reach Professor David Corner," said civil engineering professor Joan Al-Kazily. "At that time, he was listed as staff in the schedule, and after that I did not follow up to let the assigned professor know."

Sadiq finally resolved that if his wife cannot get into the country within a year, he will move back to Pakistan.

"I have to finish school, but I want to be with my wife even if that means moving," he said.