[tortoise]

Polygamy is common to virtually all Asian cultures, even nominally modernized ones. For one reason or another, it just never pops up on the radar of the west. Of the various Asian girls I've dated (and most of the major Asian cultures are represented in that sample), essentially all had relatives with more than one wife.

The first couple times it surprised me, as there are a number of Asian cultures that don't come across like that -- I assumed otherwise. But I've definitely started to realize with travel and experience that monogamy as we normally think of it is an almost purely European notion.

[television is just wrong]

Yes, that is ok for them in their native country. However it is illegal in this country. What happens to the 13 year old bride?

Remember they are now over here.