Hello Jeff,
I have to say your story is a similar to mine. I met a girl on Yahoo while working 3rd shift at my current job. First few months started as pleasent conversation and progressed to where it is now. I remember when i new i fell in love with her, we had had our first "fight" all steming from a miscommunication, (cultural difference) that esculated to a higher level because of how stuborn we both are. But when we didn't talk for a few days she was all i thought about.
I am also planning a trip to meet Leah in Manila, later this year, AND! i am very nervous and scared about the future and the first meeting, what will it be like, what will happen when i look her in the eyes for the first time, what will it be like to kiss her for the first time, to meet her parents, to see her country....Kind of the ULTIMATE FIRST DATE! lol Pretty much everything you have said. Even down to when she get here and we are married.
I guess what comforts me is we talk about it all the time, and i found out that she has the same fears. I know everything about her and visa versa but there is still that uncertanity of everything. I feel its becuase getting to know someone through letters and phone calls has its advantages but it also has its disadvantages. You don't have the chance to find out those bad habits that you would see in person, or the feeling when you touch them just everything that you would in a "NORMAL" relationship. But at the same time you are getting to know the person on an whole different level.
I guess what i'm saying is that your fears are shared by more then you, your not alone.
From reading the other posts i feel that pretty much everyone here has gone through this.
I think these feelings we have are the same that we would have if we were meeting a girl that lived with the same town, but multiplied by 1000 because you are going to the other side of the world to do it.....lol
Just keep talking to her, remember that love will win out. And above all remember that there will be differences and things that you will not expect things you will not like and things that you will. Gives a whole new meaning to the word compromise...lol What worries me the most is what will it be like when she gets here to the US?
Just remember to always talk to her, tell her how you feel.....
And believe me the advice you get from the others in this string is GREAT! They have helped me a lot, Remember you are not alone! Wish i had more advice to give you, but like i said i'm pretty much in the same boat as you.
Keep in touch and keep us up to date.
Scott