90 Day Fiancé’s Sarper Struggles with Life in America: ‘Happiness Level’ Is ’10 or 1,’ Mostly ‘1’
Sarper from 90 Day Fiancé is opening up about the challenges he’s facing since moving from Turkey to Los Angeles to be with Shekinah. The couple, who have been adjusting to their new life together, told PEOPLE that the transition has been difficult for Sarper, who feels overwhelmed by the changes.
As a self-described “professional narcissist,” Sarper admitted that he misses his old, more peaceful life in Turkey. “My life was peaceful,” Sarper reflects. “If she has happiness, I am more happy than her. Is it a good thing? I don’t know.”
Shekinah disagrees, pointing out that Sarper’s life was “very chaotic” before they met, but Sarper insists that, in his view, it was peaceful because he didn’t have the stress or emotional burdens he faces now. “My life was at a happiness level of four, five, six. It was going steady,” he says.
Now, Sarper describes his happiness as fluctuating between extremes: “Right now, it’s 10 or one,” he says, adding jokingly, “Mostly a one.” Shekinah, however, quickly responds, “That’s your fault if it’s a one.”
Sarper, who has admitted to having nearly 3,000 sexual partners in the past, explains that life was more carefree when he was single. However, the challenges of living in a new country, not being able to work, or having a bank account make the situation even more stressful for him. “I am with baby steps learning how to react, how to behave,” Sarper explains, adding that loyalty and commitment are values he holds dear now in his relationship with Shekinah.
Sarper reflects on how much he’s changed since meeting Shekinah, leaving behind his independent, free lifestyle to start over in America. “I made a big gamble with my life. I left everything behind. I have nothing here. And this is only for a woman. If somebody told me two years ago that I would change that much from a bad boy to this, I would laugh at them. But it happened for her, and that is the proof of love,” he says.
While he acknowledges his love for Shekinah, Sarper admits to sometimes feeling resentful about the heavy responsibility of being in a serious relationship. “Am I resentful? Sometimes,” he confesses. “Not about her, but the serious relationship situation. It’s so overwhelming. A lot of responsibility. It’s new for me.”
Shekinah, however, reassures him, saying, “It’s good for you. You need responsibility in your life.”
Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, Sarper says that it’s surprising that he can still find happiness with Shekinah. “It doesn’t make sense,” he admits, “but I can still be happy with her.”
90 Day Fiancé airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.