Dating someone from a different culture can be extremely fun, but as with any relationship, you'll no doubt face some unforeseen challenges. For example, even if both share a similar ethnic background, they may experience misunderstandings if they have different nationalities. This gives you the opportunity to see how your partner lives and interacts in their own culture. I had been in Korea for a year and a half when we met, but it wasn't until this year in January that she came to my hometown and met my family and friends.
This also gives you a chance to see where they got some of their personality traits and quirks. I was too happy when Hyo arrived in the United States. It was so funny to see her being embraced by everyone. She said they hugged her more in 2 weeks than she had been in her entire life haha (the comic will come about that).
These are dramatically different when you date someone from another culture and often because of a lot of arguments things can be misinterpreted, leading to fiery ranks when in reality all that was asked was a simple question. Talk about your expectations and find a common level with each other. Some cultures are more tense about certain things, and others are very relaxed. Find your midpoint and then you both have to work equally to achieve it.
Keep in mind that you are going to have different expectations and the first step is done. If you are in love with someone from another culture, but you are not sure whether to enter into a relationship, please try it. However, it was one of the first things my spouse noticed when he visited Vermont. Though thankfully she didn't face any prejudice or racism on that trip, there's still something puzzling about being the only person who looks or speaks like you on a multitude of similar faces.
Like any couple, our relationship is based on the similarities we have as individuals, not on the differences that our cultures may have. However, it would be naive to believe that our cultures have not shaped us. Discovering these differences, misconceptions and even prejudices is essential to better understanding others and each other's families and backgrounds. Instead of separating, they give us the opportunity to learn and love even more.
Now you're probably wondering, are intercultural relationships really that difficult and different from any other relationship? But if it's difficult and different, how come you see a lot of these types of relationships everywhere? There are Europeans and Asians, Arabs and Americans, Australians and South Americans, Africans and Canadians, and almost every possible combination. Every culture has its traditions and values. Although culture sometimes intersects in morals and lessons, it is always interesting to learn and assimilate new traditions.
