With worldwide travel becoming much more affordable and a greater movement of people looking for work it has become much more likely that you will date someone from another country. A cross-cultural relationship can be a truly amazing experience. There is so much to learn and so much to explore, it is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons. However, it’s not always easy to get beyond the first few dates because of differences in language and culture & religion. Here are a few tips to make sure your new relationship gets over those initial hurdles.

Language
One of the main causes of conflict in a relationship, especially a new one, is the language differences. Miscommunication is an issue at the best of times but if you don’t both speak the same language there is a lot more potential for misunderstanding. If you are both speaking in a third language this can also be difficult because one partner is usually more fluent than the other.

Whatever language you do decide to converse in, the key is to be as patient as possible. Always make sure you speak clearly and remember not to speak too fast. In addition, mumbling, making jokes or using phrases that only a native would understand will all put pressure on your relationship. Over time you will both improve your language skills but in the beginning it is very important to be careful what you say and how you say it.

On the other hand, if your partner does speak a different language it can be a great opportunity for you. Learning another language has many benefits including improving your mind (and your CV!) but there is nothing better than to hear ‘I love you’ in your native tongue.

Cultural and religious differences
You may find that your new partner comes from a country with very strong traditions and significant cultural differences from your own. Try to learn as much as you can about where you partner is from, what the culture is like there and in particular what their religious beliefs are.

It can be quite surprising what is considered acceptable or not in another culture, especially where women are concerned. Potential causes of conflict could be what you can wear, what you can say and to whom, whether or not you can go places on your own and what is considered to be your role in the household. Some cultures are strict and their traditions can be jarring if you come from a liberal country.

To avoid or at least minimise potential problems, it is worth learning as much as possible about their culture as soon as possible. Be very careful with what you say and how you act at the start of the relationship. Don’t change who you are but be a little cautious until you know what might cause offence and what is acceptable.

In both instances flare-ups are usually accidental. One of you may have done or said something without thinking or without even realising it might cause offence. When this occurs just take a step back, think before you start speaking and just remember that it probably wasn’t done on purpose. Not many people want to start an argument or want to antagonise their partner so try to be as understanding as possible and try to resolve the problem before the situation deteriorates.

Cross-cultural dating is a great opportunity to expand your learning. Your new partner can teach you so much about his or her country, culture, language, traditions and religion. If you can overcome these first few problems, it is a great chance to learn more about the world we all live in.

Relationships Culture, Interracial, Long Distance Relationship

Long distance relationships used to be rather rare. After all, you used to simply date those who were in your zip code because it was easier, it was more convenient, and that’s who you knew.

But in today’s world of electronic communication and better transportation, things are changing. We meet people who aren’t in our city and we begin relationships with those in other parts of the country.

The only question is – can these relationships work? Yes, yes they can. Here’s how:

• Be clear about what you want – If you just want someone to date, that’s fine, but if you’re looking for a long term partner, you need to say so up front. Having conflicting ideas about where the relationship is headed is an easy way to create a long distance disaster.
• Communicate often – This is a time when communication is easier than ever. So, make sure to talk often and to talk about things other than what you did today.
• Visit each other – You can’t build and sustain a relationship on emails and instant messaging alone. You need to both be willing to visit each other until you make a decision to break up or move into one location together.
• Be thoughtful – Since you’re not in each other’s lives on a daily basis, you will want to make sure you are being extra thoughtful about special occasions.
• Be honest – When you feel as though things aren’t working out, let the other person know, try to work things out, and if it’s still not working, be honest about it.

Long distance relationships don’t last forever, as someone always moves in the end when they work out. So, to make sure yours goes the distance, follow this advice.

Dating Essentials Communication, Compatibility, Foreign, Long Distance Relationship

Based in Yorkshire, United Kingdom, www.Route2Love.com is offering all online daters the chance to get something for nothing – love. With no fees and no gimmicks, this online dating service is taking the game out of the online dating game and helping people actually meet each other.

With standard features like email and photo-sharing, www.Route2Love.com looks like any other online dating service. Users can also save their searches and browse other profiles. And this is not limited to the United Kingdom. Daters can look for partners in other countries, as well as their own. In fact, in the future, www.Route2Love.com is going to offer free translation services for those from the Ukraine, Russia, or Latin America.

While the site is nothing fancy to look at, it certainly fulfills its purpose – to match dates up from differing countries. You can also simply post a profile to meet someone that shares a hobby with you or just for a friend that you can talk to.

Many other online dating sites seem to focus more on giving you plenty of gimmicks and features that you couldn’t possibly use or that take so much time to learn that you might forget that you’re supposed to be finding someone to date in the first place. Why waste your money and your time when you can get back to the basics of online dating? www.Route2Love.com may just be your last stop.

Reviews Foreign, Free, Long Distance Relationship, Personal Profiles, Social Networking