We live in a globalized world, which affects not only the economy but also the way people date for good. You can have a good relationship with someone on the other side of the world, and dating outside of your own culture is becoming more and more common. So, here are a few things you should know about dating someone from another country.
Stay safe
Scams are something that has been linked to international dating, which is sad. But if you know what to look for, it’s not hard to avoid this. Watch out for pictures that look like stock photos and any requests to send money. If you aren’t sure, the best thing to do is to video chat with the person and see if they are who they say they are. Probably, if they are real, they will feel better too!
Some dating sites, take safety measures, but it’s still a good idea to be aware of anything that seems odd when you’re online dating.
Read about Five Ways to Avoid Online Dating Scams to learn more.
Make a plan
Once things start moving, it’s a good idea to start working together on a plan. Can you get together in a different town or country? Can you or they come to see them? What can you do to get to know each other in person? Even though talking to people online is fun and can give a good idea of who you are, it is important to meet in person in some way.
If you are flying out, consider what you can do if it goes well or if it doesn’t work out – what are your long and short-term plans? Even though it can be hard, it can lead to something wonderful.
Consider cultural differences
What we expect from a relationship and many other things depend a lot on our culture. Culture differences are not always easy to spot either.
If you’re dating someone from a different culture, you should know that there may be problems and misunderstandings. Try not to take too much for granted and talk about problems as they come up with your partner. How about gifts? Family holidays? Values? Money, faith, and children? It’s important to talk about it a lot, because there may be more differences in a cross-cultural relationship, like whether you take your shoes off when you go into someone’s home or how you make breakfast. Even though most of these won’t be a problem, it’s good to talk through any assumptions that might come up.