One of the greatest advantages of online dating is that it allows you to meet people from all walks of life and a wide variety of different backgrounds. Dating within existing social circles of friends and work colleagues can be very limiting, and using an online dating site like Parship allows one to meet and date people from many different countries and many diverse cultures. Here are a few tips for ensuring a successful inter-cultural date if you have never been on one before.
The most important thing is to not make broad assumptions about your date based only on what you think you know about their culture. Do a little research on Wikipedia or some other online resource to learn some basic points about the country or culture they come from, but do not assume that anything is written in stone. For example, just because someone comes from an Islamic country does not necessarily mean that they are a strict Muslim themselves.
Staying with the example of dating a Muslim if you are not Muslim yourself, consider choosing a vegetarian or halal restaurant for your first date if you live in a big city. If neither of those is an option, follow your date’s lead and if they order a vegetarian or pork-free meal, do the same. Also, don’t suggest going on to a pub afterwards; choose a cafe. If your date has an alcoholic beverage, then feel free to have one too. Otherwise, give it a pass – not only will you make your date feel more comfortable, but you will show that you respect their beliefs.
While it is certainly okay to ask questions about your date’s culture or country of origin, avoid giving them the third degree. Remember that you are dating a person – not a culture. Have fun and see the person for who they really are.