Dating customs in america

Dating in the USA

When I was 18 years old I used to believe there is no way one could ever date successfully a person from a different culture. Now the reality is as the world is becoming increasingly borderless intercultural, inter-racial couples are on the way of becoming the norm and that is in my opinion a great thing. I think we should never segregate ourselves based on race, religion, nationality, culture nor any media, family or peer influenced limitations other than choosing the person that genuinely makes us happy. Is interesting however to see how our own cultures impact the way we perceive love and dating particularly. And while dating someone raised in a completely different culture can be the most enriching experience it comes with many challenges as you go deeper into the relationship and realize how the person has such a different perspective of life, of certain habits, view of relationships, values of family, traditions, manners, food and the list goes on. That is why I always jokingly say, nobody cares to meet an international etiquette consultant until the day they have to meet the parents of their loved one. So here is a few small tips to help you through the first dates if you find yourself dating in any of the below 10 countries.

REGISTER TO VIEW

Whenever possible, I love to use the word courtship in everyday conversation with young and old alike. For many, courtship is an old-fashioned word. It summons visions of men wooing women with small tokens of affection and asking their hand in marriage on bended knee. For the purpose of this article the preparation for and proposal of marriage is what makes the act qualify as courtship. As cultural historians Alan Carlson and Beth Bailey put it in the Mars Hill Audio Report , Wandering Toward the Altar: The Decline of American Courtship , prior to the early 20th century, courtship involved one man and one woman spending intentional time together to get to know each other with the expressed purpose of evaluating the other as a potential husband or wife. One of the most obvious changes was that it multiplied the number of partners from serious to casual an individual was likely to have before marriage. So one important point to understand right up front and about which many inside and outside the church are confused is that we have not moved from a courtship system to a dating system, but instead, we have added a dating system into our courtship system.

REGISTER TO VIEW

This holds especially true when dating someone from a different country. Even the most seemingly similar cultures can have subtle differences that affect the dating experience. A great example of this is the difference between American dating and European dating. There are subtleties you will notice as an American dating a person from a European country. Of course, every relationship is different, but understanding these differences is key to communicating better with someone from another culture — and they may help you avoid some awkward situations. If you plan an outing with someone in America, you will more than likely state if it is a formal date or a casual dinner between two friends.

REGISTER TO VIEW

A Brief History of Courtship and Dating in America, Part 1

Dating anywhere in the world can be nerve-wracking, but dating in a foreign country can be especially intimidating. You may be worried about the right things to say , how to behave , where to meet people , who should pay, and other etiquette issues. Fortunately, the dating culture in the US is rather open and flexible.

REGISTER TO VIEW

REGISTER TO VIEW