With the world becoming a global village, people from different nations or states with different cultures and diversities meet for one reason or another, and from these meetings they develop an interest and feelings for each other. These feelings may graduate to mutual relationships, then dating where dating serves as a way to learn about and scrutinize an individual to find out the chemistry between two partners who are in a relationship. Long distance dating happens when two lovebirds are a long distance apart from each other. This distance can be between countries; therefore, it is called international dating. This kind of dating has its own goodness and of course nothing good comes without limitations, so here are some of the pros and cons of long distance dating and in particular, dating a foreigner.
Advantages of dating a foreigner
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International Trips
International dating comes with lots of trips abroad. Since the two of you are from different countries, you will find that you will have to travel overseas often to meet each other, your partner’s family or even sometimes just for fun. While on these trips you can make the most out of it by visiting places that the two of you have been talking about over the internet and even pick up some sovereigns for your memories when you go back home. So, if you are fond of travelling then you should try and date a foreigner and travel to new places.
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Experience a new Culture
When you make a decision to date a foreigner, you get an opportunity to experience a totally new culture away from the one that you are accustomed to. You will get to learn their way of life socially, politically and even economically. This may impact the way you relate to people and situations around you. When you are interacting with people who have a different culture, you gain insights and understanding that may not be in your lifestyle.
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Foreign food
International dating comes with an opportunity for tasting new food that you might not have had a chance to taste if you decided to date a person from your country. Apart from just testing the food, you’ll also get to know how the dishes are prepared if you are curious enough. When they are visiting you also get to ask them to bring you some of their delicacies that are not found in your home country.
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There will always be something to talk about
Dating a foreigner will always be fun in the sense that there will always be something to talk about. Even when in a long distance relationship, you will find yourselves comparing even the tiniest of things in the two countries. It will not always be comparing but also telling each other the beautiful things in your countries and with this you will find the two of you talking for hours without running out of topics to talk about.
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Foreign language
Dating a foreigner who does not speak the same language as you will give you an opportunity to learn a new language. This will go a long way as you will have a new skill to add to your curriculum vitae and could even be the skill that lands you a job one day. Apart from learning a new language you also get to laugh at your partner’s accent when he/she speaks your language which he/she is not used to.
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Your foreign partner has not been with your friends
You can be guaranteed that your foreign partner has not slept with any of your friends. This is good, especially when you all live in the same town or city that you grew up in, and everyone knows everyone pretty well. Thus, meeting someone who has not slept with your childhood friends or current friends can be a good thing.
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Improved communication skills
Being in a long distance relationship can also help you develop your communication skills. Since you cannot have a conversation in person but through calls and text messages, the two of you will be forced to articulate yourselves clearly so that your partner does not misunderstand you. This will create a strong bond between you that one of you can quickly tell when the other is upset or not well. You will also learn to ask for clarifications as you will find yourself often asking your partner to clarify some statement that may not be clear.
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Learn to appreciate moments
Dating a foreigner whom you are in a long distance relationship with will enable you to appreciate the moments you two spend time together. Given the nature of the relationship, the two of you will learn to make the most of the time you spend together and appreciate those moments even when you are away from each other. Since these are the only things that you will be left with when they have to go back, then you will be forced to treasure the moments spent together as you wait on him/her to come back.
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We need a break at some point
Doing the same thing day in, day out can sometimes be tedious. Long distance relationships give you time away from your partner. Being away from each other for some time rekindles the love for each other that may have started to fade away due to the long time spent together. This ensures that you do not grow sick of each other and your love grows stronger as you learn to wait on each other.
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A wide network
Dating foreigners broadens your network over a large geographical area. These networks created may be helpful when it comes to relationship advice and opportunities such as jobs and scholarships. Also, the network created will ensure that the next time you visit your partner’s country you are not a total stranger in a foreign land but have friends and even a family.
Disadvantages of dating a foreigner
After looking at the advantages of dating foreigners now let us look at the other side of the coin: the disadvantages of you dating a foreigner.
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Missing special occasions
International dating can sometimes force the two couples to miss their partner’s special occasions such as birthdays and family get-togethers. Your partner may be held up at work so that he/she may not find time to travel just to be with you when you during that vital moment of your life. You are then forced to stand up for yourself not because your partner does not love you but because he/she could not make it to the occasion. So, the next time you decide to date a foreign national, consider the inevitability that there may be times you are alone during important moments of your life even though you would have wanted to be with your better half at these times.
2. Bad thoughts
Being in a long distance relationship for a long time may stir evil thoughts especially when you fight or when one of you is not responding to messages or calls. This will come about when the one of you trying to get in touch starts asking questions like, “Why is he not answering?” or “Why is she not texting back?”. These thoughts may make one of you feel insecure and even start spying on their partner only to realize that the partner was not cheating and this realization may happen when it is too late and the relationship has been hurt.
3. You don’t get to see each other often
Being in a long distance relationship can be hard as you don’t get to see each other any time you want to. You only get to see each other at a specific time and for a limited time period before you say goodbye again. You are forced to suppress your desire to be with your partner as it is not possible to be with him/her at all times.
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It can be expensive
Though mentioned as an advantage, travelling over long distances to meet your special someone whom you met when trying international dating can sometimes also be costly. This is so when the distance between you both is extremely large, and you don’t have the means to finance your travel. This may be difficult as you do not get to hold and kiss your partner and the only relationship advice you will get is to let go of the relationship and move on with your life since you cannot afford the connection.
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Misunderstandings
When you are in a long distance relationship, misunderstandings and arguments are difficult to solve. This is because trying to explain what you meant over the internet or phone is much harder than if you were in front of each other and able to hold and assure each other of the love you have for each other. This may lead to greater problems that may result in separations.
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Loneliness
It is hard when you have to sit indoors watching TV just because our partner is not around. Also when you remember the things you do when you are together, you will find yourself missing your partner even more. This will make you feel lonely and to compound the situation further, you may feel rejected if the partner is not replying to your messages. If this is not controlled the party on the receiving end may feel that the best option is to walk away from the relationship.
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Technology may at some time disappoint you
In a long distance relationship you rely on technology to connect with each other, and at times you may be let down by this technology. You may have planned to Skype at a certain time because that’s the time you both are free only to find out that Skype will be out of service at that particular time. So, if you are in a long distance relationship, or planning to get into one, you should keep in mind that not every time you want to get in touch with your other half you will succeed.
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No background information
Dating a foreigner will make it hard to get their history as you two live in two different worlds with no way of getting any reasonable information about your partner. Due to a lack of knowledge, you may find you are dating a person who is a mystery, and this may or may not end up costing you. People have ended up dating criminals on international dating sites so take care if you plan to date a foreigner and get as much background information about your foreign partner or friend as you can.
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You can be distracted
Being in a long distance relationship with a foreigner can distract you from your life’s goals. This can happen if you find that most of your time is spent either talking to this foreigner or trying to get relationship advice on how to handle your relationship. Your partner may not be as concerned about your dreams and goals and may not support you and encourage you to achieve them. So the next time you decide to date a foreigner ensure that you don’t lose grip on your goals and if it is relationship advice you want, make sure it also incorporates your goals.
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Some may have expiration dates
Unless you date a foreigner with a VISA or the partner has expressed his/her willingness to pursue a long-term relationship with you, it should be clear to you that the relationship may not last long. So when you date such people don’t get too attached as this may end up hurting you when the time to say goodbye and move on with your life comes.
Conclusion
From the above, we can clearly see that international dating, just like any other form of dating, comes with its pros and cons. Therefore, it is up to the individual person to weigh the pros and cons and if possible seek relationship advice from a relationship professional before deciding on whether to date a foreign national or not. So, take your time and find what works best for you.
