Living abroad: tips for dating and finding a partner

 

About one third of professionals living abroad are single. For many it is perfect to be single at the beginning of a stay abroad. There is no traveling spouse or partner to include in your plans or long distance relationship to maintain. This allows you to fully concentrate on your new role. However, the love of life as a single person may wane as you begin to settle into your new home and job.

You may feel lonely, but the prospect of dating in an unfamiliar country can be daunting. The good news: If you're staying in a popular place for expatriates, there are probably a lot of people who are in the same boat. If you've already met new people, dating feels like the natural next step.

Dating abroad: How to meet other people?

Living in a new country full of new opportunities can be an exciting prospect, but sometimes it's tricky to get started. There are many possibilities:

Sports and hobbies:

If you prefer to meet outside of work, enrolling in a sports team or class is a good start. But you should make sure that the prospect of meeting someone is not your only motivation for doing so. If you don't focus on the sport or have little interest in it, chances are you'll quit or just stop trying to perfect your golf swing.

Dating apps:

More and more people are looking for or finding love through dating apps. You can use versions of popular apps in your target country. Whether you're looking for a long-term relationship or a casual date, there are plenty of apps out there. Apps have become so advanced that they can analyze your personality, schedule or even your pets and match you with people who are similar to you.

Dating Websites:

There are several online dating sites specifically designed for expatriates. If you meet someone through one of these websites, you may be more likely to encounter understanding of the challenges and burdens you are dealing with.

Meetup:

If you feel too pressured with a dating website, take an easier route, z. B. meetup.com. Unlike social media, this site is about getting you off the internet. This is where people who live near each other and share similar interests can form groups and meet up for joint activities. Interest ranges from board games to ballet. You are bound to find something fun to do and people who have a similar interest to you.

Intercultural Dating:

The chances of meeting someone from another country or culture are high if you look for contacts abroad. This can be a welcome change, but cross-cultural encounters can present a number of unexpected challenges. Before dating someone from another country, consider the following:

Language barriers: Although you may share a common language, you may not speak as fluently as you do in your native tongue. This can lead to misunderstandings or difficulties in communicating feelings.

Rules for dating: Expected norms for dating vary widely from country to country. In Brazil, a date quickly turns into a relationship, while in Japan, the first date may be as part of a group. If you inform yourself a little, you can avoid unexpected surprises.

Laws that affect dating in the country you live in: there are significant differences between what is considered acceptable behavior around the world. In some countries, showing affection publicly is common, while in others, showing affection can get you in trouble with the law.

Dating abroad: play it safe

Although dating while living abroad can be fun, don't forget to take the same precautions you would at home.

• Take a good look at your date: Look for the name and try to figure out if the person is really who they say they are. Social media accounts with few friends or photos may be suspect
• Meet in public: if you are dating online, meet your date in a public place and be careful what you share until you get to know each other better.
• Take your time: don't be pressured to take the next step in a relationship. Be very wary of quick declarations of love or controlling behavior. A relationship should only move forward if you are both happy.

Dating abroad can enhance your experience and it's a great way to relax and have fun while you're abroad.

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