Intercultural relationships bring together people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ways of life. Transcending religions, languages, and cuisines, love between two souls from starkly different worlds is like the New Year’s Eve fireworks in big cities like Kuala Lumpur or Sydney.
Yes, like everything else, intercultural love also has its challenges. If the lovers are from different cities or countries (in many cases), it becomes even more enjoyable. How, you may ask. Keep reading!
In this blog, we'll explore the ups and downs of these relationships and share some tips on how to keep the love alive and kicking. Yes, people, it is very much doable, and if you find a way to make it happen, it will genuinely be an unforgettable ride.
What is an Intercultural Relationship?
Intercultural relationships happen when two people from different cultural backgrounds come together in a romantic partnership. It could mean different countries, traditions, or races. Think of it as mixing different flavors to create something unique and beautiful. Hawaiian pizza lovers know what I’m talking about!
Think of your Muslim friend Muhammad and his Jewish wife Hannah. There’s a chance that neither of them is non-religious, but there’s also a fair chance that they practice their beliefs as individuals and not force their spouse to follow.
An African American man in a relationship with another man from Congo is also in an intercultural relationship despite having a similar skin color. Being of African descent or having a particular skin color alone won’t make them identical, as they probably would have had very different upbringings and traditions.
This can also be true for someone hailing from a farm in the Midwest and their partner from New York City. Despite growing up in the same country and belonging to the same race, the two regions have cultural differences that can qualify this couple to be deemed intercultural.
To be completely honest, there are so many variations, and no one can say exactly when the term intercultural couple starts to apply and ends. After all, it’s just another label.
Challenges
Let's be real, intercultural relationships come with their fair share of challenges. For most couples, traveling to their partner’s country can be expensive. In my case, Colombia and India are thousands of km away, requiring 3 to 4 flights and close to 40 hours or more flying or transiting.
A round-ticket flight from Delhi to Bogota can cost up to $1,500 or more, depending on the time you book.
Misunderstandings can pop up like surprise guests at what was supposed to be an intimate party. Differences in communication styles, values, and even food preferences can lead to disagreement. Thankfully, we have half-and-half pizzas now, helping our fellow comrades in love not fight over pepperoni or spinach.
Navigating family expectations and societal norms can also add pressure. Some parents may not be very open-minded, which can make it difficult to progress to the next stage of your relationship. In other cases, religion can play spoilsport. The topics of conversion, baptism, circumcision, ear piercing, and many other traditions bring up heated conversations.
Yes, they do look scary, but these are essential conversations to have before you put on a ring or shop for that stunning white dress. Open and respectful conversations will be the savior of the day and the love lives of almost every single intercultural couple!
Positives
But hey, it's not all doom and gloom! Intercultural relationships bring a whole lot of spice to the table. You get to learn about new cultures, try exotic cuisines, and celebrate diverse traditions.
Tasting bibimbap in Seoul or chicken tikka masala in Mumbai is way better than eating at “authentic” stores in London or LA (some are really good, though).
Plus, there's something special about sharing your culture with someone who's never experienced it before. It's like discovering the world all over again but with a partner by your side. Festivals like Yom Kippur or Ramadan will be memorable, as you have a whole other family discovering something new and exciting.
You will have the opportunity to learn a new language to better communicate with your partner. It can prove to be helpful, especially with your in-laws who may not know English. For example, I picked up some Spanish while in Colombia and can now understand most exchanges and hold basic conversations. Language learning can significantly improve the function of our brains as we keep training ourselves with new words and phrases we’ve never heard before.
Traveling and getting to know fantastical places like the Great Barrier Reef, Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon, Machu Picchu, Petra, etc., are the cherries on top. With the opportunity to work remotely, you can make the most out of the work-life balance your job offers. If your partner lives in a country with a better economy, it can greatly increase the chances of getting a good job and increase your livelihood.
Ways to Keep the Spark Alive
Now, onto the good stuff–keeping that love flame burning bright! Communication is key, friends. Talk about your cultural differences openly and respectfully. Embrace each other's traditions and celebrate them together. Not everyone gets the opportunity to celebrate both Christmas and Diwali.
Keep the romance alive by trying new things and exploring each other's interests. Go dancing with your Latino partner even if you have two left feet (note to self). Try watching football games every now and then, even if you don’t understand what the hell your partner is getting sad about when their team loses. After all, it’s just a sport, right? Nope. Not for them. Making an effort to spend time with our partner doing an activity they like works wonders for the relationship.
If you and your partner are in a long distance relationship and have ungodly hours of time difference, start a project together. It can be literally anything–a social media account to share your love life, a blog to write about your virtual dates, a podcast to talk about your travel escapades. It doesn’t matter and it doesn’t have to make sense. As long as you are both involved and creating something together, it will go a long way in building your connection.
The point of all this is to laugh together—that’s the secret sauce to any successful relationship. Cat memes, work gossip, or standup comedy—it’s never a bad time to let your teeth shine!
Conclusion
Intercultural, interracial, inter religious...relationships may have challenges but they are full of beauty, growth, and endless possibilities. By embracing each other's cultures, communicating openly, and keeping the love alive, you can create a partnership that's as rich and diverse as the world itself. So here's to love without borders—may it always thrive and flourish!
About the Author
Aswin Raghav is one half of Masala. He's futuristic, passionate, and calm hailing from a rather not calm metropolitan city in Tamil Nadu, India. Living for more than 4 years in an intercultural and interreligious relationship with a Colombian 16,000 km away, he has acquired a decent understanding of love, travel, and culture.
In his other life, Aswin has been a National-level Athlete, Marketer, and Sustainability Advocate with a bachelor's degree in Business. Thanks to his business program, he won a US Government scholarship to study Entrepreneurship for a year in the US.
Love, cricket, business plans, and a thousand miles later, he decided to start a community online to share his experience through Masala of Cultures along with the other half of Masala, Luisa.
Aswin's insights can also be found on other parts of the internet, including NVCC and SSR.
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