There are a lot of things to take care of when you decide to move abroad. There are visas to sort out, international travel medical insurance to buy for emergencies, and a whole host of other things that have to be put in place for you to be able to live abroad.
One thing that doesn’t seem to be on many people’s radar is how to date when you’re an expat. Dating even in your home country is a challenge. Add cultural and language differences to the mix and it can seem impossible to find love abroad.
In this article, we will focus on what it’s like to date when you live in another country and how to go about it successfully.
Language classes
There are two main benefits that come from taking language courses when it comes to dating. One is that you will learn the language of the country which will make it a lot easier to be able to find somebody to date when you can speak their language.
Although there will likely be plenty of people that can speak English well enough for you to date and have some romantic times, it can’t be so one-sided. Not only will it be unfair to ask your potential partner to have to communicate in a different language when you’re on their turf, but it will also inhibit you from properly learning the language.
The other potential benefit is that you could actually meet a potential date while at the lessons. They will obviously be a foreigner like you are, but you likely have a lot in common with them and can hit it off while you both struggle with the language.
Find a hobby
Being a foreigner in a new land is very lonely. You may have some work colleagues to connect with but to find somebody to date that you have things in common with is more difficult.
This is why taking up a hobby is such a great way to meet potential partners. There are many groups and clubs dedicated to a sport or some kind of other hobby. There is certainly something organized for your interests that you can join. You’ll immediately be among like-minded people that share your enthusiasm. This is an ideal environment for you to be in to meet somebody as you have a point of reference that you can talk about.
Look for other expats
Ideally, you will hit it off with a local so you can immerse yourself in the local culture and even be part of the culture where you live. However, sometimes the differences culturally are too great for a successful romantic partnership.
In some cases, it is going to be a much better option, not to mention easier, to meet up with another expat. Preferably that ex-pat is from your country so you already know how to communicate and share many of the same values.
Look for meet-ups for English speakers and you will meet other foreigners like yourself that are looking for some social time with other native speakers. In just about every medium to a large city in another country, there are groups of other foreigners that organize evenings over pizza or drinks to hang out and blow off some steam in their own language.
Dating sites
Dating sites online are ubiquitous no matter what country you find yourself in. In many cases, you may be able to use the same platform that you used when you were back home.
This is the most direct way to find people that share common interests and that you know are looking for a romantic partner. One problem when you try to meet people at clubs or at a group meet-up is that you don’t know if they are even looking to date. This takes that question out of the equation completely.
Just know what it is you are looking for and be clear about it upfront. There are going to be people looking for casual encounters on those sites. If you are looking for a genuine partner you need to make sure that it is understood.
Don’t try too hard
Unfortunately, the dating process is more complicated than it should be when you are in another country. You may find that things just are not working out no matter how hard you try.
The key is to not try too hard and to let things happen on their own. When it feels forced you will probably be making a mistake. Take things slow and just enjoy your life abroad. When something happens then see where it goes. This way you know that you’re attracting the right type of person to date.
