If you’ve been on the dating scene for a while, then you know the truth. It’s a hard and often brutal arena, filled with gladiators that are more skillful than you might ever hope to be. Coupled with being an expat in a new and scary place, it can seem increasingly difficult to find that someone that just ‘gets’ you.
Living and working in a foreign country is going to have its highs and lows. Some days you’ll be on a boat party living the expat dream and other times you’ll feel alone, far away from family and friends missing out on all those important birthdays, weddings and more. Hell, if it wasn't for social media it’d be like living in a time vortex and when you go back home everything seems different and almost alien (depending on how long you’ve lived overseas). Being an expat changes you, your outlook on life and what you might be looking for. It’s simply something that the ‘norms’ don't understand.
Have you ever been on a date and you’re constantly making up for your accent, or explaining what something you said actually meant? Lost in translation! Also, for some people the thought of dating someone who’s about to move back home isn’t the dream either.
The expat life isn’t for everyone. It’s the realm of the adventurous, a desire to get out and see what this world is all about. Regretting life is not something expats worry about, but rather moving forward and seeking new experiences and people to share it with. Having a common lifestyle is one of the best ways to connect with others. It gives you something to reminisce about as you pounce on life and get busy living it free from consequence and being tied down to a mortgage and kids!
Living in our fast-paced world, starting a relationship is all about sprinting past the first few hurdles of getting to know someone. Matching with people based on a few personality traits is the fastest way into any relationship, it actually skips those first few awkward dates and gets straight to the good stuff. Even if it’s for a short time, it purely adds to the experience; and who knows maybe you could go from being a ‘sink’ to a ‘dink’!
For many expats, culture is a huge part of your personality. Talking to someone that understands you can stop you missing home, even if only for a few nights. It can keep you fresh and continue that feeling of freedom. Simply meeting up for a night out and talking about the things you love about home can refill your spirit and stop those negative feelings. Looking to the future and having an adventurous life is fantastic, but sharing it with someone else who gets you is simply the cherry on top.
When you go out to meet people, it’s always a surprise to meet someone that knows what living abroad means. You can talk about seemingly mundane things like your favourite choccy bar that you can’t get here, Marks & Spencer sandwiches or your fave football team without needing to explain the rules, or why it's football and not soccer. It can give you that sense of home, without needing to hop on a plane for 24 hours. It can be just the thing to recharge your batteries and keep the adventure alive.
So there you have it... It’s a scary world out there this expat dating live. Full of highs and lows and everything in between. But we guarantee it’ll be one hell of a ride.
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