How Are You Affected by International Marriages?
International Marriages
Are you affected by International Marriages?
International marriages are unique and need working as any other marriage.
Why do I see international marriages as different?
We met in South Africa and he chose to come home. My life was fine, but he felt the urge to go home.
His choice to move back to his place of birth and to reunite with his family was in haste.
Foreigners marrying each other from different backgrounds are a challenge.
Culture, language, self-confidence, compromise, love, children, conflicts, unhappiness, sadness, anger, frustration, and different lifestyles. The changes in daily activities, and so much more can affect you in an international marriage.
Are you capable of handling these issues in an international marriage?
Any marriage can have problems, but an international marriage is challenging and not much is accepted in this type of marriage.
Intercultural issues in a marriage need patience and respect for each other's families and friends.
The move to a foreign country for a couple can break a marriage or make a marriage. Children involved in an international marriage need to learn different languages.
Sharing the same qualities and basic responsibilities great influence from parents.
Our lives changed in Croatia and still, more changes lie there. Traditional life changes you in many ways. I did not think much of it, but now I see how much I have changed in this life.
If you appreciate exotic cultures, you will have no problem moving to another country. Family and isolation are a problem for one of the partners. Foreign spouses don't know much about how to move around in a new country.
Understanding is difficult when you have not lived in a foreign country. The culture is a drawback if you don't know the culture from before.
You lose a part of your culture in living in the host country. The two cultures are unique and sharing such experiences is a problem.
In his country, he dominates the tradition in the family.
For many international couples’ language is a barrier. Communication is more difficult when you don't speak the language.
Lifestyle changes surprised you and you didn't know what to expect in a foreign country.
Culture shock can be mild to severe. Children caught up in, this lifestyle and changes are not affected as adults are in a foreign country. Adults become depressed and more alone.
Living abroad is not for the faint of heart. International marriages are adventurous, but you need to take it seriously.
Don't ignore the basic words.
You need to look at the world in a different way to be able to move to a foreign land. Learn new skills, a new language, new behaviours, and habits, understand each other more in communication and cope with two cultures.
Marrying someone from a different background doesn't mean you will only get the good side of that marriage. As in other marriages, you are faced with the truth here.
Marriages require commitment, attention, and work. So, don't think your move to a foreign country will destroy you instead think of it as another experience.
I know for a fact the language was a barrier for us and the mutual understanding grew tremendously. Suddenly, everything felt different. Everything I was once familiar with is now gone.
The differences in values and culture of both countries belong to us. Don't forget your roots you must find yourself again when you are home. You can find yourself in any place but, to go home and find yourself is a great experience.
Avoid the uneasiness for the future, it can be hard if you don't want to do it.
I read, talked, and learned each day to improve my life in a foreign country. International marriages are exciting and worth a try. You learn about exotic foods and people too.
You don't need to have the same beliefs to be in love with each other. Financially, you need to be secure and discuss money issues together.
Stressful moments can cause many negative thoughts in your head about the host country. Be positive and enjoy what you have together.
Blaming each other for making the move too soon won't work out for you. Sometimes you can feel like a stranger in your hometown. In a foreign place, you feel that too.
Time is what we needed and lots of effort to overcome the many obstacles in Croatia I did not choose Croatia.
My reasons for leaving my country came with my marriage. I eventually learned of my best choice.
Now looking back, I won't change it for anything or anyone. I developed into a strong individual through all my experiences in my host country. My experience can bring light to those who have walked in my shoes.
When you choose to marry someone from another country you are taking the plunge as you would in any other marriage.
You are not prepared for what comes next.
I focused on the positives, and with our good sense of humour, the way we coped with difficulties and challenges.
This doesn't mean we took everything lightly and not seriously. Most importantly, we did not forget how to enjoy ourselves.
Some people forget to enjoy themselves when living in another country. Life becomes less valuable for those who dwell in the past. Marriage works both ways not just the one way when in a host country.
It is simple to meet people from other cultures. Modern lifestyles allow for such changes.
You can fall in love with anyone and you can't help who you fall in love with though often you wonder how it happened.
Sometimes you will find the one-sided family meetings tiring. While you are not able to see your family and see him for most of the time since you are living in his country.
I created my life the one that makes me happy. As far as family is concerned, he doesn't have much family around. Family is important in many cultures and in different ways too.
Parenting in international marriages can be challenging. In my case, we were not faced with many challenges in raising our child.
Despite our different outlooks on each lifestyle from South Africa to Croatia, we know what is best for our child.
An open mind says everything about us.
Living in a foreign country you need to have an open mind about life. Of course, there were arguments more than before the challenges got bigger, but we worked through it.
Patience allowed us to grow together. I am glad to have come this far and now can freely speak of my experiences in a foreign country.
Croatia is different to South Africa and in a way better.
Cultures deal uniquely with romance and that can slip away without you even realizing it.
I met many international couples and found that a good learning experience for me.
It is harder in an international marriage but is still up to you on how you choose to deal with such issues.
You can pick and leave to go home or work on your marriage to keep your family together.
Remember for better or worse works in international marriages too.
Happy marriages are not always visible and sometimes you may wonder if a good idea is.
Foreign marriages
International Couples
What do you think of International Marriages?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2016 Devika Primić