Living abroad comes with its own ups and downs. As much as you get to see and experience a lot of new things, you can also meet people that can either make or mar your destiny.
And that’s the deal with starting relationships in a foreign land… The simple truth is that, with the excitement and feelings flying everywhere, there will almost always be ‘complications’.
That’s why we advise you to use your best judgement and stay alert to avoid stories that touch. And if you’re not careful enough, you’ll be served breakfast hot or cold.
So how exactly do you navigate a relationship you’ve built while dating abroad?
- Don’t date in secret: At this rate, this piece of advice should be a no-brainer but maybe you’re getting too excited and you’ve decided to start that relationship with this mysterious boy/girl without telling anyone.
Just pause for a second and imagine all of the things that could happen. They might as well be after your money or they could just be out to take advantage of you. Just don’t establish a romantic relationship until you know the person well.
In fact, don’t date when you’re new to an environment. Be assertive, say no when necessary and if you ever decide to go ahead, let your friends know and try not to give too much information about yourself at first.
- Be cautious: Like we said earlier, you don’t really know a lot about people when you’re abroad and even though you should try to believe the best of people, you can never be certain of their intentions towards you.
So even after you get in, try to meet in public as much as possible and always trust your instincts to know when things seem fishy. Make sure you always have enough money, battery power and access to the internet and have your friends aware of your location every single time.
- Don’t be too rigid: The beautiful thing about living abroad is that you get to meet people from different backgrounds. So, open up yourself to potentially exciting friendships and relationships.
Show up to camps, celebration or African Community meetings as much as possible. Smile often. Say hello even to people you’re meeting for the first time. It’s not so hard to meet people and you can easily start a conversation about your hobbies, background or values.
Volunteer, join clubs and organisations that align with your interests and you’ll soon find out there’s a whole community out there. Learn to talk to people, and who knows, you might find your soulmate when you least expect.
- Don’t be afraid to explore other cultures: As an African living in Russia, you’ll either date someone from your own country, someone from another African country or a Russian.
The point is you might end up dating someone that doesn’t even speak your language. But don’t be afraid! There are people who have gone ahead of you on that path.
And if it comes to that, you should try to be open-minded and ready to go through the hurdles with Google Translate as your best friend.
Dating someone in another city or country is even another story entirely. With long-distance, we’ll just advise you to weigh your options and decide if you’re really ready for that.
- Don’t be boring: Say yes more often. Take your relationship as an opportunity to explore the city/country you’re currently in. Step out of your comfort zone and go on memorable date experiences.
Eat out in restaurants, go on picnics, take swimming lessons, go on museum and concerts dates, go sightseeing… Take pictures, make memories and gather some “awwwwn’s” from your online fans. And don’t forget to try to surprise this person often and just have some fun.
- Be responsible: A question you’ll have to ask yourself often is if you’re really ready for commitment. Because beyond all the cruise and fun, being lonely abroad is a real issue for many people.
To build a serious relationship anywhere, you’ll eventually need to sacrifice and compromise if you decide to go all the way in. That way, you’ll be committed to know one person deeply and stay committed to them as you also grow older.
Try to always be clear about your intentions and don’t leave the other person confused. Let them know your doubts and fears as you try to set realistic goals for your relationship.
Remember you might eventually leave this country so be open and communicate your long term plans and avoid all the unnecessary drama that comes with temporary flings.
Share your dating experiences in the comments. Let’s hear your story😉.
P.S.
You are not in a relationship and are actively searching for one? Have you heard about the Freedom Summer Concert 2022 happening live in Moscow on Saturday 16th of July? Come and party like never before, come meet and mingle with new people and who knows? You may find your other half there. For more information and ticketing, visit the link below 👇🏾
One Response