| There was a time when the largest determining | | | | a woman laugh is important to not only getting any |
| factor in any romantic relationship was proximity. The | | | | relationship off on the right foot, but also to building |
| girl next door, down the street or on the other side | | | | the relationship and moving it forward. In the world |
| of town was pretty much the extent of the options | | | | of international online dating, humor is a necessary |
| available for most single men. As travel became | | | | component of forging a mutually satisfying |
| easier - and more necessary for work - after the | | | | relationship - but the rules are a little different. In |
| Second World War, the field broadened and people | | | | order for you to make your international dream-girl |
| from different states and even different countries | | | | laugh, she is going to have to get the joke, and |
| began getting together. Still, however, proximity was | | | | actually find it funny. |
| the overriding factor in the vast majority of | | | | Part of the concern here harkens back to the |
| relationships. Letters and the occasional telephone call | | | | language challenges mentioned earlier. Jokes or quips |
| were all well and good, but it was difficult to sustain | | | | that rely heavily on double entendre or word play - |
| a relationship when there was only at best sporadic | | | | i.e. "Last night I shot an elephant in my pajamas, |
| contact and no visual contact at all. | | | | what he was doing in my pajamas I'll never know" - |
| All of that changed, however, with the advent of the | | | | will only work with your online partner if she has |
| Internet, and the various ancillary technologies that | | | | sufficient English skills to appreciate them. Another |
| have grown with it - such as voice communication, | | | | area to avoid - at least at first - is humor that is |
| instant messaging and webcams. Communication with | | | | heavily dependent on sarcasm. Not only can sarcasm |
| people on the other side of the country - or the | | | | be very challenging to someone with limited English |
| other side of the world - is now not only possible, | | | | skills, but it simply doesn't translate very well to the |
| but commonplace. With the explosion of the | | | | instant message and/or chat room medium. Generally, |
| information age and the openness and ease of | | | | it is better to avoid using it until your relationship has |
| communications afforded by the Internet, | | | | progressed to the talking and/or streaming live video |
| international online dating has become a multi-billion | | | | stage. |
| dollar a year industry, with millions of men and | | | | • Time Zones and scheduling: Of course, if you |
| women participating in it. Women in Greece are now | | | | are considering international online dating you are |
| enjoying the time they spend online with men in | | | | probably going to realize that time differences will |
| Ottawa, and men in St. Louis are forging meaningful | | | | exist between you and your partner. However, along |
| and rewarding relationships with women in the | | | | with realizing that the difference in time is there, it is |
| Ukraine. | | | | important that you keep in mind what these |
| As with any other form of romantic relationship | | | | differences mean in terms of your relationship. For |
| building, international dating brings with it new and, in | | | | instance, returning to the example of our woman in |
| some cases, unfamiliar challenges. While it is true that | | | | Moscow, if you are in New York City (Eastern Time |
| people all over the world share common needs and | | | | Zone) then when you get home from work at 5:00 |
| desires, people from different cultures possess | | | | and sign online, it will be 1:00 AM at your online girl |
| different customs and belief systems and, in some | | | | friend's place! Conversely, if you want to have a chat |
| cases, process information differently. Assuming, for | | | | with her just before you go to bed, the odds are |
| instance, that forging a relationship with a woman in | | | | that she will have just awakened and be rushing |
| Moscow is going to be exactly the same as charming | | | | around (as we all do) to get ready for work. |
| a girl from Cleveland is probably not going to work | | | | One of the keys to international online dating is |
| out terribly well. Below are a few things to keep in | | | | scheduling time with a woman you are interested in, |
| mind as you hit the international online dating scene. | | | | and then remaining on that schedule if at all possible. |
| • Language Differences: Obviously if you find | | | | This will require a bit of give and take on both your |
| yourself an online dating interest from an English | | | | parts - staying up a little later, getting up a little earlier |
| speaking country (assuming, of course, that your | | | | or blocking out lots of time on the weekends. |
| primary language is English) then this shouldn't be an | | | | Remember to be considerate of her time, if you |
| issue, but what about if your interest - to use our | | | | expect her to be considerate of yours! |
| above example - is a woman in Moscow? Basically, | | | | • International Online Dating services: While there |
| most people who look into international online dating | | | | are many ways to meet women from other |
| will be able to speak English at some level, but their | | | | countries online, many busy people (both male and |
| proficiency with the language will vary greatly. The | | | | female) choose to use online dating services to make |
| key to meaningful communication is to make certain | | | | their initial connections. While virtually all of these |
| that, until you are sure of how well a woman | | | | services charge their customers fees, some studies |
| understands English, you keep things fairly basic. | | | | indicate that not only does using services of this type |
| Avoid using long, complex words or sentences to | | | | decrease the time it takes to meet a person you are |
| express your thoughts to begin with, because there | | | | interested in, but also increases the likelihood that |
| is every chance that if you don't you will spend as | | | | your online relationship will progress into something |
| much time explaining yourself as you will getting to | | | | special and fulfilling. When looking for an international |
| know the woman. Be patient, and be prepared to | | | | online dating service, make certain that their website |
| explain what you mean when asked - and also be | | | | is secure, and verified by independent agencies |
| prepared to help her ‘find the right words'. Open | | | | (McAfee, GoDaddy, etc) as being safe. Make certain |
| communication and clear dialogue is essential to | | | | that they list their fees upfront, and make certain |
| building any romantic relationship online. | | | | that they offer everything you are looking for |
| One thing you should always avoid at first is "text | | | | (private chats, streaming video chats, etc) before |
| speak", until you are very comfortable with the | | | | you sign up. Just like anything else, when you are |
| woman you are communicating with. "LOL, "BRB" | | | | shopping for an international online dating service, |
| "BBIAB" and other such examples are certainly | | | | make certain you read the fine print. |
| common enough in the states, but unless the woman | | | | International online dating can be a very fun and |
| you are communicating with is familiar with them, | | | | rewarding experience - and there is no reason not to |
| they will seem like gibberish - and could even serve | | | | think that if you lucky, you might actually meet the |
| to lower her first (or second, or third) impression of | | | | woman of your dreams. But as with anything else in |
| you. Additionally, you will want to keep your use of | | | | life that is new and different, it is important to |
| slang to a minimum at first. If the woman has only | | | | understand some of the basics before getting into it. |
| remedial or even intermediate English skills, she is | | | | By following a few simple rules, and making certain |
| likely not to have mastered even frequently used | | | | that you communicate in a clear and considerate |
| slang terms as yet. | | | | manner, who knows ... the perfect woman might |
| • Humor: One aspect of a man's personality that | | | | actually be in Moscow, and yet only as far away as |
| survey after survey indicates is extremely attractive | | | | your laptop! |
| to women is his sense of humor. The ability to make | | | | |