Be Interested in the Culture
What seems to be the reasons why you're dating someone of different cultural background? If knowing their culture is not one of them, then you're missing out on an eye-opening experience that can better your worldview in general. Sure, this may be different when you're dating because it becomes ingrained in your everyday life and it's much more personal, but you can certainly treat this as something that challenges your existing perspectives and values.
It doesn't only make you a well-rounded person, but it brings your closer together as she'll surely appreciate you wanting to know her culture deeper. And once you start integrating her ways, you can introduce yours too. This is a great time to discuss differences and look out for ways to compromise – something that can bring more sweetness to the bond.
Defend Yourself
Be prepared to defend yourself. Expect that people will have a say when you're dating someone from outside your culture, but it's not always a bad thing when you can focus on defending yourself while educating the person. It's also common for people to ask and learn new perspectives regarding the relationship, mostly because they're curious without ill intent.
Still, be ready to explain yourself when you want to educate someone, but do know that you don't have to always do this when you're not in the mood. Again, just be open-minded that this can happen, so don't take comments too seriously.
Find Common Interests
The last one on our list is about finding a common interest. Being in a relationship is not always a walk in the park. If you're looking for a partner outside your culture, it also has its additional challenges. Apart from conflicts that may arise naturally from being in a relationship, challenges will also be present for those who have different cultural backgrounds.
That's why finding a common interest will not only strengthen your bond with her but will also let you explore the things that you both can relate to with each other. Remember, you're also dating an individual, so apart from her cultural quirks, realize that she's a unique person worthy of your interest. This works vice versa too; it's a two-way cooperation. The key is to always be patient and understanding so that you can find a common ground in no time.
If you're planning to date someone outside your culture or are already dating one, these are some of the things to expect and what you should do in order to strengthen the relationship further.
Multicultural dating is actually fun and interesting if you're adventurous and open-minded. Luckily, it's more common now than before, so you're not the only one doing this feeling out of place. Still, there are quite some challenges tied into this.
However, by taking these tips into account, you're likely to succeed more and have a better chance of actually enjoying the relationship. Have fun and good luck!