Tips to navigate international love’s relationships

Here you have some learnings from my own experience and psychological training. Considering checking my FB post or ING post for more details. 

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Communication: Couple’s usually have misunderstandings even when they speak the same language; international couples are doomed to experience misunderstandings. Accept it, and work on speaking clearly, explain, rephrase, forgive and stop to think before talking about serious matters. 

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Patience and Understanding: Navigating cultural differences and language barriers can be frustrating. Be patient with your partner and seek to understand their perspective.

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Cultural Exchange: Learn about your partner's culture and show interest in it. This can mean learning their language, cooking their cuisine, or understanding their traditions. If you don’t feel it, think about the benefits of exploring with curiosity your partner’s culture. 

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Adaptability: Be willing to adapt to new situations and ways of doing things. This can mean adopting new traditions or habits, or finding a middle ground that respects both cultures.

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Support System: Have a support system in place, whether it's friends, family, or a therapist/counselor/coach, etc. It can be lonely to be in an international relationship, especially if you're living in your partner's country.

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Trust and Honesty: Trust is crucial in any relationship. Be honest with each other, especially when it comes to your feelings and concerns about the relationship.

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Conflict Resolution: Develop healthy conflict resolution strategies. Disagreements can be amplified by cultural or language misunderstandings, so it's important to approach them with care.

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Maintain Individuality: While it's important to integrate into your partner's culture, don't lose sight of who you are. Maintain your individuality and ensure your needs are being met.

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Long-Distance Management: If your relationship is long distance, ensure you have strategies in place to manage this. This can include regular communication, visits, and shared activities that can be done virtually.

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Plan for the Future: Have conversations about the future. This can include where you want to live, how you want to raise children (if applicable), and how you'll navigate potential legal issues related to visas or citizenship. 

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Keep in mind that every relationship is unique, so what works for one couple might not work for another. It's important to find strategies and solutions that work for both of you.

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