Love in Mexico

Hola, By no means is chivalry dead in Mexico; maybe men in the United States should take some notes on traditional love in Mexico as Valentine’s Day quickly approaches. 

In Mexico many different traditions guide in dating and relationships.  Younger people in large cities are much more influenced by surrounding countries like the United States, and people in more rural areas often hold traditions of Catholic values and customs of the traditional Mexican Families closer. 

Traditionally a relationship starts with the man pursuing a woman they are interested in.  The man asks for the first date and typically plans the date. 

 Dating traditions called “piropeo” and “la serenata” are common in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries.  “Piropeo” are flirty comments made to women showing affections and interest like “mi amor,” my love, and “guapa,” beautiful or lovely.  “La serenata” is a tradition where a man shows up at his love’s home with a mariachi or guitarist to serenade or sing to his interest.  The man continues to sing until his love interest comes out to meet him.  A woman traditionally lives with her parents until she is married, so if the family does not like the man outside singing, they may toss water on to him to make him go away.  Needless to say, he gets the message pretty quickly. 

Men in Mexico are expected to be romantic and well-mannered around women and other people.  When a man is dating a woman it is customary to present her with flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals, and other tokens of appreciation as part of his affection.  On a date men traditionally pay for the entire meal and entertainment. 

Couples usually marry after a period of formal engagement that can last several years.  A marriage ceremony is often very religious and then after the traditional ceremony, the couple holds a huge and costly party with friends and family celebrating the love between the two people.

 According to everyculture.com, in 1995, the average age for marriage was 24 for men and 22 for women.  Although in Mexico marriage is all about love and romantics, many Mexicans unconsciously look for a partner who can provide social and economic security. 

Mexicans typically prefer modesty and put a great deal of value on appearance of their partner.  A good looking partner is greatly valued and a well-dressed partner is appreciated.

Mexicans tend to be very romantic and come off as very sentimental compared to Americans.  Mexican men are truly lovers and take extremely good care of their partners throughout the dating process and throughout marriage. 

After finding out how much love and passion is apparent in relationships in Mexico, I am definitely thinking about a possible relocation.

“Lost inside your love, When the two of us are one, There's no place I'd rather be, oh no,

disappearing in your love, Wilder than my wildest dreams”

Lost Inside Your Love by Enrique Iglesias

Love in India

नमस्ते, With the new infatuation with Bollywood and India, some may wonder, what is love like in India?  Like love in China, Indian love and dating is much different than in the United States.  Love and dating in India is changing due to the shift in societal views, but in no means is losing its age old traditions.

Traditional Indian dating is heavily influenced by the customs of traditional arranged marriages that require little dating if any.  Majority of Indian marriages are arranged by parents, about 9 out of 10 marriages in India are arranged.  Couples are chosen from the same caste, religion, and economic status.  Marriages are similar to business transactions involving two “deal-making” families, trying to wed their children.

Often before the wedding, the woman is only allowed to go out with probable husband if they agree to be married happily forever.  And also, sometimes the bride and groom don’t even meet until the wedding.

Arranged marriages in India are on the decline in recent years, but are still unlikely to disappear anytime soon.  “Love marriages” are becoming more accepted as India becomes more intertwined with the rest of the changing world.  “Love marriages” are couples that meet each other and follow the typical dating and relationship growth that is similar to those in countries like the United States. Dating Websites are also beginning to gain interest of the singles in India. 

Often Indians that move abroad to other countries with different tradition will reform and follow the cultural patterns of their new country.  In the United States, India-Americans sometimes participate in Indian Singles meetings organized by various dating websites which happen about once a month, with about 100 participants at each event.  There are no firm statistics about the success rate leading into long term relationships, but is estimated about one in every ten members finds a partner through the site or meetings.

In the movie Slumdog Millionaire, we are able to have an insight into traditional love in India.

In India some predominate religions are completely against the idea of dating.  The radical Hindu group Sri Ram Sena, is very opposed to dating and believe that marriage between a man and a woman should be organized by the parents of either single person. The practice of dating before a marriage is against their religious tradition. 

Although love in countries over the world are extremely different from one another, finding your perfect match in never impossible.  The love that humans are capable of is overwhelming and will undertake anything in its path.  Love is waking up in the morning and thinking about that someone special.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  -Corinthians 

 प्यार

Information found at

http://english.emory.edu/Bahri/Arr.html

http://www.indiamarks.com/guide/The-Culture-of-Arranged-Marriages-in-India/961/

Love in China

Ni Hao!  Around the world, love is one of the most basic emotions that can be commonly identified by people from all different ethnic backgrounds.

The classic Chinese view on love and relationships varies immensely from those in the United States.  The romantic relationships that the Chinese have contain much more commitment and hold a lot of weight on them, as dating is looked at as a step before marriage.  Chinese romantic culture often reflects the views on love from years ago. 

Traditionally, families would arrange the marriage for their daughter.  The classic way is to pick well suited husband would be a wealthy man, who would bring up the families social class and economic benefit or wealth; their daughter’s preferences would often be overlooked.  Who the family picked would have to acceptable to society and “look good” to be accepted by the community. 

In the Disney movie Mulan, we are able to see how family is the most important thing in the Chinese culture.  Family plays a huge role on who you are and who you choose to be with.

Romance and passion were viewed as unrealistic expressions, and the couple was more committed to accommodating their partner’s needs.  Chinese women expected to be taken care of by their partner very attentively and tenderly. 

In China’s changing, more modernize culture today views on relationships have changed significantly.  In the dating scene in China, instead of going out, having a few drinks and dancing as we would in the United States, sometimes couples in China study together.

The Chinese are more rational when it comes to love.  When looking for a relationship personal preference is taken into consideration along with public and family expectations.

Compared to the large divorce rate in the United States, China’s divorce rate is only about 16% of what the United States is. 

Chinese women are much more independent and want a man only after she herself has succeeded.  A partner must be doing at least as well as the other, has to be compatible, and both morally and spiritually alike. 

Each year in China on November 11^th an unofficial holiday know as China’s singles day occurs.  Singles are encourages to go out and mingle to find a partner.

Romance and love can be more difficult to find in a stricter more critical society, and women in China are encouraged to find a partner primarily on financial considerations instead of romantic ones.  As in any country love will always be difficult to find, but never impossible.

Information found at-

http://www.cultural-china.com/

http://chineseculture.about.com/

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/

Love in the United States

According to Dictionary.com love is defined as, a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.  Love can defined in many ways to different people and allowing one definition to spell out what it means to you is restricting the natural animalistic instinct of human beings. 

In the United States, love is viewed entirely different than any other country.  In the United States societies high standards on women affects the way Americans view love, or lust.  Women work hard to achieve the idealistic “perfect woman” body and attitude.  Stressing everyday to look the part in case “the one” is ran into.  Hours in front of the mirror putting on a “pretty girl disguise” to fit the norm of society, training at the gym trying to get that supermodel body, has made dating and love a superficial “job.”

In the United States finding love and not just lust can be very discouraging.  The American society has made it acceptable to juggle numerous “potential partners” making dating an exhausting experience.  The romance of meeting someone special and dating has been lost. 

Movies and music have enforced this idea that about having multiple partners is the “cool” thing to do and that it is acceptable.  Teenagers and young adults tend to steer away from formal dating and traditional relationships and go for casual no-strings relationships with one other.  With the acceptance of these “hookups,” many teens and young adults carry this idea into the rest of their lives.

According to the 2000 Census, for the first time in history, American singles outnumber married couples with children.  Single people now account for more than 40 percent of the population.  And single women outnumber single men by 1.3 to 1.

Although love is often confused with lust, there is still hope for love in the United States.  Finding someone special that loves you for who you are even when you don’t have pounds of make-up on, a tight little black dress, and 6 inch heels, is someone to hang on to.  Letting yourself fall for someone and forgetting about what society tells you love is, can be the difference between a “hookup” and a partner for life.   Keeping standards and not caving into the materialist society, love is always achievable to those who are willing try.