What cultural differences come up in your relationship?

[amberdima 6]

IMO, if your parents would get into a shouting match whenever they argued, chances are you will too, whether you were born in Brazil or France. For us, our family traits have a bigger influence on how we handle conflict than any cultural influences. My wife's mother is temperamental from time to time. She has 3 older sisters and none of them inherited this gift, but she definitely has been blessed with the same temperament.

my parents were screaming, cursing maniacs. in my last relationship, we never fought or name-called. maybe that's why it ended. too boring

[pedroh 21]

[Precious 2]

I also would rather have a good lunch and something light in the evening, my body feels so much better, but husband has a light lunch at work, so sometimes I cook dinner. It's nice, we can sit with the brats (1 teen girl my son is moving in on July) and have a nice 'family time'. At least we try.

But I've been trying to understand american teenagers' behavior, which for me is something out of this world. I have a hard time with the the whole concept as to speak. My husband otherwise, doesn't seem to bother.

For instance, I look at my step-daughter and there is no way she will be able to drive when she turns 15. To me this is like giving a gun to a murderer, really.

My husband and I have a fairly stress-free relationship, he is american but has lived a long time abroad, so he is one of these that is willing to understand the differences and we don't argue much about it.

Only when it comes to his ex-wife and her strange ways of relating to her kid

[meowmeowmeow 0]

because it's gross!

Since the majority rules...we declare PB&J gross. Period.

PB&J is the ultimate comfort food!!!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

IMO, if your parents would get into a shouting match whenever they argued, chances are you will too, whether you were born in Brazil or France. For us, our family traits have a bigger influence on how we handle conflict than any cultural influences. My wife's mother is temperamental from time to time. She has 3 older sisters and none of them inherited this gift, but she definitely has been blessed with the same temperament.

my parents were screaming, cursing maniacs. in my last relationship, we never fought or name-called. maybe that's why it ended. too boring

Hmmm...interesting. Maybe? My parents were always calm with one another and they did express their anger, but mostly it was, "Now, honey..." My wife doesn't typically yell, but once she's made up her mind that she's angry about something, she lets it consume her. If I say anything, she gets more angry...if I don't say anything she won't let it go.

[Mrs. Diaz 1]

planning and "personal space," which whites seem to love...

besides that she is crazy about me, ohhh yeah B)

You are so right! lol

My husband doesn't know what "personal space" is and we used to have arguments about that, well not arguments... but he didn't understand WHY on earth I would need something like that... ha ha.... And I also like to plan things(vacation etc)My husband never plan anything. Well at least that's how he used to be... He have changed his ways and so have I... Things are going great, now that we really know each other and understand each other....

[Nessa 23]

Yeah! I'm having to get used to that here too -but the opposite side as you! I just can't seem to get used to the fact that I'm supposed to have bread and butter or a small sandwich for dinner! I'm getting better though! Often times it will be around dinner time and I'll start to think about how good it will be to have a big nice hot meal, and then I remember that I've already HAD a big nice hot meal and I only get to have a sandwich for dinner! hehe!

well, you don't have to eat bread and butter for dinner. I always make enough food so we can have leftover later on. charles hardly wants a repeat, so i usually make him a BLT sandwich or he'll have whatever he feels like, milk and cereal, etc. Usually he's still full from the main meal we had earlier, so he winds up only having strawberry milk or ice cream.

[Mrs. Diaz 1]

boiled kernels with mayo and hot sauce and lime

u forgot the cheese!

*drooling*

and yeah the wife is grossed out especially about that, I'm grossed out about PB&J guacala!

Cucumbers/mango, hot sauce, salt and lime..... Or... corn on the cob, mayo, mustard and ketchup plus cheese! It stinks! I like it tho!(well, now i do....)

[doodlebugg 10]

I don't know if it's cultural or not but he won't pass gas in front of me. Since all the men in my family have absolutely no problem with doing that and have actually had contests on both volume and smell, this is something new to me.

Edited March 18, 2009 by humpkinpumpkin

[Nessa 23]

I don't know if it's cultural or not but he won't pass gas in front of me. Since all the men in my family have absolutely no problem with doing that and have actually had contests on both volume and smell, this is something new to me.

that's no cultural, that has to do with the way u were raised.

[fozzie 41]

You would think that cultural differences would not be an issue between brits and americans but unfortunately they exist. Nothing that has been a problem or caused arguments but the adjusting to the new culture still has its issues. Mainly just the outlook on life and the rest of the worls is so different here. I seem to meet so many ignorant people in my day to day work. People without basic manners and good ol' common courtesy. I found myself complaining to my wife about it but I realized it made her feel bad. I feel she would have a harder time adjusting to england though so we will wait a few years before moving to england.

[almaty 19]

being messy and doing something..half-azz

[Precious 2]

You would think that cultural differences would not be an issue between brits and americans but unfortunately they exist. Nothing that has been a problem or caused arguments but the adjusting to the new culture still has its issues. Mainly just the outlook on life and the rest of the worls is so different here. I seem to meet so many ignorant people in my day to day work. People without basic manners and good ol' common courtesy. I found myself complaining to my wife about it but I realized it made her feel bad. I feel she would have a harder time adjusting to england though so we will wait a few years before moving to england.

I get the same impression fozzie. Americans seem to misunderstand courtesy and politeness with being 'weak'. So using terms like madam and sir seems to be polite enough. In the beginning I use to make some comments about my own observations and comparison between cultures was almost inevitable, but my husband seems to understand that this is also a part of the adjustment. Sometimes he even agrees with me.

[Marina-Del 10]

I don't know if it's cultural or not but he won't pass gas in front of me. Since all the men in my family have absolutely no problem with doing that and have actually had contests on both volume and smell, this is something new to me.

WOW, if only we all had that problem! :rofl: :rofl:

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

omigod omigod omigod!!!

Cucumbers/mango, hot sauce, salt and lime..... Or... corn on the cob, mayo, mustard and ketchup plus cheese! It stinks! I like it tho!(well, now i do....)

huh?

R u sure your husband isn't Mexican?

Edited March 18, 2009 by TävôLuDô