What cultural differences come up in your relationship?

[amberdima 6]

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.

word- my family has never and will never pass gas or talk about sh*t on any occasion. i, in turn, hold the same principal. i'm a potty talk snob- i am embarrassed and completely turned off by it.

[fozzie 41]

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.

word- my family has never and will never pass gas or talk about sh*t on any occasion. i, in turn, hold the same principal. i'm a potty talk snob- i am embarrassed and completely turned off by it.

Passing gas is as natural as breathing. We'd all explode if we didn't release it

As for talking sh*t, well we all do that on VJ.

In some parts of the world they "inspection shelves",

[Mrs. Diaz 1]

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?

He's Salvadoran.....

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Well, most of the major stuff got out of the way a long time ago, but the other day, my husband noticed I was serving our daughter peanut butter and carrot sticks. He thought it was the most disgusting combination of foods he had seen in a long time.

[Marina-Del 10]

Well, most of the major stuff got out of the way a long time ago, but the other day, my husband noticed I was serving our daughter peanut butter and carrot sticks. He thought it was the most disgusting combination of foods he had seen in a long time.

Hmm....peanut butter and anything! Gotta love the peanut butter, celery and raisens! What's that called? Ants on a log or something? Yummm....

They do have peanut butter here in Brazil..but it's not the same!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Would cultural differences which just shouldn't happen (mostly on foods) count?

• I happen to like frozen mixed-veggies as a "when-in-doubt" fallback; as well, my MIL likes these due to their variety--but my wife doesn't really like them
• which vegetables go in saambaar? To no surprise, Andhras (my wife being one) don't exactly match Kannadigas or Tamils (hello) in that regard--and I cannot convince her to try saambaar with Tamil-typical vegetables
• convincing my wife or MIL that a meal can be complete without rice (oft, bread or dinner rolls work fine for me as substitute)

[SpiritAlight 1]

My sweetie won't eat poutine!!!

Arrrrrrrr....

[Ladylethal 12]

Culturally speaking I can't say we argue much, since we're in Puerto Rico we're all latin so our meals are similar as far as always having rice beans and then something and having lunch as our main meal.

The issue with culture for me is holidays, that for me they're distinct as far as choice of food and traditions and here every single holiday of the year is about arroz con gandules, roasted pig or ham, potato salad, and salsa. So my husband doesn't understand why sometimes I don't look forward to the holiday celebrations but it's just that I wish we had our house so I could host the holidays and go brazilian style for once (our rental is tiny so all holidays are spent with the in laws). But I can only have so much salsa in a year. He doesn't understand I get sad that on Christmas there's no decorations at his parents house, and the traditional brazilian food of Turkey and ham, farofa and rabanadas. That on New Years we dress in white, etc. It all just looks the same and salsa is nice but year long at every congregation we listen to nothing else!

We don't really argue over that point but he does comment on how I can't seem to be hyper and happy during holidays, I guess part of it is missing spending it with my family as much as in my own style.

But really, we argue about our own differences but not ' cus I am brazilian and he's puertorican.

[Nessa 23]

peanut butter and celery, carrot just sounds wrong

[Marina-Del 10]

I have to agree with what has already been said. Aside from slight misunderstandings based on language, we don't really have that many issues because he is Brazilian and I am American. The issues that do arise are the same -for us- that would arise in any relationship, I feel. These arise because of who I am and because of who he is and our different personalities, not so much our different cultures. Then again, both he and I have lived in other countries (both together and seperate) for about 4 years now so maybe we are just more accepting of differences.

Maybe this is also true for a lot of the other people on VJ. All of us have met and fallen in love with a SO from another culture and therefore if our relationship is going to work, we have to be understanding about differences in the culture. Lots of people mentioned food, which are definitely differences, but don't exactly cause problems. I wonder if everyone is like this, or if we who have found partners in different cultures are more understanding.

For example, when I first moved to London when I turned 18 I remember that a lot of my grandparents friends were really worried for me. They asked me things like, "But don't they hate Americans over there!? How will you deal with the differences? I heard that British people drink all the time, aren't you scrared, ect?" I kept repeated that no they don't hate Americans, the differences are what makes it such a great experience, and they don't drink any more than us Americans do (maybe the drinking culture is different, but you get my point! And before you say I am wrong, I worked as a bartender for the 3 years I lived in London!).

Anyway, obviously the type of people that were asking me these questions would have a harder time adjusting to a different culture than it seems a lot of us on VJ would. Just a thought anwyay!

And Luis and Laura, maybe it is a family thing about the decorations. We have LOTS of decorations at my house and in my town in Georgia. But on the other hand, my fiancees family here in Brazil doesn't even get a Christmas tree or any decorations. When they were kids, they parents would have a tree and do a present or two, but not that all of the kids are grown up, they don't do anything for Christmas beyond having a nice meal with everyone. Christmas is my favourite holiday ever and I LOVE all of the presents and decorations and wonderful family time. And even though my in-laws don't do it here, I have informed my fiancee that in our house we WILL have big Christmas decorations and a tree and lots of presents for the kids -when they come!

[estrella 14]

We have no problem with meals, he loves Mexican food and i love to cook it, the only thing he really didn't understand when he went to México was why we ate soup before the main dishes, he doesn't like soups and never got it, my Grannie just had rice always ready for him when we came to her house to eat.

The meal schedule here in the states is something i haven't got used to I'm used to my Mexican schedule and i love it.

When we first started dating my husband couldn't understand why I kissed everyone on the cheek when saying hi, it wasn't only me I mean everyone I know do it, but it weirded him out, that i would even kiss guy friends or my male cousins on the cheek.

[MissStacey 1]

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.

When the salad days are over- the gas will fly.

My sweetie won't eat poutine!!!

Arrrrrrrr....

That is grounds for divorce!

My hubby won't eat it either- he hates cheese.

[Ladylethal 12]

And Luis and Laura, maybe it is a family thing about the decorations. We have LOTS of decorations at my house and in my town in Georgia. But on the other hand, my fiancees family here in Brazil doesn't even get a Christmas tree or any decorations. When they were kids, they parents would have a tree and do a present or two, but not that all of the kids are grown up, they don't do anything for Christmas beyond having a nice meal with everyone. Christmas is my favourite holiday ever and I LOVE all of the presents and decorations and wonderful family time. And even though my in-laws don't do it here, I have informed my fiancee that in our house we WILL have big Christmas decorations and a tree and lots of presents for the kids -when they come!

Yeah, this is more his house then all, but my hometown was the type to go all out on lights and decor everyone did Christmas there. Lots of houses put decorations up here in PR but it doesn't feel the same, and my in laws don't put any at all.

[Ban Hammer 13,206]

My hubby won't eat it either- he hates cheese.

are we married?

[Marina-Del 10]

my in laws don't put any at all.

Mine don't either. It's depressing. I'll be here for Christmas this year and I know I'll miss my family and all of our decorations. I wonder if they would be angry if I put up my own decorations. hehehe

My hubby won't eat it either- he hates cheese.

are we married?

How can one hate CHEESE!? I just don't get it. Cheese is like the best thing ever.