Your SO's country...

[Minya's wife 25]

I like almaty allot and the people..never been to any other part of Kazakhstan except Borat's village to saee his sister...

Oh, so you've been to Romania then?

[Nancy2015 2]

Husband has never been to my country, knows nothing about it and isn't interested in it at all. We were contemplaiting moving there a while ago, but since he doesn't speak any Russian, it would be extremely frustrating.

Culturally, Europeans are not so different from each other. Russians are very different. Everything is very different there.

Russia is very diverse - there are Muslims in the south and Buddhists in Siberia, and like over a 100 nationalities living in my country, so essentially there's tons of different cultures there. Russian is just one of them.

Also, you won't ever convince me that Russian and American cultures are different. At least, I haven't noticed that

[almaty 19]

I like almaty allot and the people..never been to any other part of Kazakhstan except Borat's village to saee his sister...

Oh, so you've been to Romania then?

nope, never seen the movie.,.been to the village near Almaty that claims to be Borat's home town., really a suburb, trying to get tourists..

[chri'stina 190]

I was in India for just 2 weeks. Not that much time really to know everything. But it's very different from here, so there's some things I like and some things I don't like or don't understand. I can relate to some of the conservative ways of life in India, but lots of things bother me in society there. Visiting there is an adventure IMO, not a relaxing vacation. I do hope to visit again sometime in the future after the baby is born. And I am sure I will be visiting there every so often for the rest of my life to see family there. I love the food and colorful textiles in India. I don't love the obvious class system still in use and the way some people treated each other, so formal in public.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

I have been to India and live there short term, The cost of living there was nice, but lately due to the major influx of outsourcing housing prices in part of india is more expensive the the US itself. $500,000 just for a piece of land in some part of Bangalore. lot of property prices are listed in Crores(10,000,000)rupees.

Been to the northern part of India, Jaipur, Delhi, Agra, MP, and also I love the backwater of Kerala,that's in south India, The people in general are very friendly, I work in Chennai, very humid out there, so depending on what part of the country you visit, make sure you bring with you Toilet paper, as you'll find out there's Indian toilet and western toilet, won't go into details so i'll let you find out. my most favorite place was Vashi in Navi Mumbai, Bombay is a fun city, it's crowded, kinda remind me like NY. But I like Bangalore, it's a very nice city, very metropolitain, and the weather is not as humid as Madras.

The most funny things that I had to get adjusted to was the head skake when saying yes,

basically it's like streching your neck but not by that much so very subtle shake.

Edited July 18, 2007 by Nikita2Charles

[Mrs.J06 4]

Also lived in Eindhoven. I learned more Russian in two months in Lipetsk than I learned Dutch in two years in Eindhoven. Menus might not be in English everywhere, but it is easy enough to get along. I can probably count on one hand the number of people I met that didn't speak English.

I miss stumbling around drunk on Stratumseind. I miss PSV. I even miss the little Eindhoven airport.

I would think southern part of the Netherlands was pretty much not very English speaking friendly - I used to live in Eindhoven. 180 degrees difference from Amsterdam

I like Russia. It is different though. Without at least a basic grasp of the language, it is not possible to understand anything. In Western Europe, even with language differences, it isn't so hard to understand people. Culturally, Europeans are not so different from each other. Russians are very different. Everything is very different there.

I respectfully disagree with your statement about the Europeans being alike. The Germans are not a bit like the French (unfortunately) and the Brits are a whole different ballgame, too! Lifestyles and cultures are not the least bit alike, that would be like saying all Americans are alike!

[kittykatwoman 0]

My husband spent 3 years in my country.

If he could speak the language well enough we would still be there, he's getting better tho and we consider living out of the states eventually when we have enough savings and after I got the citizenship. There are various things he miss, first one is secularity, second is the lifestyle.

[russ 1]

I respectfully disagree with your statement about the Europeans being alike. The Germans are not a bit like the French (unfortunately) and the Brits are a whole different ballgame, too! Lifestyles and cultures are not the least bit alike, that would be like saying all Americans are alike!

This is in the context of Russia being much different. Things like modern plumbing, standard of living, roads, concern for the environment, and quality health care are more or less universal in Western Europe. Not the case in Russia.

As a German, you do not need to show a passport to travel to France. As a Russian, you need a passport to take a bus to another town.

I think Americans are for the most part quite similar.

Just my opinion, not saying it is right.

[GabachaYucateca 0]

I love Mexico. I've spent about seven years there altogether, which is a lot, since I'm not even 30.

We will move back some day, but just like many people, can't do so now because of lack of employment opportunities.

I really can't imagine not being interested in my husband's country and culture as some people have alluded to about their SO.

[pbgirl 1]

We are both Indian although he was raised in India and I was raised in the US. Multiple trips to India as a kid, and even more as an adult. I can't imagine being with someone and not really understanding their culture or their background. It floors me sometimes that people have only been to their SO countries once (and for maybe 1 or 2 weeks). As someone said, that is not enough time to really "know" a country. And I think you need to know where someone came from to know where they are going (cliche, I know). And once you start having children, I think they really need to understand where it is they come from.

[addy 0]

I am very used to the U.K. now that I can't wait to go back asap.

[Dwarf_Ogress 0]

I loved Jamaica...somewhat. I made 16 (I think) trips so far. Spent almost all of it at his house without proper running water, electric, and lots of amenities I was used to.

While I admired the peacefulness and beauty at times, I saw the ugliness of poverty, undereducation, violence, etc. at other times.

I would visit there in a heartbeat. Wouldn't choose to live there at this point.

I couldn't have said it better! Although I have only been there twice. You forgot to mention the constant shouts of, "Hey Whitie!" lol

[Jasman0717 9]

I love the Philippines but have only spent a few months there. I did get an opportunity to meet a lot of expats in CDO where Claudeth is from and they were a nice bunch of guys. We are hoping to find a house or a lot around the city and spend at least part of our time there when I retire.

[JoeMama 0]

Been to Ukraine 4 times in the last 2 years. Going back again next month to get my sweetie. I love it there! The differences of "conveniences" we have here in the US and, those that are not quite in place yet in Ukraine, don't bother me at all. Not many people speak English. I was intrigued to go somewhere where people didn't cater so much to Westerners. I'm not fluent in the language. But I can speak and read enough to get around there with little or no problems. It's all beginning to change there now. I've seen McDonald's in each city I've gone there. Seriously, the decline of a civilization. The "Super-size me" effect is gaining momentum.

[churipu 4]

Hubby lived in Italy for 3 and totally loved it ..we are both looking forward to moving back there around june 2008.

Edited July 19, 2007 by churipu