Instructor: Dr. Lalia
Hekima Kiburi
Winter
Quarter 2014
Blog Question #6
In the book titled: In
Love, But Worlds Apart: Insights,
questions, and tips for the intercultural couple, the
authors Grete Shelling and J. Fraser Smith argue that intercultural dating and
mating partners can not depend on love alone to create and sustain a successful
relationship. According to Shelling
and Smith, certain conditions must be met in order to enhance their unity. These conditions are:
·
“partners must become reasonably more and more
mature
·
[be] willing and able to think and to talk about
their cultural differences that include manners, values, worldview, holidays
and other customs
·
learn to understand and respect [their]
differences
·
find solutions to their conflicts and discover
enough things they can celebrate and enjoy together”
Shelling and Smith help partners
to “think through vital topics of differences they must face eventually, such
as:
·
“their differing family backgrounds
·
[differing] expectations
·
[differing] tastes
·
future country or place of residence”
Given all that you have learned from course readings,
presentations, and discussions to date, which of the above issues would be of
greatest concern to you in analyzing the social practice of dating and mating
across cultures. Why?
