BBC - Relationships - Coping with grief:: This invaluable guide to coping with the grief of a loved one gives an insight into the mixed feelings involved. Moving Beyond Grief: Lessons from those who http://www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/coping_with_grief/furtherreading_index.shtmlHOME | As the world continues to shrink, and people become increasingly accustomed to moving country as one time they moved town, there is an increasing trend for mixed culture relationships. At one time, such relationships met with societys disapproval, but nowadays its commonplace to see couples of obvious mixed backgrounds walking hand-in-hand in the shopping mall. If you find yourself involved with someone from a different cultural background to your own, there are ways of merging the two cultures so that rather than having two separate ones, you create a special mixed one that you can both happily live with. Pomegranate Queen:: When it comes to reflecting on their relationships or involvements with the so much harder to navigate than in any other mixed culture relationship. http://pomegranatequeen.blogspot.com/2006/08/dating-white-men-white-man-danger.htmlHOME |
Mixed culture could mean different ethnicity, different religions, different languages, or even different social status. It could even mean a combination of some or most of these! In order to merge the two, you both need to first have a good base of respect for your partners culture. You need to learn what is important to that culture in order to see where the blending areas are. In the case of religion, this may not be possible - but if you love and respect your partner, its not necessary for you to convert to their religion, only that you both mutually respect the others right to your own belief system. Self Help For Coping with Colic by Gina Winter « Earth Mamas Web:: A few drops of liquid bifidus or acidophilus culture may be given to your baby mixed with a teaspoon of cooled boiled water before and after nursing. http://earthmamasweb.wordpress.com/2007/02/25/self-help-for-coping-with-colic-by-gina-winter/HOME | American Culture: Myths and Realities:: File Format: Microsoft Word - View as HTMLThere is a strong dose of Puritanism mixed in with the generally . Coping with Culture Shock. The most effective way to combat culture shock is to step http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/multiple_use/Culture.806.docHOME |
Things can fall apart when it comes to your respective families however. They didnt fall in love with your partner - this foreign person (even if they are from the same town and have lived their all their lives - if they are different, then to some families, they will be foreign!) has come into their lives and upset the plans they had for a traditional type of in-law relationship, and they arent usually quiet about their displeasure and disappointment. Any mixed culture couple will anticipate trouble from this part of their life and will present a united front against both families. Sometimes it can mean that you need to reinforce your opinion that you love this person and they are the one for you, and you arent going to apologize for it, and sometimes it can just mean keeping a low profile until the family finds something else to complain about. You know your families best, as long as you both stand strong with the love you have for each other, you are taking care of whats important - your relationship.
When you realize that the mixed culture relationship is serious, you should both take an interest in each others culture. What traditions are there? Which of these do you like? What about special days such as religious days or festivals? Make a list of the ones that are important to you as individuals and combine the list so that as a couple you have a combined list. You may not celebrate the same religious days, or you celebrate at the same time but for different reasons, for example - but that doesnt mean that you cant both enjoy the time together.
Once you have children, this combined mix will help them grow in an environment thats enriched from both cultures. They will learn the heritage supplied from both parents. Children brought up in mixed culture homes grow up accepting that both cultures are good. If there are two languages in the house, somehow they work it out and are bi-lingual at a very young age. Religion is a little more complicated, and thats an issue that you and your partner should discuss before you get to the baby stage as if one, or both, of you has strong views on this and cant or wont compromise then it could destroy your relationship. This is probably the biggest threat to your relationship - remember both families are going to be also having strong opinions about the issue - and you need to ensure that its sorted well in advance of any babies coming in your lives.
A mixed culture relationship is one where you have two people from two very different backgrounds combining their lives to create a third. Respect for each others culture as well as each other will ensure that even a relationship between people who have very different traditions will succeed.
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