Your Intercultural Marriage

In an increasingly global and connected world, marriages between spouses of different countries and cultures are on the rise. Marla Alupoaicei, herself wed to a Romanian, helps couples sort through such issues as food, finances, family, and such “hidden” problems as different understandings of what it means to be “on time.” Marla combines real-life stories with expert perspectives and biblical insight for a helpful guide both for those just starting out on the intercultural adventure – and those in the midst of it. You'll get practical and biblical advice for handling the most common intercultural conflicts, including: Planning your wedding Communication Understanding each other's values Different views of time Agreeing on food Managing finances Intimacy Raising children Handling illness and grief

An insightful look at the stresses and challenges of intercultural relationships - from one who has been there. Today we live in a world without borders, a global village. Distance no longer defines who we meet, fall in love with or marry. The Internet and e-mail connect people around the world in seconds. Immigration, study abroad, travel and multinational business have created a thriving cross-cultural community. But the experiences shared across cultures and countries do not always bridge the fundamental differences in beliefs and behaviors that span diverse cultures. In Intercultural Marriage, Dugan Romano delivers a "reality check" for anyone already in, or contemplating, an intercultural marriage. This insightful book interweaves lessons learned from others and suggests that the joys of an intercultural marriage often result from turning the challenges of crossing cultures into an opportunity for a fulfilling and lasting relationship. Now in its third edition, Intercultural Marriage examines the impact of cultural differences in marriage and offers practical guidelines on how to deal with the complexities they bring to a partnership. Covering such topics as raising bicultural children, religion, values, male vs. female roles, sex and social class, Romano continues to give voice to hundreds of couples she has interviewed and followed for over a decade.

Dugan Romano identifies nineteen troublespots and interweaves the lessons learned to deliver this 'reality check' for anyone already in or contemplating an intercultural marriage.

In love but worlds apart is a self-help book for a man and woman who come from two very different cultural backgrounds and who are considering a life commitment to each other. It shows how and when their differences can be problematic, but also how such a relationship could succeed. This book enables partners to think and talk about their cultural differences (such as in manners, values, worldview, holidays and other customs), and to develop traditions and activities they can enjoy together. Questions to think and talk about, which are cited throughout the book, are again listed in the back for copying and giving to the partner to use. A list of possible priorities of choice is also provided to help partners decide whether or not their relationship could work long-term. For couples who have already begun or decided on an intercultural marriage, reading and doing this book may lessen their shock and frustrations and lead them into a more positive experience.

As societies world-wide become increasingly multicultural, so the issues of identity, belonging, tolerance and racism become imperative to understand in their various forms. This book adds to the discussion by examining the interface between the lived, personal experiences of people in cross-cultural marriages and wider socio-political issues. One major contribution this book offers is that the marriages discussed are from a very broad range of cultures and classes. Amongst other issues, contributors examine: the legal and social factors influencing cross-cultural marriages; the personality factors and positive or negative stereotypes of otherness that influence spouse choice; notions of identity, gender and personhood, and definitions of difference, and how these are often tied up in emotive stereotypes; how all these factors affect the ongoing process of living together and the ability to cope; and how the children of such marriages come to terms with identity choices. This book should be highly relevant to the growing number of people in cross-cultural marriages, as well as to professionals in the fields of marriage guidance, child welfare and academics interested in ethnicity and kinship.

With so many individuals, couples, and families now living in the United States from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, there are various communication styles among the different ethnic groups that play a key role in determining the success and failure of today's marriages and family relationships. Throughout the years of personal struggles as a formal political refugee from Southeast Asia, the author survived many levels of challenges, such as escaping from Laos to Thailand to be freed from political persecution, surviving in a refugee camp from sicknesses and hunger, coming to America with zero English skill, in order to become a language instructor, marriage and family counselor, and Mien language and cultural consultant. The combined years of his research and personal experiences in working with individuals, couples, and families from different cultural, social, and educational settings, he has the honor and privilege to write this book, with practical implications for individuals, couples, parents, pastors, community leaders, counselors, educators, and researchers.

While cross-cultural relations were once assumed to be inherently problematic, in recent years these couples have increased in both numbers and social acceptance, and there is now a growing awareness of how little we really know about them. Addressing this gap in our knowledge, this book presents 12 chapters focusing on cross-cultural couple formations (i.e., a partner from the U.S. and another from abroad). Highlighting both the struggles and successes of couples, this book challenges the principle of homogamy, helping the reader gain a deeper understanding and respect for intercultural couples. The chapters tackle a broad range of topics and issues, including systemic considerations of the phenomenon of cross-cultural couples, bilingual couples, interfaith relationships, struggles in such couple formations, different methods of approaching solutions, and the use of the internet to meet partners from diverse backgrounds.

What happens when two Christians from different cultures decide to get married? In today's ever-shrinking world, intercultural marriage is becoming increasingly more common, and it can either be a disaster...or one of the greatest blessings God will give us in our earthly live. This short book details some basic keys to success taken from the personal experiences of various intercultural couples, including, - Discussions to have with your spouse before and after marriage. -How to keep love and romance alive. -How to turn conflict into something which will strengthen your marriage. -The importance of Ephesians 4:32. -How to forgive ...and much more! This book was written for those who are dating and newly married, but we hope that couples in all walks of life in all cultures will be blessed by reading it.