Race Relations and Love

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Okay there was a pretty good show on here in Australia recently call Jon Safran's Race Relations and it was a humourous look at inter-racial dating etc.

Any how it's gotten me thinking. My friend's girlfriend is Chinese (an exchange student) and they've been going out for about a year now. They get on well, he's into philosophy and films whilst she's into art and biology, so they have a lot to talk about and get into heated arguments at times but all in all they're both happy.

Recently, they told me to speak to a friend of theirs - another Chinese exchange student - and I've spoken to her a few times over the internet and although she's overseas for a bit, she's hinted that she wants to meet on her return.

However, sometimes I find that the language barrier - as English is a 2nd language - can become a bit problematic as I naturally love to wax lyrical at times and I think it confuses. The other thing is - all she seems to be interested in is accounting and ice skating and it has been hard for to figure out what else there is.

She's a nice person but I'm unsure as to what she expects from me as she's constantly giving me compliments which I suspect is flirting given that currently we seem like we're from two different worlds.

Any advice at all?

Jump in!

Give it a spin -- maybe you'll find common ground, maybe you won't, but don't let the language barrier be the issue. If it's meant to be, you will click (even if it takes a few dates), and if not, at least you gave it a try.

I always dated Asian women (prior to getting married), both those born here, and born there -- the cultural thing is no big deal. We're all humans at the end of day. If one of you isn't flexible enough to adjust for the other one, once again, not meant to be.

I'm in an 'inter-racial' relationship myself, but I don't know if I could date anyone if they didn't speak fluent English without a strong accent. That's just me though.

If you can't communicate with your girlfriend, it can make things very difficult, so whilst by all means give it a go, don't get too dejected if it doesn't work out and don't feel bad if you want to end things or stay friends.

Talking baby-talk can be fine, too.

I guess everyone is different.... I had a relationship (mostly physical) with someone who could barely speak English. In the end, I think her English did improve (even now, long after), so I think where there is a will, there is a way.

I agree that it is more about the deep connections you have and the will to be able to meet somewhere in the middle on your differences. If I had a sweet and lovely Chinese girl (or any nationality really) that wanted to try a relationship with me, I'd start learning Chinese It's all about what you are willing to invest in the relationship and how much you truly like her.

I just downloaded the TV show--thanks for the recommendation (I am a big user of Bit Torrent)

The show reminded me of Bruno in terms of being provocative, but it was very well done.

You Australians sure travel a lot, don't you?

Going around the world to trick a Palestinian sperm bank into accepting Jewish sperm. Going to several countries just to steal the underwear of Eurasian celebrities. My, oh, my. It would never be shown in the USA.

It is a very good thing that I have Bit Torrent, and can break through our political censorship filters.

If you like that, he has several other worthy programmes:

Jon Safran vs God where he takes on the world's religions
Jon Safran's Music Jamboree where he takes on the music industry
Speaking In Tongues in which he and a brilliant catholic priest named Father Bob (legend!) wax philosophically

Jon Safran's an acquired taste but he's done well here. The sperm bank segment is utterly brilliant television.

Regarding my particular 'race relation' issue, thanks everyone for their advice. I'm definitely going to give it a go and see what happens. Anyone know any good Mandarin sites that help with pronounciation? I've heard it's a hard language even to get the basics of.

Mandarin is a tonal language--you literally have to sing it.

Sing it wrong, or try to speak without singing, and no-one will be able to understand you.

Why use words when you have eachother? There's nothing more sexy than a woman who is silent and misconstrued.

Madame Butterfly would've been proud...

She killed herself, right?

Yep.

She loved her foreign lover so much that she was willing to do anything.

Well, try to avoid getting so swept away that you kill yourself.

Episode 2 in Race Relations fell flat--he put on black face and passed himself off as a black Australian in California. Trying to pick a fight with a white guy while in black face was dumb.

But, thanks for the recommendations. I'm John Safran's newest fan.

The poor boy has some deep seeded psychological issues if you ask me.

Yes, he does. But don't we all, at one level or another?