The beauty of multicultural marriage

Every relationship in some way has similarities with the other. Ups and downs are given and all these are attributed on the uniqueness of both the individuals involved. The values, beliefs/religion, family background and culture play key roles in the success or failure of the relationship. The first three factors are present in all and I am one of the lucky women who are given the chance to be in a multi-cultural marriage.

I am a Filipina, who lived all my life in the Philippines, was swept-off by my Prince Charming, an Australian. In the onset of our relationship, I didn't see that growing up in different counties and with differing cultures would bring peculiarities in our married life. We both were not aware of the dominant attitudes of the people in each others country is known for and we don't stereotype. We just acted spontaneously on every occasion and there starts knowing and learning of who we really are.

On the lighter side, being married to each other broadens our knowledge of other cultures. It seems like traveling and living in that country and immersed into the community without actually being there. There's the process of learning a new language funny experiences sprung out when a certain word was used in a wrong context. Add the fact that traveling to a place with a highly qualified tourist guide and for free is most tourists' wish. Don't discount the new tastes your palette is enjoying or sometimes repel and most of all, only women's advantage, having a foreign sounding family name.

Going back to the times when my Husband and I were not together yet, the distance was wearing us down. We missed each other so much that we feel very desperate, unreasonable at times and highly irritating. It caused extraneous phone bills and at other times we are hurting each other.

The language barrier caused strain to our relationship as well. For a woman raised in a non-English speaking country, I always stumble on my use of tenses and conjunctions which sometimes led to misunderstandings. I occasionally used the word not in context and put meaning other than what I really meant. Fortunately, as days go by, this stumbling block is making us laugh. My husband learned to read between the lines or my action and assumes that I always meant good. He would earnestly correct me if I slip-up and I enjoy the process.

The cultural differences have actually made us a better person taught us to be more patient, open-minded, fun-loving, etc. Life had never been dull or a routine. Each day is a new day to look forward to as we know we will learn something novel from each other a continuous learning process, as what life really is, but ours are just catered on a colorful plates.


By Era Petersan