Ways to Maintain A International Relationship

 

It will soon be 8 years since Jeff and I started dating.

8 years will take a new born baby to elementary school.

I am very impressed by myself for being in a relationship for this long.

 

It is difficult to maintain a relationship going, especially maintaining a international relationship.

Language barrier and cultural barrier make things more difficult for international couples.

Among all difficulties, I believe long distance relationship is the most difficult. (Jeff and I had long term relationship for 4 years.)

 

Although Jeff is way from his home in Taiwan, but he can go home if he really wants to.

Taiwan is not that far. In fact, he really wanted to go home after we fought or after he got depressed from his work.

I actually want to share few points on how to maintain  a relationship today:

 

1. Study Jeff’s mother tongue – Chinese

I have been learning Chinese since I was studying in the States. (Well, I have not been studying much lately…..)

Although we are able to communicate in English but I think Jeff will be very happy if I can talk to him in his native language.

Jeff has become so good at Japanese.

It’s my turn to master Chinese now!

 

2. Support what Jeff wants to do in Japan

I admire people who left their countries and their home for their loved ones.

I think Jeff is really brave to leave Taiwan for me.

Therefore, I really want to support Jeff on what he enjoys doing in Japan.

Jeff is very into “self-improvement”.

He attends many self-improvement seminars and he also purchased many self-development books.

He recently started his own PhotoReading practice events in Tokyo.

For those self-improvement programs require a partner, I will be his partner.

For those requires concentration, I will leave him alone so he can concentrate.

 

3. Cook Taiwanese food to catch his heart

I think I have been pretty good at cooking.

I have been studying on Taiwanese food and Chinese food on the Internet. 

 

In Japan, we say “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

I am not so sure how it is in other countries.

But I think this applies on Jeff and it works really well so far.

He gets so excited and happy every time when I make Taiwanese dishes.

 

I guess the most important point is to find the way to make the other one happy.

I am happy when I see him smile.

To make each other happy and respect each other are the best ways to maintain a relationship and they work very well on long term relationship, too.