So I'm a 2nd/3rd generation Australian, and my first girlfriend was full on typical Aussie. Keep in mind that we were young, dumb teens and I never used to get out much
still don't, but just a few things that I found crazy during our time together:
- Wearing shoes inside. Most Middle Eastern households I know would NEVER have shoes inside, definitely not in where the family would sit.
- Speaking of, apparently it's not normal for people to sit on the floor. Shoes inside meant no carpets, and no carpets meant no sitting on the floor. My family and most of the same cultural ones I know of would even eat while seated on the floor; the dining table is seldom used.
- Probably the first serious difference, but there was also a difference in family values. Not saying that she loved her own family any less than I loved mine, but I know that her dad struggled a lot with his parents and so she never saw her grandparents much. I basically spent every weekend at my grandparents, and culturally speaking, it's expected to treat your elders with absolute respect even if they get old and long in the tooth (which I'm thankful has never happened with me).
- Also the more obvious one, dating lol. My parents certainly weren't very happy I was dating someone from another religion, and if I was a girl I surely would've gotten a right smack around the head. Meanwhile her dad didn't really care I don't go to church or whatever, and her mum would always give me hugs whenever she saw me (I don't think my ex would even recognize my dad if you gave her a picture and told her it was him).
- Finally, apparently I'm not meant pay for everything for my girlfriend. If she ever so much as mentioned liking a particular book, my wallet would be open before the sentence was over, and it actually took us a while to deal with that in a healthier manner. Bloody strange, I understand, but yeah it's no secret that my culture puts a heavy emphasis on being able to provide as a man.
Despite all of this though, we made it work for almost two years though (which is like light years for teenagers in all fairness); goes to show that it doesn't really matter what your differences are, so long as you can and are willing to work together to overcome them!