The Land of Opportunity

You never really realize how good you have it until you travel.

There have been so many things that have been huge reality checks for me living overseas. Materially speaking, there were the $35 paperbacks and the $200 bed sheets, but what really got me was dating culture over here. You see, we really do have it made in America.

In America if guy meets girl and said guy is interested -- said guy MAKES A MOVE! On the other side of the puddle however, the senario is very different. Guy meets girl and said guy is interested -- guy does nothing. (Creepy guys and weirdos aside). Instead said guy waits for massive gestures and signs, like billboard huge, from the girl in order to even contemplate making a move, because God forbid they get rejected. This has been a huge source of frustration for me. Especially when I find myself on a second date and I'm getting text messages afterwards where I'm being asked if I like them because they didn't want to make assumptions. HELLO?! We've passed date number one and we were just talking about going on the next one and YOU'RE WONDERING IF I LIKE YOU?! Oh please. I don't have time for that.

The funny thing is that I used to get offended at how women act here. I grew up with guys. I'm used to being around them, conversing with them, etc. If there is a party or gathering of sorts, I'm used to talking to a variety of people, not just women. That is the culture I grew up in. Over here it seems gender roles are very much alive and well.

I remember my first time mingling with people outside of University. I was at an outing and I remember being confused as to why all the men gravitated to one side to talk, (save for a few new couples), and all the women ended up congregated on the other. I even was more surprised when I started up a chat with a guy who I hadn't met yet. I knew he had a girlfriend and regardless it was just a friendly conversation. Yet within minutes of saying hello, the girlfriend was practically peeing on his leg in efforts to mark her territory, and remained there for the duration of our conversation. I remember being grossly offended because where I grew up, you just don't do that. It's considered rude and is only done when you truly feel someone is poaching, which I most certainly was not. Not wanting to jump to conclusions however, I tested out my theory and time and time again and the same result would occur: Women would swoop down on their man the minute a single female was in the vicinity. It was weird to say the least.

But after 6 months of the singles scene and dating men over here, one thing has become apparent. If it is so difficult for men to approach women, let alone for there to be chemistry, and dating to result, no wonder women hover and mark their territory every chance they get! You see, I didn't realize that when people said that America is the land of opportunity, that it extended to dating as well.

Point taken.