Now that it’s September again and people are back into their normal routines, I am ready to bring back the “So You’re Dating a Spaniard” series!  These posts are some of the most popular posts on A Spoonful of TLC, which tells me y’all are just as nosy as I am 😉  Today’s interview will be with Helene (from Luxembourg) and Jasper (from the Netherlands)!  Helene and Jasper are in a new relationship, but it is still interesting to read about the details of being with someone from a different culture.  

Once again, if you are interested in being featured on ‘So You’re Dating a Spaniard’, please reach out to me!  I am mostly looking for people that are dating Spaniards, but other cultures are welcome.

So You’re Dating a Spaniard – Helene and Jasper

• Please introduce yourself.  What’s your name? Where are you from?  How old are you? How long have you been living in Spain (if you live in Spain)?  What do you do? Where do you live? What are your hobbies?

I’m Helene from Luxembourg. I’m 25 and I live in Dublin at the moment. I’ve moved around quite a lot. I left Luxembourg at the age of 19 to attend university in the UK for 4 years. Then, I did summer project in Switzerland and a masters in the Netherlands. After that, I started working in Madrid. I moved to Dublin around 4 months ago. My hobbies include running, socializing, and cinema.

• Introduce your pareja (boyfriend/ girlfriend).  What’s his/ her name? How old is he/she? What does he/she do?  Where does he/she live?

My boyfriend is called Jasper. He’s 27, and from the Netherlands. He works in Sales and lives in Dublin, too.

• When and how did you two meet?  Give us the details  ; )

So…We first met on Tinder! I think that nowadays, meeting online is becoming increasingly common, and the negative stigma is slowly but surely fading. My first impression of Jasper was that he was (and still is) very attractive, sporty, and he looks very friendly. Obviously, he could’ve been a psychopathic serial killer for all I knew, but so far, I’m still alive!

• When did you first start dating?

We went on our first date at the end of March, and “officially” got together mid-April 2018.

• What do you and your pareja like to do together for fun?

A huge variety of things…We often have dinner together. We haven’t been dating for a very long time, so we don’t have set routines yet. We’ve done quite a few different fun activities, though, like going to the park for a picnic and going on a weekend trip. Mostly, we just enjoy spending time talking and getting to know each other better.

• What’s are some of the differences you’ve noticed between dating someone from a different culture vs. someone from your own culture?

I haven’t dated anyone from Luxembourg, so I can’t compare. But, I have dated people from different cultures, and I would say that two of the differences that I have noticed are: sense of humour and directness of communication. However, I think that most characteristics come from the individual person, and I can’t generalize the behavior based on culture.

• What’s the best thing about being with your pareja?

He’s a supportive, intelligent, and genuinely good person who inspires me to be better every day.

What’s the biggest miscommunication you’ve ever had?  Any really awkward moments?

Not so far.

• What language do you speak in?

English.

• What is one thing your pareja really believes, but you know is not true (ie: you WILL get sick if you sleep with the air conditioner on)

That he will never be able to roll his R’s.

• What is something (or a few things) you have struggled with in your relationship that is due to the fact that you’re from different places?

We haven’t struggled with that at all since we have both lived in numerous countries and have a more international outlook. We both don’t identify with our “original” cultures strongly.

• Has your pareja ever been to your hometown?  What was that like?

Not yet!

• Have you ever met your pareja’s family?  What was it like? Were you nervous?

I haven’t met them yet.

• What is your biggest pet peeve about dating someone from another culture?  (Don’t worry, we all have them!)

I really don’t struggle with that aspect very much because my culture isn’t deeply ingrained within me.

• In an ideal world, where would you both live?

Somewhere sunny!

• Any funny stories, cute moments, etc. that you want to tell from your relationship?  Just to give us a peek into your day-to-day life!

I often borrow his clothes to wear to work when I don’t have the time to go home and change, and if I don’t point it out, no one notices. His clothes probably fit me better than my own ones do…

• Please share anything else you would like to share!

I don’t think many of the traits that make our relationship unique and wonderful come from the fact that Jasper’s Dutch, but from the fact that he is who he is as a person.

Thank you, Helene (and Jasper!) for participating!  As always, it’s a lot of fun to get a peek into other people’s relationships!