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Duo Family Training
THeME 1: The Intercultural Couple

“I think we have learned a lot about each other, and I have learned a lot about myself. I couldn't have faced myself and understood where many reactions come from without being married to someone from a different culture and background. The greatest moments are when we are all happily together having fun.”
​- Mother of an intercultural family
“I feel we have more responsibility towards society as an intercultural couple, to set a good example of the positiveness of mixing cultures – and the enjoyment of it.”
- Mother of an intercultural family
COUPLES IN THIS SECTION
  • Kaisa-Leena and Jan (Finland and the Netherlands)
  • Suzanne and Ilmari (Canada and Finland)
  • Valisa and Mikko (Thailand and Finland)
QUICK LINKS 
  • Welcome to Duo Family Training
  • How to use this online course
  • Theme 1: The Intercultural Couple
  • Theme 2: The Pregnant Couple
  • Theme 3: Intercultural Parenthood
  • Theme 4:  The Two of You
  • Theme 5: Challenges
  • Theme 6: The Bilingual Child
  • Theme 7: The Intercultural Child
  • Theme 8: The Third Culture
  • Conclusion

The Intercultural Couple

Duo Project’s own Love and Parenthood Guide describes culture in the following terms: “Culture contains all the information that is passed on from one generation to the next, for example, in the form of language, habits and customs. People consider the values that are characteristic of their own cultures important and define through these ideas what is “normal” and “abnormal”, wanted and not wanted. Our ways of expressing ourselves and our feelings – happiness and sorrow, satisfaction and irritation – are also influenced by our cultural background. In other words, every one of us is, to some extent, the product of the culture we grew up in. Culture also affects the way we perceive the world and interpret our experiences. People can interpret the same situation in many different ways and, although the interpretations are different, they are all correct in their own way.
“We need more different ‘colours’ in our society. Intercultural families have a very important role to play.”
​- Father of an intercultural family
Differences in cultures bring their own challenges to an intercultural romantic relationship, but dissimilarities in personalities and world views don’t always cause problems. Many people would even find a relationship with someone who was exactly the same boring and too predictable.” (Love and Parenthood in an Intercultural Family: Between cultures, pp. 10-12)
“Intercultural families have a great possibility to bring up a new, open and tolerant generation.”
​- Mother of an intercultural family
In addition, culture varies hugely depending on the individuals involved, the society from which they come and the experiences they have had. Your culture, and that of your partner, is personal and made up of many different components. What we experience in our lives not only shapes our culture and what we value, but also how we view the world and treat others. Our own personal culture gives us a unique identity and perspective on everything, and by understanding this concept we are able to see just how it can affect parenthood and the possible issues surrounding it – not to mention your child and the family environment. The only parental model we have first-hand experience of comes from our parents and is different from person to person. Therefore, if you communicate with your partner what you have experienced and what is important to you when it comes to parenting, you are better able understand and support each other as parents and partners.
 “I think it's four different facets, not only having two cultures, but you have the other culture and you learn to understand a little of the other culture, but that culture gives you a vision of your own culture, and you can look at your own culture from the view of that, and vice versa, the other person can do it too, so I think it is an enriching experience. If you want to improve, of course, we don't always want to improve, and people are stubborn - I am talking mostly about myself here."
- Father of an intercultural family
This is, of course, more simplistic in a same-culture relationship, as the likelihood will be that the parenting styles the partners have experienced are more similar. Every couple has emotional and cultural layers, but due to the fact that intercultural couples are from different countries, climates and cultures they will inevitably have more layers with which to contend. In many cases this heightens the need for dialogue and compromise. However, this isn’t automatically a negative aspect, and couples who are able to talk openly, listen to the other and respect each other’s views, often come up with innovative and unique ideas and solutions. Acknowledging your similarities and differences and discussing these issues with your partner is important, as communication will allow you both to be aware of how the other is feeling and what they believe is important. 
"Somehow I would say that having that insight is really enriching, and especially having a child, I think these days it is really important to understand that no culture is homogeneous. There is no such thing as a pure-bred Finn. That's like, I mean there has been such a mishmash of cultures anyways, and we all have so many different things. I mean, if you think about what Finns eat, we have kebabs from Turkey and pizza from Italy and that's the sort of Finnish food. It would be ridiculous to claim that there's some sort of isolated cultures. And having that in your family situation, having that as part of bringing up a child makes the child understand that there is diversity and there is richness in diversity. And there is a lot to be learned from that.”
​- Father of an intercultural family

COUPLE Interviews

Online Lecture


Homework

  • Homework 1.1. Identifying Cultural Differences (PDF)
  • Homework 1.2. How Well Do You Know Your Partner? (PDF)
Picture

Toimisto / OFFICE 

Lintulahdenkatu 10, 7. kerros / 7th Floor
​00500 Helsinki
Suomi-Finland

Puhelin / PHONE

+358 (0) 44 773 8628

aukioloajat / Opening times

Toimistomme ovat avoinna vierailijoille. Suosittelemme kuitenkin ystävällisesti soittamaan etukäteen ja sopimaan henkilökohtaisen tapaamisen.

Our offices are open to visitors. We kindly suggest calling in advance to book an appointment and meet us in person. ​

VAT-numero / VAT-Number

​1056329-6

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Familia ry logo
Familia on johtava kahden kulttuurin perheiden asiantuntija ja edunvalvoja 
​Familia is the leading expert and advocate of intercultural families
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© Familia 2023
  • Etusivu
  • Home
  • TOIMINTAA JA TUKEA
    • VERTAISTOIMINTA >
      • Vertaisryhmät
      • Duo vanhempainvalmennus
    • Neuvonta ja tuki
    • Tapahtumat
    • Kerhot ja työpajat
    • BElingual -hanke
    • Munduo - kahden kulttuurin nuorille
    • Kokemusasiantuntijat
    • Leiritoiminta
    • Tuetut lomat
  • ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT
    • Peer Support >
      • Peer Groups
      • Duo Family Training
    • Advice and support
    • Events
    • Clubs and workshops
    • BElingual -project
    • Munduo - For Intercultural Youth
    • Experts by Experience
    • Subsidised vacation
    • Weekend Camps
  • TIETOA
    • Uutiskirjeet
    • Blogi
    • Vaikuttamistyö >
      • Oman äidinkielen opetus
      • Antirasistinen vaikuttamistyö
      • Mitä kaksikielisyys merkitsee sinulle
    • Eduskuntavaalit 2023 >
      • Familian tavoitteet
      • Vaalipaneeli
    • Nettikurssit ja oppaat
    • Kuinka puhua rasismista ja syrjinnästä -opas
    • Rinnallasi-materiaalipankki
    • Puolison polku - työllistyminen, kotoutuminen ja hyvinvointi
    • Tietoa kahden kulttuurin perheistä
    • Ammattilaisille
  • INFORMATION
    • Newsletter
    • Blog
    • Advocacy >
      • Mother tongue instruction
    • Parliamentary Elections 2023 >
      • Familia's objectives
      • Panel discussion
    • Online courses and guides
    • Tools for Speaking about Racism and Discrimination Guide
    • Partner's Path Project >
      • Path ambassadors
      • Challenges and solutions >
        • A to Z for intercultural couples
        • Anatomy of a CV
        • Why is a finnish partner a strength?
        • Fluent finnish required
      • Partner's path information and results
    • Professionals
  • JOIN US
    • Become a member
    • Volunteering
    • Internship & Work Try-Out
    • Open Positions
  • TULE MUKAAN
    • Liity jäseneksi
    • Tule vapaaehtoiseksi
    • Tule harjoitteluun tai työkokeiluun
    • Avoimet työpaikat
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  • ABOUT US
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  • TIETOA MEISTÄ
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