I never thought I would marry an Asian man and I simply assumed my future husband would be Hispanic. However, relationships such as ours continue to be on the rise; and, according to studies on interracial couples from the most recent census, “non-Hispanic and Hispanic interracial opposite-sex married couples are the most prominent of all interracial coupling, comprising about 45% of such partnerships”. In the media, the example was first set by Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo in the 1950’s—examples of the joys but also potential challenges of marrying outside one’s race or ethnicity.

Even though Jonathan and I are still in the early years our relationship, here are a few tips we have practiced to help us navigate thus far. While the advice can be applied to any relationship, it is more important for those couples that have had very different upbringings and culture. 

• Prepare your families, preferably early in the relationship. We met one another’s family as soon as we realized we knew were going to pursue a relationship and openly discussed our parents’ concerns. Don’t forget to bring food to your first meeting—it is a uniting factor!
• Be intentional about having conversations about traditions and participate in each other’s customs. Jonathan had to specifically coach me about Chinese New Year and how to properly accept gifts from his family. I’ve taught him about the importance of Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and the tamale fest we undergo every year to prepare for the holidays. It is definitely a joy to share traditions but you need the context to truly appreciate the experience.
• Celebrate your differences, but not at the expense of diminishing your own culture and values. Each culture is as important as the other and should be respected and treated with honor, even it feels very foreign or different.
• Help and support one another navigate family interactions but do not stifle anyone’s individuality in the process. I enjoy watching Jonathan interact with my abuelita and I support when necessary, but I also leave them alone to get to know each other. I’ve learned that love transcends any language or cultural barrier.

My parents, two immigrants from Northern Mexico, are thrilled to have a Chinese son-in-law.  Jonathan’s parents, originally from Hong Kong and Malaysia, embrace me openly and welcomed me as another daughter. We feel so blessed by their support but also acknowledge that the outcome has partly been a result of our intentional and thoughtful actions. The extra work has been worth the effort and resulted in other positive, unintended benefits, including the opportunity to teach cultural sensitivity and break any preconceived notions or stereotypes.