Love Around the World

I have been thinking a lot about dating, relationships, love, men and sex lately.

Having just broken up with the last boy in a long string of semi-serious, not-quite-right, ok/maybe good, but not great relationships - I can't help but think that the only common factor in these failed romantic endeavors is... me. Time to look in the mirror and be honest. Am I doing something wrong? Am I dating the wrong men? Some of my friends have been telling me this for years. Maybe it's about time I heeded their comments.

So, what does a girl do? Well, this girl anyway, spends the first two weeks post break up partying like she's still 23. I quickly realize that I'm a bit too old for that life now. So tonight, after a grueling week at work, I elect to spend a relatively quiet evening with my wonderful (and gorgeous) friend from college. We are happily devouring decadent chocolate desserts at one of the best Union Square restaurants on Geary called Cortez... ask for a lovely bartender named Louie to help you out... he an adorable musician with a quirky mustache). My girlfriend and I, both similarly, seemingly unable to get in or stay in a serious, committed relationship, decide to embrace the reality of our lives! Why not embrace the fact that I am not interested in falling in love, getting married or settling down in the burbs. I want to travel the world, meet fascinating people and laugh a lot. Since my career chains me to San Francisco, why not bring the world to me! Why the hell not go on 50 dates with 50 men from 50 different countries.

To be fair to the many lovely American men roaming the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, it's not that I have anything against dating any of them... it's just that I want to try something (or rather, someone new). So there, I can't travel to 50 countries, so why not travel the world in 50 nights with 50 eligible bachelors.

I'm not looking for love, quite the contrary. I'm genuinely curious about men, love, romance, marriage, relationships with people from different cultures, languages and customs. I'm interested to see if this will even work. How does the other world look at "dating" and "mating" and "love" and "marriage"? How is a date with a man born and raised in the United States differ from a man born and raised in Peru, India, Ethiopia or Brazil? What do non-American (nonA) men think about American girls? What was their first date, first love, first kiss like? What are the family and cultural expectations about dating, let alone someone not from their own culture? How do you say love in every language in the world?

Well, I'm starting with Peru... and I will be sure to keep you all posted. No censorship. No strings. No stopping me. Let's see what the men of the world have to offer a girl like me. Until next time, happy dating and mating!