Lonely Expats Looking For LoveColleen Geske AMSTERDAM —Being an expat in a foreign country where you dont speak the language is hard at the best of times. And if youre single with the most romantic day of the year looming, what do you do You could sit at home and feel sorry for yourself, but the modern expat in Europe is turning to exciting new ways of finding Mr or Mrs Right before February 14. One way is through SpeedDating, where you get 25 different three-minute dates in one evening. SpeedDating was nothing more than a fad in cities such as London and New York, but for expats in Europe, its proving to be a lifesaver come February 14. Many single expats find SpeedDating an attractive, safe and efficient alternative to the superficial bar scene and torturous three-hour blind dates. A Valentines edition of Expatica SpeedDate, in central Amsterdam, has proved so popular that people are queuing up just to be on the reserve list. Although the concept was intended for English-speaking expatriates, more and more locals are looking to meet interesting international people. But, is three minutes enough Can you really meet Mr or Mrs Right And if so, will it develop into a long-term relationship The answer to all three questions was " yes " for Canadian expat Jay Parker* who met Australian Monique Frey* at an Expatica SpeedDate evening in Amsterdam in 2002 -- and is about to get married. The happy couple now lives in Canada and last told Expatica they are busy in “wedding planning mode”. For those not quite bold enough to launch themselves into a room with complete strangers, an ever-increasing way of finding love is online. Match.com is the largest of the online dating sites, but its not a great deal of use if, for example, you’re an American living in Paris. Enter Expatica.com - which runs Europes largest online dating service for expats. With over 6,000 profiles online, Expatica Date provides a platform for lonely expats to meet up in a foreign land. And the site appears to be doing the trick - Expatica often receives emails from happy couples boasting how they met on the site. So, for those seeking romance for Valentines, there is help out there—if you’re willing to post a profile online or blind date 25 people in one evening. *Names have been changed to protect privacy [Copyright Expatica News 2005] -- end -- For more information on this article, please contact: Colleen Geske
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