Foreigners Hold Forth On US Dating and Marriage

About 40 foreign students, mostly Europeans, sat around in the dimly lit living room of the ISA last night disposing of American dating and social customs.

Introductory remarks by an American, Dorothy Joseph, defining such phenomena as the "blind date," the "coffee date," the "steady date" and the "study date," were greeted with mild amusement by the group.

When a pretty blonde girl asked if it were permissible to date more than one boy at a time, everyone became hotly partisan. Supporting the American system of multiple dating, a Southern girl drawled that she "doesn't like to feel trapped."

"Investment and return," sneered a handsome German boy, "you're afraid to invest too much emotion in one boy."

In Sierra Leone dating is something of a sport, to outwit one's very vigilant parents. An Egyptian boy agreed, adding that class time was prime dating time, since a couple could go off and return, making believe that they had been in school.

As in the African countries, dates in Italy, France, and Sweden never came into each other's homes, even to meet parents. But in Germany and England, "dates always come into each other's houses, and are never 'hidden.'"

The Africans and Asians speaking all opposed "traditional" (very European) and "progressive" (American) dating styles in their countries.

Four French students present argued among themselves as to the status of divorcees, concluding finally that the higher the economic class, the easier divorces are to obtain, and the more unacceptable.

"In France," remarked a French girl," we do not talk about dating or sex. We talk about marriage."

The American teacher declared that while a 40-year-old single woman is definitely not accepted in our society, "once she's divorced, she's culturally accepted forever."

The English boy commented that there are a lot of difficulties for a divorcee, but that the American attitudes of tolerance is increasingly prevalent.