After you meet  a person to your liking online and chat for a while, in a couple of months it seems that you know everything about each other. However, so many people are  afraid of getting disappointed or disappointing their virtual date when it  comes to meeting in real life, especially if you two are representatives of two  different cultures. What are the best ways to avoid this disappointment on your  first real date?

       The best thing is to be in line with your virtual image from the very start. Your virtual image is based on the very first things you tell someone about yourself because  the very first things stick in your virtual date’s memory easily. Now that  you’re trying to get ready for your date in person, go back to the very  beginning of your virtual relationship and try to remember how sincere you were  at that point. In the virtual world, as much as in the real one, it is better  to be truthful if you are looking for a serious relationship, not just for fun.  Therefore, if you lied, distorted your true image or simply exaggerated  something at the beginning of a virtual relationship, try to think in advance  how you’re going to extricate yourself from a difficult situation if one should  arise while meeting in the real world.

       Don’t lie about your preferences in food or drinks just to look cool or fashionable. If you said you like sushi or any other exquisite dish which you have never even  tried, be prepared that your virtual date might offer you going to a Japanese  restaurant just out of consideration for your taste. You don’t want to discover  an allergy for some exotic seafood product in a luxurious restaurant.

       Don’t lie about your hobbies either. If you told your date that you do some snowboarding just to show off a little, don’t be surprised if when you meet in person she/he  asks you: “Which type of core does your snowboard have?” It is quite unlikely  that you’ll have a chance to simply google this information to get out of the  scrape on your first real date.

       To make a  good impression, wear something modest for the first date. Good colors for men would be black, white, navy blue or beige. For women: also black, white, lavender  or dark red. Gaudy and bright colors are not good. However if you meet a  Russian girl for the first time, don’t be surprised to see her in high-heeled  shoes wearing something too sexy for the occasion: many foreigners believe that  Russian girls wear provocative outfit (that is one of the reasons Russian girls  are so popular), while in Russia it would be considered casual and quite  acceptable.

       It is also  important to choose the right place. If your date is flying from another country to meet you in person, then you have no other choice but to meet  her/him at the airport. But if your date lives in your city, you have to give  it a thought in advance. Surprisingly, a good place for the first date could be  a movie theater. You won’t need to talk for at least an hour and a half, which  will help you lose your discomfort and nervousness. And after the movie you  will have one good subject to discuss and share your opinions on.

       Anxiety is a  natural thing for the first real date. You will be nervous and maybe even edgy, as well as your materialized pen pal. Therefore try to be indulgent to your date’s awkward jokes, shyness or excessive talkativeness – these are all signs  of nervousness. However, if your virtual date is from another country, their  fear of being misunderstood or saying something wrong in your language might  keep their mouth shut for a long time before they feel comfortable enough to  freely talk to you on any subject. But their silence doesn’t mean they don’t  like you or don’t want to talk to you. It is just not easy to open up, even  though you “know each other so well now” through your letters. Since you know  that it will be hard to find a subject to talk about, plan it in advance before your first date. Even if everything goes smoothly and your talking will be  natural, planning a conversation ahead will simply help you be less nervous.

       It is quite a challenge to meet a person compatible with you online. Therefore if you do, try to make your virtual image correspond to your true image and avoid the fears  and doubts of the first date.