The United States has become a melting pot of cultures. Every state, county, and city is well represented by the world’s numerous cultures. Nowhere is this more evident than in the place of Delaware. As business and commerce thrives in this exiguous state, more and more people are making it their home. As Delaware’s population burgeons and immigrants flood our borders, the state’s ethnic communities have begun to expand and grow beyond the major cities into the suburbs. Two of the most rapidly growing ethnic communities in Delaware are those of the Mexicans and Asian Indians.

I am fascinated by these two groups of people and enjoy taking any opportunity possible to learn more about them. Perhaps I derive them so interesting because they live and work within the community yet remain separate from it. As a teacher I also realize that their lack of assimilation poses difficulties for the education of their children. In the classroom, their native cultures often clashes with that of the community, and makes learning difficult for the children. Their native cultures affect the way they think and act and what they have. Many times this places the children at odds with the teacher or the curriculum. Through the research conducted for this paper, I learned much about both the Mexicans and Asian Indians and have gained great insight to these special people. I hope that the insight gained will help me as a teacher to better understand my students.

Materials and Methods

Research for this paper was begun on the internet. I started by “fishing” for information on Google.com. I fished using keywords such as “Mexican Americans,” “Asian Indian Americans,” “Mexican culture,” “Indian culture,” “social customs in Mexico,” “social customs in India.” The search engine directed me to numerous online encyclopedias and articles. I began gathering my information by reading articles relating to the cultures I wanted to learn about on Wikipedia.com. From the articles I was able to narrow my scope of research and decide which aspects of the cultures I wanted to address. The internet was also widely used to find government documents and other famous sources to meet the requirements of the research. Again, I fished for information on Google.com under keywords like “Mexican population in Delaware,” “Asian Indian population in Delaware,” and “Census 2000 statistics.” These keywords led me to the Delaware.gov website and the U.S. Census Bureau website. After gathering preliminary information from the internet, I then visited my local library. Using the electronic card catalog I searched for books on my chosen topics using many of the same keywords that I used for my initial internet search.

As I reviewed my sources, I found that those gathered from the internet contained all of the information I was seeking. Encyclopedia articles, journals, book excerpts, and numerous homepages dedicated to educating others about the cultures I chose were readily available on the internet. Everyculture.com was extremely helpful as it contained discussions on many of the aspects I chose to address for each culture. The Library of Congress’ cultural studies website also contained worthy needed information and was widely used. On the other hand, it was quite difficult locating books at the library. However, I did come across a few books from which I took much information: Salsa: A Taste of Hispanic Culture, Transplanting religious Traditions: Asian Indians in America, and Mexico: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Culture and History.

Choosing the aspects of each culture that I wanted to address was challenging and took great conception. I began by thinking about the purpose of the paper and its application to my career. I listed all of the different aspects of culture I could think of and then began to eliminate those that I felt had no bearing on gaining a deeper understanding for the people of each culture. Once I decided on the aspects I would address, I then began to gather my information. I skimmed the articles and books in search of information for the chosen aspects. I then drew a rough sketch of a concept intention and noted the details on it. I began each notion map with three major categories: immigration history, culture which was given sub-categories of family structure, coming of age ceremonies, courtship and weddings, and literature, and community impact.

The immigration history of the Mexicans and Asian Indians to the United States began during the latter half of the nineteenth century as they sought better opportunities for themselves and their families. The Mexican and Asian Indian peoples brought with them a rich cultural heritage which is steadfastly maintained in their new homeland. They remain, for the most section, uninfluenced by the design of life in the United States. Family and children are of utmost importance to Mexican and Asian Indian Americans, and they maintain weak family structures. Their coming of age celebrations are unique and mark important events in the lives of their children. Despite the influence of the community around them, they continue to follow the age-old traditions of courtship and weddings; they have held fast to the cultural traditions of their ancestors. Their numbers alone have greatly impacted the local community; however, both the Mexican and Asian Indian populations have made important contributions to the community that cannot be overlooked.

Mexican Americans

The history of Mexicans in the United States is a long one, occurring nearly four hundred years ago. Long before the founding of the United States, Mexicans began colonizing the areas of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, California, Utah, and Wyoming and made them a part of the Mexican Republic (Wikipedia). These established communities lived among the Native American populations and integrated with them. The first major movement of Mexicans into the United States occurred after the Mexican-American War in 1848. This movement was involuntary due to the acquisition by the United States of the lands stretching from Texas to California (Coerver, Pasztor, & Buffington, 2004). However, most of the Mexicans living in these territories stayed and became American citizens. Following the war and for the next fifty years, there was itsy-bitsy immigration to the United States by Mexican citizens. In the late 1890’s Mexico began to experience economic changes that brought about the displacement of rural populations and depressed agricultural wages. Simultaneously, in the Southwestern United States the expansion of the railroad, mining, and improved agricultural developments offered work alternatives to Mexico’s unskilled workers, thus attracting large numbers of workers to the United States (Coerver, et al, 2004).

The United States looked favorably on the influx of Mexican into the United, as Mexican laborers supplied much of the needed workforce in the agricultural Southwest. During the 1920’s when the United States began to tighten immigration laws by establishing quotas for immigration, the Western Hemisphere was exempted from the quotas, thus allowing Mexican citizens free entry into the United States (Coerver, et al, 2004). Mexicans would enjoy this dwelling until 1965 when new immigration laws placed quotas on the number of immigrants entering the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere and again in 1976 when Mexico came under general restrictions.

Despite immigration restrictions for Mexicans entering the United States, amnesty provisions enacted in 1986 in the Immigration Reform and Control Act allowed for over one million Mexicans in the U.S. illegally to become full citizens (Coerver, et al, 2004). Again additional changes in 1990 increased Mexico’s annual quota. Mexico figures very prominently in apt immigration to the United States. However, in recent years the focus has been on illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States. Rapid population growth and economic crises in Mexico have pushed larger numbers of Mexicans north into the United States seeking employment and better living conditions.

Traditionally, illegal Mexicans entering the U.S. were from rural backgrounds and were seeking seasonal employment in agriculture with no intentions of remaining for long periods of time. Today, most illegal Mexican immigrants arrive from urban backgrounds looking for employment in the non-agricultural job market. These workers arrive in the United States intending to stay for a long period of time or permanently. Of all the immigrant groups arriving in the U.S., Mexicans have, historically, been the least likely to examine citizenship. Recent trends show that higher numbers of Mexicans are now seeking U.S. citizenship (Coerver, et al, 2004).

Despite the long history of Mexican immigration to the United States, the ragged cultural heritage of the Mexicans remains virtually unchanged. Resistant to assimilation, due, mainly, to the large numbers of Mexican Americans residing in the U.S. and their close proximity to Mexico, they believe fiercely to the cultural values of their ancestors.

Family is highly valued by Mexican Americans; the ties between family units are very strong. Mexicans newly arrived in the country usually seek out relatives already established in the U.S. and often depend on them for a residence to live and assistance in finding jobs. Mexican families include not only immediate family members but also extended family members which are typically grandparents, great-grand parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, adopted children, and close friends. Also included in the family unit are godparents. Godparents are close friends of either the mother or father of a child and at the time of the child’s baptism begin a close relationship with the child providing emotional and financial assistance to their godchild.

Older generations are held in high regard by. Respect towards and dependence on their elders creates close-knit families. In times of difficulty, family members can rely on both their immediate and extended family to lend a hand (Keefe & Padilla, 1987). When important decisions must be made, consideration is first given to the needs of the family group and then to the individual. The integrity of the family is of utmost importance.

Mexican households are traditionally male-dominated. The husband as the head of the household is the authority figure and breadwinner. All decisions, social and financial, are made by the husband. The wives typically have control over household affairs but are expected to be both obedient and submissive to their husbands. Wives are the family nurturer. Rarely are they employed outside of the home; their primary job is to care for the home and family. Children are taught to recognize the division of authority. From an early age, girls are taught to have aspirations differing from those of boys and that motherhood is the ideal unbiased of all young girls. From an early age, girls are taught how to take care of a home and a family. They are often given the responsibility of caring for younger siblings.

The passage from childhood into young womanhood, coinciding with a girl’s fifteenth birthday, is marked with a special celebration called el quinceañero. It is the traditional coming out party for Hispanic girls. While the form of celebration varies from community to community, it usually involves a large fiesta either held in the girl’s home or in a rented banquet hall complete with a hired orchestra. The quinceañera dresses in a gown specially chosen for the occasion and is accompanied by several of her closest friends dressed in matching gowns. Family and friends gather for food, conversation, and dancing. Dancing does not begin, however, until the young woman requests a dance with her father or another valuable father-figure in her family (FalcÓn, 1998). It is not uncommon for the event to be covered in the local newspaper or announced on the local radio station. This special event symbolizes the opportunity to act like a grown-up and wear make-up, high heels, and to inaugurate dating.

Dating traditionally begins around the age of fourteen or fifteen. Mainly a group event, friends, classmates, and acquaintances will go together in large groups (FalcÓn, 1998). It is not until the high school years when the groups will begin to break up into couples. Once this occurs, and a young couple has made a more serious emotional commitment to each other, the term “novio(a)” is used. The term holds a more serious meaning than boyfriend or girlfriend and holds the couple to clearly defined expectations as courtship begins (FalcÓn, 1998).

During courtship, it is not uncommon for a chaperon to accompany the couple when they are together. In homes, someone is usually with them at all times. At the end of a date when the woman is escorted home, it is preferred that she invite him into the house rather than have a long good-bye at the front door, so that neighbors are given no reason to make comments and embarrass the family. When the time comes to consider marriage, it is archaic for the man to ask the woman’s father for her hand in marriage. If the father gives his consent, the couple then begins their engagement period which may last several years.

The culmination of courtship is the wedding ceremony. Weddings may be either civil or religious. A religious ceremony is held at the church and is attended by family and friends. Distinguished like American weddings, a bridal party is often a part of a formal religious ceremony. Usually, the bridal party is comprised of the father of the bride, mother of the bride, and friends of the couple. If the wedding takes place in a Catholic church, there may also be a padrino and madrina de velaciones whose job is to place a veil and string over the bride and groom as a symbolic uniting (FalcÓn, 1998).

Mexican American literature began to flourish during the turbulent days following the Mexican American War. As the Mexicans living on the lands annexed to the United States suddenly found themselves immigrants in their own land, they began an oral tradition of literature that reflected the difficulties they faced. Passed from generation to generation, the songs and stories have evolved into a unique acquire of poetry (Mexican American Voices, 2007).

From the cultural conflict of this time period, a style of song called a corrido began to flourish. They are very much like the blues songs and poetry of the African Americans. Corridos expressed the anger and resentment felt by Mexican immigrants because of the discrimination and oppression they faced at the hands of their Anglo-Saxon neighbors. They recount the history of the Southwest through the eyes of the Mexican American. The corridor has remained a popular form of literary expression and continues to entertain with subjects that range from bandoleros to bullfighting (Mexican American Voices, 2007).
“El Coyotito”
When I left HermosilloMy tears fell like rain,
But the little red flowerConsoled my pain.
I am like the coyoteThat rolls them, and goesTrotting off side-ways,
And nobody knows.
The green pine has fallen,
Where the doves used to pair;
Now the black one may acquire on returning
Little tow-heads with sandy hair!
The adobe is gone
Where my sword hung suspended;
Why worry- when everything’sAt the last ended? T
The adobe is gone
Where my mirror was bright,
And the small cedar treeIs the rabbit’s tonight.
The cactus is bare
Where the tunas were sweet;
No longer need you be jealous
Of the women I meet.
Friends, if you see her
In the hills up above,
Don’t tell her that I am in prison-
For she is my love.(Valdez, L. & Steiner, S. 1972, p. 134)

While the corridor was to be a creative outlet separate and distinct from American culture, some Mexican literary writers began attempting to reach out to their Anglo neighbors. Prior to 1900 a majority of Mexican American literature was written in Spanish thus limiting who could read their works. After the turn of the century, authors such as Maria Christina Mena began writing in English for various magazines opening the doors of Mexican American literature for Anglos (Mexican American Voices, 2007).

Today’s unique Mexican American authors have the unique ability to maintain the aspects of their native culture while intersecting with mainstream America (Mexican American Voices, 2007).

Today Mexican Americans make up the largest Hispanic community. They comprise roughly 12.5 percent of the country’s population (U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000). In all, 28.3 million listed their ancestry as Hispanic on the 2000 census. In Original Castle County, Delaware, approximately 7.1 percent of the population is Hispanic (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). As more Mexicans immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities, the Hispanic communities in the U.S. will continue to grow.

Community impact occurs on various levels. Perhaps the most notable is the job market. No longer are Mexican Americans small to agriculturally based employment, but for many, there is a wide array of employment opportunities available. By 1990 less than 2.9 percent of the Mexican American working population was employed in the agricultural field. A majority of the Mexican American population fetch themselves working within the service sector. However, a small percentage [less than 3 percent] of the population continues to work as farm laborers. Other areas of gainful employment, such as professional, health, and education are seeing increases in Hispanic applications. With the exception of many second and third generation Mexicans, most work for wages that descend well-below the national average.

Asian Indian Americans

Asian Indians began immigrating to the United States in the 1890’s. Through the remaining years of the nineteenth century and the first twenty years of the new century, approximately 7000 Asian Indians entered the U.S. Nearly 75 percent of those entering the country during this time were from the Punjab [northwest region of India] (Fenton, 1988). Most were farmers and laborers in search of economic opportunity. They settled mainly on the west coast and found employment in agriculture and construction. Others came and worked as merchants and traders or in western logging camps and lumbar mills (Wikipedia). These first immigrants arrived in America with the intentions of earning money to send befriend to their families in India and eventually returning home. However, a few planned to stay permanently and eventually earned enough money to lease or purchase their possess farms and property (Fenton, 1988).

A second wave of immigrants from India began arriving on the shores of America in 1965. Between 1965 and 1974, immigration from India increased at a rate higher than that from any other country. This wave of immigrants was vastly different from that of the first. Those that arrived in the U.S. after 1965 were mainly highly educated, urban professionals. In the ten years after the start of the second wave, approximately 100,000 professionals and their families made the United States their home (Tinaz, 2006).

West glide Americans did not observe favorably on Asian immigrants. While Japanese and Chinese immigrants bore the brunt of their prejudice, life for Indian immigrants was not very safe (Fenton, 1988). In 1906, Asian Indians were no longer permitted to become U.S. citizens because they were considered non-white. In 1917 steps were taken to block all future immigration from India, thus stemming the flow of immigrants into the country (Fenton, 1988). As America’s fears for the “Yellow Worry” continued, Indians and other Asians living on the West Coast found themselves excluded from private clubs, denied service in restaurants and hotels, and prohibited from purchasing residential property (Fenton, 1988).

In 1946 Congress passed legislation that permitted naturalization for Indians, and in 1965 U.S. laws governing immigration were once again transformed when many of the quotas and restrictions for immigration were lifted (Tinaz, 2006). Asian Indians were now once again free to immigrate to the United States.

The words best used to describe the Indian family are close-knit and nuclear. Ties between family members are very strong, and the extended family is expected to provide support in times of need. Well-to-do family members often are given the responsibility of looking after their less well-to-do relatives (Tinaz, 2006). As immigration to the United States increases, it is not uncommon for relatives living in the U.S. to encourage siblings and other family members to immigrate. They will even offer financial assistance and emotional relieve until the family members are settled in the United States (Tinaz, 2006).

Mainly patriarchal in nature, the husband is the family’s provider. In traditional families, the wife performs household tasks and cares for the children. However, a growing number of women are beginning to pursue their own careers and life choices (Tinaz, 2006). Children are raised to perceive and respect the authority of those above them whether it be father, mother, sibling, grandparent, etc (India).

Children are considered a blessing by Indian parents, and many of the social traditions observed by the Indian people center on the life stages of children, mostly boys. The first ceremony, naamkaran, takes place on the tenth or eleventh day after the birth of a child. It is at this special ceremony that the child receives his name. Boys, it is believed, should be named after a god or indicate a devotee of a god (Customs and traditions, 2000). Girls are usually named after a goddess, a sacred river, or a celebrate woman. The child may be given three names: a secret name, a common name, and an astrological name.

The second rite of passage is called the munjan; it is celebrated when a boy child receives his first haircut. The manner in which the ceremony is carried out varies from caste to caste. In lower castes, it may be carried out without grand fanfare. In higher castes, the ceremony is cause for a feast. It is believed that the ritual has the ability to purify the child’s character (Customs and traditions, 2000).

Janehu, another rite of passage ceremony, takes place at approximately eight years of age. It is the ceremony that marks the start of a boy’s education with his spiritual guru. Like the munjan, the manner in which the ceremony is carried out varies from lower castes to higher castes. However, it holds the same significance for each caste. A boy cannot grasp part in any religious service or right until they have gone through janehu. The Hindus value this ritual above all others, for the social status of boys are determined by this ritual (Customs and traditions, 2000).

Unlike most other cultures, dating is not commonly practiced among Asian Indians. Instead, Indian parents prefer to select the marriage partner for their children. They typically select a partner from within the subgroup of the larger community (Tinaz, 2006). Marriages are arranged only with the full approval and consent of the parents. It is not outlandish for other family or community members to be involved in the selection process. Indian parents possess that a happy marriage is founded on commonality in social caste, religion, and economic status.

Weddings are elaborate affairs that at times may span three days. Traditional wedding ceremonies occur in a series of stages. The steps often vary by region and community. On the day of the wedding the bride and groom take part in ablutionary rituals in their homes. Their bodies are cleansed with turmeric, sandalwood paste, and other aromatic oils. The bride’s hands and feet may be painted with elaborate henna designs. The groom along with his family and friends arrive in a procession at the home of the bride’s parents where they are greeted by the bride’s family and friends. The marriage is commenced under a specially decorated canopy where the priest invokes blessings from the gods. The bride and groom then place garlands around each others necks. The priest may then tie their clothing together symbolizing a sacred union. They will then exchange rings. After the exchange of rings, the couple will circle three times around the marriage fire while offering prayers to the gods for prosperity, excellent fortune and conjugal fidelity (Customs and traditions, 2000). Now the couple will circle seven more times around the fire while making seven promises to each other. At the extinguish of the ceremony, the bride and groom become husband and wife. The parents of the groom will now bless the couple and offer flowers or a cloth to the bride symbolizing her joining the family. A feast with dancing and music will follow the ceremony. Traditionally, the bride will wear a red sari with gold ornaments. The groom will usually wear the traditional leggings and long suit.

Indian literature has taken on many forms through history. Early Indian literature is primarily verse that was passed orally down through the generations. Mainly religious or reworked legends from Sanskrit epics or mythological writings, they were composed to be sung or recited. It was not until the sixteenth century that written literature began to appear, due mainly to religious movements attempting to arrive the masses. With the establishment of vernacular schools and the growing importance of the printing press, by the nineteenth century, popular prose began to appear. English literature was widely read and studied, and it eventually found its way into classical Indian themes. With the great influx of Indian immigrants to the United States in the years following 1946, many Indian Americans have emerged as indispensable authors (Tinaz, 2000). Through the works of fiction writers such as Gita Mehta, Ved Mehta, and Kirin Narayan, and poet A.K. Ramunujan, mainstream America has gotten a gaze into the life and culture of Asian Indians.
“A River”By: A.K. RamanujanIn Madurai,
city of temples and poets,
who sang of cities and temples,
every summer
a river dries to a trickle
in the sand,
baring the sand ribs,
straw and women’s hair
clogging the watergates
at the rusty bars
under the bridges with patches
of repair all over them
the wet stones glistening like sleepy
crocodiles, the dry ones
shaven water-buffaloes lounging in the sunThe poets only sang of the floods.
He was there for a day
when they had the floods.
People everywhere talked
of the inches rising,
of the precise number of cobbled steps
run over by the water, rising
on the bathing places,
and the way it carried off three village houses,
one pregnant woman
and a couple of cows
named Gopi and Brinda as usual.
The new poets collected quoted
the former poets, but no one spoke
in verse
of the pregnant woman
drowned, with perhaps twins in her,
kicking at blank walls
even before birth.
He said:
the river has water enough
to be poetic
about only once a year
and then
it carries away
in the first half-hour
three village houses,
a couple of cows
named Gopi and Brinda
and one pregnant woman
expecting identical twins
with no moles on their bodies,
with different coloured diapers
to tell them apart.

The Asian Indian community is one of the fastest growing cultural groups in the United States. Today there are approximately 1,645,150 Asian Indians living in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census). That number comprises nearly .58 percent of the country’s population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census). In Delaware, the exploding Asian Indian community is a reflection of its growth in the rest of the country. In comparison, the population of Asian Indians in New Castle County, Delaware is about 3.7 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census).

While the first Asian Indian immigrants to reach in this country found menial jobs in agriculture and manual labor, the same cannot be said for today’s Asian Indian Americans. Most have found employment in professions such as medicine, accounting, and engineering. No other ethnic group has as many in managerial positions as the Asian Indian community. Collected others have become merchants and business owners. Many families own small businesses such as donut shops, liquor stores, motels, clothing stores, restaurants, and Indian grocery stores.

Discussion and Conclusion

The people of Mexico and India are enchanting, and the cultural institutions that have followed them to the United States have helped to make American culture unique. Though thousands of miles separate Mexico and India, the cultures that developed in these two countries are remarkably similar and, yet, vastly different.

Similarities within the two cultures are evident in family, family structure, and immigration history. At the heart of each culture is the importance of family. Family is highly valued; each generation depending on the next for love and support. The family structure of the Mexican Americans and Asian Indians are patriarchal. In both instances, the husband is the head of the house and the family provider, and the woman is the family nurturer. A quick study of the immigration history of both peoples shows that immigration to the United States began at nearly the same time and for much the same reason: financial success.

Despite the common aspects shared by both cultures, they are also quite different. Their differences lie mainly in rituals such as coming of age ceremonies, courtship practices, and community impact. Children are highly valued in each culture, however, it appears that the Mexican culture focus quite a bit on the importance of a girl turning fifteen. Mexico does not have a specific coming of age ritual for boys. On the flip side, India has few coming of age rituals for girls. With the exception of the naamkaran ritual, all other coming of age ceremonies and rituals in India focus on boys. For the most part, courtship is frowned on in India, as most people continue to practice arranged marriages. Yet in Mexico, it is a very necessary to boys and girls, as they are given the freedom to socialize with each other and get to know their peers before making any serious commitment. For new immigrants entering the United States, life is different for the Mexicans and Indians. Mexicans seem to find jobs that lie primarily within the bottom of the spectrum. Most Mexican men are arriving in the states with little or no money and no education probably making minimum wage working in service centered jobs. Indians on the other side seem to be arriving in the country with excellent educations. They are arriving in the U.S. highly educated and with enough cash to purchase their hold diminutive business or enter into the professional or medical fields.

Teachers and schools are often guilty of lumping all students together and not recognizing their innate differences. Through cultural studies, teachers such as myself can catch new ways of implementing cultural diversity. Cultural diversity can foremost be applied in the classroom when assumptions about others are left outside the door. Ignorance regarding the cultural backgrounds of others usually leads to assumptions. Teachers and others wrongly assume that the children of Mexican immigrants cannot be educated in American schools, and the children of Indian immigrants are very intellectual and do not need our encourage. We can never assume anything about our students. Another way cultural diversity can be applied in the classroom is recognizing that each student is equal regardless of their background or social status. A Mexican American child from an economically dismal family is unprejudiced as important as an Asian Indian child from a well-to-do middle class family. Each child is a well-known asset and can make a difference in the classroom and in the community. Lastly, Subjects like geography and social studies can be enhanced through cultural studies. The valuable information garnered can be obsolete to sing more than just the basics about other lands and cultures, thus making the people from those lands and cultures more real to the other students. The more knowledge children obtain of those perceived as different, the greater level of understanding and acceptance they develop for them.

I have learned much from this research paper and hope to utilize the information in my teaching. Understanding the cultures of these two countries will help me understand any students I may have from them. Understanding their cultures will enable me to understand why the children think like they do and seek ways to help them excel in school. Knowledge of the cultures is important in teaching students about other countries and cultures. One cannot educate if one is not educated in the material to begin with.

Resources

Coerver, D. Pasztor, S. & Buffington, R. (2004). Mexico: An encyclopedia of contemporary culture and history. ABC-CLIO: California. [Secondary, Library]

Customs and Traditions of India. (2000). Retrieved on February 27, 2008, from http://www.indianodysseys.com/cnt/cnt.asp. [Secondary, Internet]

Englekirk, A. & Marín, M. (2006). Mexican Americans. Retrieved on February 26, 2008, from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Mexican-Americans.html. [Secondary, Internet]

FalcÓn, R. (1998). Salsa: A taste of Hispanic culture. Praeger Publishers: Westport, CT. [Secondary, Library]

Fenton, John. (1988). Transplanting religious traditions: Asian indians in america. Praeger Publishers: New York. [Secondary, Library]

History of Mexican Americans (n.d.). Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on February 20, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mexican-Americans. [Secondary, Internet]

India. (n.d.). U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved on February 27, 2008, from http://countrystudies.us/india/83.htm. [Secondary, Internet]

Indian American. (2008). Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on February 25, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American. [Secondary, Internet]

Indian Wedding. (n.d.). Retrieved on February 28, 2008, from http://www.toursoperatorindia.com/gifs/wedding-india.jpg. [Primary, Internet]

Keefe, S. & Padilla, A. (1987). Chicano ethnicity. University of New Mexico Press: Albuquerque, NM. [Secondary, Librbary]

Mexican American voices. (2007). American literary voices part 2. Retrieved on February 25, 2008, from http://www.beyondbooks.com/lam12/3f.asp. [Secondary, Internet]

Mexican wedding. (n.d.). Retrieved on February 25, 2008, from http://images.google.com/imgres? imgurl=http://www.mexico-with-heart.com/blog/uploaded_images/wedding2-732249.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mexico-with-heart.com/blog/labels/Mexican%2520weddings.html&h=300&w=400&sz=32&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=WpzPYyXnGSmoMM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmexican%2Bweddings%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DSUNA,SUNA:2006-07,SUNA:en%26sa%3DN. [Primary, Internet]

Population Profile of the United States: 2000. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on February 26, 2008, from http://www.census.gov/population/pop-profile/2000/chap02.pdf. [Primary, Internet]

Ramanujan, A.K. (2000). A river. Retrieved on February 29, 2008, from http://poetic.wetpaint.com/page/A.K.+Ramanujan? t=anon. [Primary, Internet]

Space and County Quick Facts. (2008). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on February 25, 2008, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/10/10003.html. [Primary, Internet]

Tinaz, P. (2006). Asian Indian Americans. Retrieved on February 27, 2008, from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Asian-Indian-Americans.html. [Secondary, Internet]

Valdez, L. & Steiner, S. (1972). Aztlan: An anthology of mexican american literature. Alfred A. Knopf: Unique York. [Primary, Library]

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Despite the much publicized successes of online dating, there peaceful lies a trail of broken hearts and empty wallets.

It’s not hard to see why: it’s powerful easier to be perfect on paper, and scammers know that a stringing together lovely words make the best bait. Online scammers prey on people’s vulnerability, and there’s no other place where they’re more exposed than in cyberspace, looking for for savor.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a lot of things you can do to protect yourself from online sweetheart scammers. And while the following tips may not be the recipe for happily-ever-after, it at least guarantees that you’ll have a more pleasant-and safer-online dating experience.

Never give out personal information. The most important rule is probably the easiest one to break. Why? Because when you find someone you like, it’s hard not to give any contact information: your phone number, your name, and your email address. The problem is, a combination of all three can open up a host of information to anyone who knows how to google.

It’s understandable that you want to be reached, but some online scammers are also involved in online identity thefts. Not only can they trace you back to your home, but you might be handing them the keysto your door too.

If you want to be contacted, stick to your dating site’s email or chat service. If you’re not using a membership site, create a generic, web-based email used specifically for dating. Never give out your phone number until you’re comfortable, and even then, only give out your cell number, as this can easily be changed should things turn sour.

Be wary of people asking for money. Scammers will waste no time in asking you for money. That’s because the longer they wait, the more expensive the scam gets-for you, and for them.

This is the best way to spot a scammer: all of a sudden, a family member will get sick, or they’ll run into some money problems that’s threatening to sever their net. They could ask for a large amount, such as help in medical expenses, or something as limited as $50 to pay for a cell phone so they can call you. (Nice try.)

The more they say I love you, the more it will undoubtedly cost you. So do yourself a favor, the moment they stop being nice, and start asking for money, report them to the residence. The shame of being had may sting, but not as much as it would if you actually lost some money.

Traveling? Hire a lawyer. Russian dating scams are notorious for this particular maneuver, as are other international scammers.

They’ll express the desire to discover you, but won’t have money to do so. And since you want to see her, and perhaps even show her off, you’ll fork over the money needed for the plane tickets. Except it doesn’t end there: you’ll pay for the visa, the processing fees, and a host of other expenses they just happened to have cooked up.

In some cases, the scam goes further: you’ll visit them, fall even more in esteem, and then the milking starts. Filing fees, marriage visa applications, traveling fees from within the country, agent fees, etc. etc.

If you’ve actually gotten to the stage where you want to glean married, research the paperwork yourself, then consult a good immigration lawyer. Not only will they guide you through it, but they’ll deliver you exactly how much need to spend. An even bigger advantage is, they’re more adept at smelling scammers than you are. So you’ll have the opinion the opinion of a totally unprejudiced party.

Don’t be unimaginative, be cautious. If you’re the type of person who likes to rush into things, then maybe you’re not suited for online dating. Meeting someone online requires a lot of patience. It’s not that you’re being slow, but that honesty can almost always be verified by time. Talking it out, getting to know the person, before moving onto the next step.

And listen to your instincts. If this seems too good to be true, then it probably is. If the relationship leaves you feeling more suspicious than giddy, then it’s better you unbiased end it.

Online dating is not for everyone, and at the end of the day, it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there for someone you only interact with on the screen. If you don’t think you have the guts to take a chance, then it’s better you limit yourself to people within your city. Or better yet, stick to the proper world. If they suck, then all you have to do is stop returning their calls.

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You can also find other song lyrics besides New York State of Mind, Fly Like an Eagle, Cupid, and Summer of 69 on these two websites. Each site has a list of song lyrics you can find by clicking on the letters of the alphabet.

I think I am going to sign up to mpfree.com and jango.com to check out these sites in depth. I do like music and I think these sites may be fun to check out. If I decide to do so, I may write an article for each of these websites for those of you who may consider joining them too.

Printable Song Lyrics Lyricsfreak.com: New York State of Mind Lyrics and Cruise Like an Eagle Song Lyrics

You can print the song lyrics to the following songs at lyricsfreak.com. You can send the songs as a ringtone to a cell phone from this link. Please read the fine print before using the site for the ringtone for this song. You can listen to these songs online for free by joining mpfree.com for free. Gain out the gain that shows when going to mpfree.com.

New York State of Mind Lyrics

Fly Like an Eagle Song Lyrics

Printable Song Lyrics Metrolyrics.com: Sam Cooke: Cupid and Summer of 69 Lyrics

You can email these lyrics, but you can print them from the site. You can also listen to the songs at Jango.com for free, but you will need to sign up with the site. You can twitter the song lyrics for Cupid and Summer of 69. These songs will start playing once you click on the listen icon in the menu above the song lyrics.

Sam Cooke: Cupid Lyrics

Bryan Adams: Summer of 69 Lyrics

I hope you find the free printable song lyrics for Fresh York State of Mind, Fly Like an Eagle, Cupid, and Summer of 69 useful. There are more free, printable song lyrics on both sites than just New York Dwelling of Mind, Fly Like an Eagle, Cupid, and Summer of 69. Be sure to search both sites for more lyrics to songs you enjoy.

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But one day you are at the public library, and in walks Tracy, this bombshell of a woman who is radiant, intelligent,and spiritually oriented. You click on more levels than you could ever imagine. You both like the same movies, the same music. You are both very educated, very gleaming people. She is very vocal, very witty, and speaks very articulately, with a singing voice that almost rivals all the choirs of angels in heaven. And to top it all off, she seems to dig you.

But there is one catch: Although she loves God in her gain way, she has not made a commitment to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. She is not a born-again Christian, and you know that God has said in His word that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Cor 6: 14). This causes you great distress and inner turmoil, because, although you are in love with Jesus, you are also very much in worship with her. It is clearly love at first sight.

You become excited with a God who would have the temerity to write something so restrictive. Moreover, you hear that “unexcited, small voice” telling you that “Tracy is not the one,” but like a sheep headed headlong towards a cliff, you don’t care about anything God has to say. You are in love with Tracy. Like a book you can’t put down, you get into her every word, her every breath, her every inflection.

Why does God tell us in 2 Cor 6: 14 that dating someone not of like faith is sin? We need to remember in another part of Scripture, in Amos, which says, “How can two budge together, except they be agreed? ” Sure, this person may say well, and be beautiful inside and out, but you need to face the fact that the two of you are from two different cultures. You are from planet Earth, but she is from Venus. Your views on key issues, such as sex and finances, are radically different. As a Believer in Christ, your viewpoint may be that sex is for marriage, and that, as it says in Galatians, and other areas in Scripture, “fornicators shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” But your partner may say that a marriage license is merely a piece of paper. After all, you don’t know whether your partner can please you or not, unless you test drive them. But you know the Bible says that the sexual relationship is for marriage.

I have practical experience with this scenario, for back in 2004 I tried to date a young lady who didn’t share my faith, my views, my convictions about life. She often would try to persuade me to do things that are fair not right. In order to keep her in my life, I ended up compromising my faith. And each time I did, I lost a bit of myself. I felt empty, I felt guilty, and I felt dusky. I knew I had wounded the One who loved me and died for me very deeply. And yet I stayed with her. “After all,” she said, we are not exactly going all the way!” And also she would say, “If you don’t put out, I will find someone else who will!”

What I had to learn from this was that a person who makes such ultimatums may be deeply in lust with you, but lust is NOT the same as love. Love is giving, “love never seeks its own, and never behaves itself uncomely towards itself” (1 Cor 13).

Furthermore, it is not objective about the sex thing, either. You should also consider that marriage to such a person would mean that while things like going to church, Bible explore, and witnessing mean so much to you, your partner may believe that “it doesn’t take all that.” Imagine spending the rest of your life with a person with whom you cannot share the deepest part of yourself–namely, your relationship with God.

Another more practical reason is that children spawned from such a marriage will grow up with mixed emotions, mixed values. Dad wants to go to church, while Mom, while she may think the fact that little Junior goes to church is just peachy–she says that she believes that all preachers are pond scum, and that everyone in the household is to count her out. Same goes for Dad if he would rather stay home and watch football, while Mom goes to church. That is not God’s vision for the family. In order for a family to work the way God would have it–all parties must be united,and in agreement. The parents must have a united front. It will not work if Mom is serving Jesus, but Dad is serving Buddha.

“Koolbreeze, what are you saying,” you who are reading this might ask. Single men, women, I say this with the most love in my heart that I can possibly muster. Pray and seek God’s Face about any relationship you are wanting. Contemplate His will about marriage per se, because it may very well not be His will for you to marry. You must be so submitted to Him that you are at least willing to let it go if His answer is, “No.” If His answer is, “Yes,” then He has the perfect partner for you: He or she will be a Christian as much in love with God as you are! In conclusion, it is best to wait on God.

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My mom has worked like crazy just to raise my sister and myself on her own for the most section of our lives. Meeting someone when you have two teenage daughters at home, and when you’re not with them you are at work is near impossible. Plus the market of men offered where we lived wasn’t exactly ideal for a single mom of two teenage daughters. My mom decided she was going to try online dating, so she signed up and created a profile with match.com. I don’t think my mom realized how successful she would actually be at online dating when she first signed up. I believe she was impartial giving it a shot, but never expected much to come from it. After a while in the online dating scene, and quite a few rejects my mom met Bill. He too had kids so that was a major plus for my mom, because he understood what it was like to have and deal with kids. He had been at the same job for several years, so he was very stable, and there were no signs of him being crazy or a stalker. After a while talking and connecting online they decided to go on their first date at a local restaurant. It was on their third date that they kissed and my mom fell in love with him. After 3 years of dating they finally got married, and my mom has never been happier.

Reasons for Online Dating/ Advantages:

• Meet new people outside of your city, or meet people you have never met in your city

• As my mom would say “I’m too old for the bar scene, but too young for bingo parlor,” Sarah Ogden.

• Not as much pressure to be perfect.

• You get to know the person better, because you focus less on looks and more on personality.

• Offers a new outlook to dating

• When people have kids it’s much easier to find someone online. Generally it is included in your profile, so no having to worry about when to tell them.

Tips for Online Dating:

• Talk to the person via the dating website for a while before giving out information

• Once you feel comfortable talking via website, exchange emails.

• After a bit of time talking via email exchange phone numbers

• I can’t stress this one enough, make sure you talk to them on the phone several times before deciding to meet up.

• When you finally do meet up, meet in a very public place. ( I might also recommend telling someone where you will be.)

• Trust your instincts, don’t continue you if you have a abominable feeling

• Be as honest/genuine as possible on your profile, however don’t release to much personal information. (That should be reserved for the emails and phone conversations down the road)

• Do not rush the process, get the know the person before meeting up or giving phone number

• NEVER meet them at your house.

• Do your research don’t just sign up for any station. Check it out see if it fits you. Each site works differently and there are thousands geared to everyone.

Fair a Few Online Dating Sites:

• www.Match.com – Geared towards ages 30+ (How my mom met her husband)

• www.eharmony.com – Geared towards ages 30+

• www.okcupid.com/- Geared towards ages 18-30

• www.plentyoffish.com/ – Geared towards all ages

• www.SinglesNet.com – Great for finding local dating

• http://www.maturesinglesonly.com/ – Geared towards ages 40+

• www.SingleParentMeet.com – Perfect for single parents

• http://www.christianmingle.com/ – Christian Dating

• www.catholicsingles.com/ -Catholic Singles

• www.atheistpassions.com/ -Atheist Dating

• www.JDate.com – Jewish Dating

• www.gamingpassions.com/ -Great for Gamers

• http://www.gk2gk.com/ -Great for “Geeks”

• http://www.rocknrolldating.com/ -Great for those of you with tattoos, and who love rock

• http://www.rockabillydate.com/ -Great for people into Rockabilly

• www.SoulfulEncounters.com -Great for those with disabilities

• www.BabyBoomerPeopleMeet.com -Great for people over 50

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MillionaireMatch.com is a premier service that provides successful professionals with a place to meet quality individuals. MillioniareMatch.com prides itself on upscale clients such as CEO’s, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, celebrities and professional athletes and has objective implemented a certification service of millionaire members. The initial membership is free to sign up however there is a gold membership for selected clients that requires a fee. The free membership includes a profile post, email and conducting profile searches. MillionaireMatch.com members can delight in online chats and can build their gain blog for extra exposure.

WealthyMen.com is an online dating service for men and women looking to step up their dating experience. Even though, a majority of men on this dating website are not millionaires yet, however they have the potential to become millionaires very quickly. WealthyMen.com has an earning guideline of $100K or over. I have to say that the caliber of these men are pretty impressive and would be worth a browse. For a limited time only, membership is free which includes a profile post, profile searches and email. The key thing about WealhyMen.com is that they have a premium verification system. The Wealthy Men Verification System verifies and approves income, profession and photographs, so that there will not be any surprises after the love connection.

Sugardaddie.com has been on the millionaire online dating block since 2002. I know at first glance the title is stereotypical and somewhat cheesy but this online dating service offers a wealth (no pun intended) of information pertaining to upscale online dating. Sugardaddie.com strives to service the affluent and successful individuals and has been attracting thousands of members globally every month. Sugardaddie.com offers free membership effect up which includes profile posting, profile searching and email services. Sugardaddie.com is new in its approach because it also provides dating articles, online dating tips, and advice on how to millionaire date.

Online dating is becoming more unique in its advance to attract and service select members and has taken its place in the market. While busy professionals strive for continued and heightened success, the need for these services will continue to grow. So, what are you waiting for? Here is your invitation to visit these websites and possibly meet the love of your lifestyle.

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When placing up a personal ad, be sure to have your main picture holding your child (children) or standing next to them. This will show your children are more important than meeting a man and the man is not necessary unbiased an added benefit. Most online predators seeking just sex from vulnerable women don’t read if the person has children, or query your best friends / family to take care of them so you can go home with the guy.

Another way to filter sexual deviants is to write in your profile area that you are a 24 / 7 mother and very little time available to employ going out with someone. If they reply, most likely they are willing to design the effort to being there as a friend and relationship because they understand what they will have to endure to be with you. Try to find a man who also has a child (or children) so you can narrate on taking care of them and understanding they advance first.

Here are some ways to finding a good man online or even while out are:

1) Asks why you and the ex are separated or divorced and goes into detail of why they are as well.

2) Asks how you like to spend your time.

3) Asks about your children’s interests, how old they are, how you like to spend your time with them.

4) The man doesn’t live an hour or more away.

5) If the site has a “Favorites” section, be sure he doesn’t have a lot of females listed, it shows they are keeping their options open and not focusing in on one person.

The term “Player” is usually what these men turn out to be, using the ego boosting from multiple women wanting or being around them.

6) Try to rep a man closer to your age, younger men usually tend to survey multiple women to be with on the side. Older men can be the same way, but more likely to settle into a serious relationship.

7) Avoid men who ask for your number to talk, originate them earn it. Tell them you will call them using a private number or employ employ 67 so they will not have your number until you are ready to give them it.

Avoid men who have on their personal information “Drinks Socially” or “Drinks Often”, uses drugs or smokes. Your child’s health is and should be the most important thing.

9) Avoid men who have ex girlfriends as best friends, this is usually a red flag because they can easily go back to a physical relationship or the ex can try to break off a new relationship out of jealousy or despite. If they have children, the mother of the child (children) is an understandable equation to have to be fair as the father of yours would be as well.

10) Be clear they have truly read your profile and not skimmed through it. If they ask something that is plainly written on your profile, this means they saw your portray and sex is all they are interested in. This has happened to me with women that have seen my profiles online as well.

11) Avoid men who’s profile is very shortly written. If they state they like partying, bars and such…they are not worth you and your child’s time.

12) Remember as well, find a man who wants children (even if not their own) someday. Your child can get attached to them, resent them as well. Most importantly, don’t let your children have to go through as many men as well. This can do lots of emotional damage later to them. So, try not to date around, it can confuse the child. In some cases, females who grow up seeing their mother with multiple partners can grow up thinking that’s natural to have. This lead to early pregnancy, STDs and multiple partners as well.

13) Avoid men who play online games, it’s a way for them to meet others and not spend time with you or even cheat.

14) Avoid men who are “Separated”, this 9 out of 10 times means they are not. Cheaters spend this as an excuse to see other women, keeping the wife as the stable factor of steadiness.

It’s sad to see people have sunk into so much deceit and manipulative ways just for a thrill or more. Single moms beware of the predators, they can charm you and use you with a click of a mouse. Cover through these potentially dangerous people by being as cautious like stepping on a landmine. Check their profiles thoroughly, the less that’s written, the more to avoid. Your child should come first in all events of dating, be sure the person who wishes to spend time with you understands your child will be part of most, if not all your, events.

I am currently talking with a mother of two whom I had interest in over 10 years ago, and I am willing to try to be the best friend I can for her. She is the reason I have written this article and she is a person I would love to spend my time around and expose her that not all men are scum. If you read this Christie, I hope you’d be willing to give this man a chance at showing you a bigger world out there.

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Now that you have stated your position, you also need to give people some kind of feel for your personality. You are submissive yes, but why? You need to tell people what leads you to acquire that you are submissive. Be honest when you write your profile and state your level of experience clearly. Tell people why you have joined and whether you will be only playing online or if you are looking for far more than just that. Some people are married and open, which means that their partners will allow them to play in this realm of sexuality as long as they are aware of it. Some even like to be contacted. Make sure you state your modern relationship status accurately and honestly.

If your interest is in BDSM with sex or mostly sex, state that plainly because lots of people in the scene are turned off by this. You need to attract like-minded people and lying on your profile will not endear you to anyone. People actually take time to get to know someone and not telling them all before they go to all this inconvenience is dishonest and will ruin your reputation even online, as the community is much tighter than elsewhere.

Give people an insight into other interests and likes and dislikes you might have that is not BDSM related. They want to know about you and what other things make you interesting. BDSM is not all these people live for. Are you a biker or a hunter? Are you helpful with woodwork or metal work? If so you could actually start looking into your own toys and equipment and that will endear you to the kind of people who get excited by home projects too.

Now that you have given them information about you and what you would like, you need to order the people on the site what you want in a partner. You need to do determined, once again, that you are quite sure of what type of person you need. Do not ask for couples if you are not really alive to in couples. Do not ask for a top if you want a dominant. Do not ask for a sadist if you are not identifying as a masochist.

If you want someone who is gorgeous and fit, ask for that too. Do not shy away from your personal preferences and waste your and others’ time. Yes you will be attacked for your preferences at some stage, but hey you need to live with your partner and no one else.

Use humor and be charming. Do not post a picture that shows you looking unkempt or morose. Do not post shameful pictures – this is a BDSM personal and not an ad for easy sex. Post a recent characterize as well as you cannot expect people to trust you if you post a picture taken ten years ago with you 40 pounds lighter. Hope this advice gets you what you want and need.

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Here are three reasons you should not post pictures of yourself with the opposite sex.

1. It creates confusion. If I look at a guy’s profile and he’s got a sexy looking female beside him I’m a bit confused. Who is she? Is she a friend? Is she his step-sister? His ex-girlfriend? Or, is she a “friend with benefits”, you know, a girl he is having sex with a couple of times a week, even though they say they are just friends?

Typically, if I see this in an online dating profile, it creates confusion. Don’t secure me wrong. It’s fair for Facebook or MySpace, just not for your profile when you are looking for a date. Otherwise, I might think you are just trying to get laid, or you and your gal are looking for a three-some.

2. Don’t post pictures of you with your exes. Let’s screen this because guys seem to do this quite a bit on the dating sites, and it really makes me wonder if he’s over her. We all have learned how hard it is to crash up, but I want a man, not a guy that can’t move forward with his life.

3. Women get curious. I was looking at this really nice profile that a guy put together, and I sent him a message. After a bit of chatting on the phone I asked him who the girl was in his profile, and he started talking about her, and really said some nice things about his so called ex. Too nice in fact. I started doing some digging around on Facebook and MySpace, and I not only saw they still flirt with one another, but that a few days later she changed her profile from “single” to “In a relationship”. I really liked the guy, but after the profile change and seeing their flirty messages going benefit and forth I decided to cut it off. If the picture with her had not been there – I would’ve never bothered to ask.

If you are serious about online dating, then you should not post pictures of yourself with the opposite sex, it’s just asking for wretchedness.

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Match.com. Match.com has been around since 1995. They have specialty dating services, such as senior dating, Jewish dating, and Asian dating, as well as their general dating population. They allow you to create a free profile in order to test drive the site. They monitor photographs posted on their site to make obvious that they comply with decency guidelines. You can search for free, but you must be a paying customer in order to exchange emails with other singles that you may be interested in. They require a six-month subscription, but they do guarantee that you will fetch someone within that six months or they will give you another six months for free. Should you change your mind about your subscription, it is very difficult to get a refund.

Eharmony.com. Eharmony is very strict about privacy, they will only allow you to see members that they judge are compatible with you. There is no option of browsing to see who is on the region outside of your matches. They do have many safeguards in position that protect you and help you to feel more comfortable with eventually meeting someone that you found online. Your matches are decided through a series of questionnaires that you answer about yourself and what you are looking for a mate. The testimonials on the site can be used as a reference for how well the site works. Prices for subscriptions vary depending on how long you would like your subscription to last, one month is $59.99 on its own, while a year’s membership is only $19.99 per month.

Yahoo Personals. Yahoo probably has the least amount of safeguards in station when it comes to who you can contact. They do still have terms of use, and prohibit lewd photos and language. They have a 6 month guaranty similar to some of the other dating sites. Setting up a Yahoo personal is easier than those for other sites for the most part. Yahoo does not provide as much back when it comes to finding people who are compatible with you. A one month subscription is $24.99, which is cheaper than many of the dating sites out there.

Lavalife. Lavalife is one of the more racy sites out there, they have three tiers that you can settle from. You can opt for dating, relationships, or intimate encounters. That being said, it is the easiest to use even if you are not willing to pay for their services. You can still instant message with other members through their site, and you can receive emails, and respond to those that have emailed you. They do not have any compatibility software to help find people with similar interests, and there are a lot of fake profiles on the place. Subscriptions to this service hasten $18.99 per month.

Singlesnet.com. Singlesnet is a bit harder to navigate, there is no search engine for who you are looking for. You are at the mercy of the site and whoever happens to be online at that point in time. The only searching that you can do is by geographic location. The questionnaire that you are asked to bear out only asks basic questions about diet, drinking, smoking, and outdoor activities. These answers are posted on your profile, but nothing else is done with this information. Paid memberships are not necessary as long as you are communicating with a paying member. Memberships start out at $24.95 per month.

There are a lot of dating websites out there, and some do offer a lot of services as well as safeguards for you and your identity. These are generally the ones that cost more. You can go with one of the cheaper websites, but they leave most of the work up to you. They do very little in the way of actually helping to match you to a partner. Use this information wisely, and good luck!

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