Audrey, ESI's cultural ambassador, reports on recent fieldwork experiences and the results of listening to sage counsel:
Romantic gestures – Part 1
My boyfriends have typically been very reluctant to make romantic gestures. I always felt that it was not for me to tell a boyfriend to be more demonstrative. I reasoned that some men are just naturally more demonstrative than others. I decided that maybe the kind of men who were attracted to me were bold and sexy but not romantic.
A recent trip to Italy, though, caused me to question my theories. I had several dates with a bold and sexy Italian man. I was surprised to find that he was also a romantic. This man played romantic Latin music in the car; he took me for a cocktail at the stylish Café de Paris; he suggested a sunset stroll at the Piazzale Michelangelo and kissed me passionately at a particularly scenic spot; he shared his gelato with me; and he used flowery Italian phrases to tell me how much he desired me.
When I arrived back in Ottawa, I told my friends about my dates. Fourth Dwarf counselled me to choose an “attentive” man for a boyfriend, but to choose a man closer to home.
Well, I took his advice and my new boyfriend is the most romantic man I have ever met. He tells me frequently how much he loves being with me, and he makes many romantic gestures. I thought I would share some of these romantic gestures, in the hope that it will improve someone else’s search for true love.
Audrey’s top-ten list of romantic gestures
- Buy her flowers – even carnations (my boyfriend gave me gerberas on our 4th date)
- Buy her chocolate (esp. milk-chocolate) [4D: We're going to get letters about this one.]
- Take her to the movies and only let her pay for the popcorn.
- Have her over for a BBQ – just the two of you.
- Meet her for lunch on a workday.
- Take her for a romantic dinner (we went to Trattoria Caffe Italia on our 5th date).
- Drive her home from work, even if you won’t be spending the evening together.
- Visit her family with her and act like you are not anxious to leave after one hour.
- Make her tea.
- Tell her she is beautiful.
