Dating and Sexual Health

Dating apps have become a fast-track to plugging into the new culture and can open you up to a subset of people you’d otherwise never meet. However, it is important to remember an unfamiliar culture and city can also present danger, so there are a few precautions you need to consider. Cultural attitudes towards dating need to be understood, and where there may be language difficulties, these may not be clear. Manage and be clear about your expectations and intentions and make your personal safety paramount.

    1. Never share exactly where you’re staying and avoid letting on that you don’t know your way around.

    2. Always meet in a busy, public place during the daytime, no further than a mile from your accommodation. If you drink or use substances, know your limits and never take your eyes off your drink.

    3. Carry enough money to pay your own way and get back to your accommodation. Trust your instincts and don’t feel pressured to do anything you don’t want to do; if a date starts to take a strange turn, bow out immediately.

    4. Always make sure someone knows where you are. If you can’t reach your room-mate or colleague, leave a detailed hand-written note in your room/apartment, stating where you’re headed and who you’re with. Or text a friend with your date’s contact details, profile and message screenshots, or your live geolocation.

    5. In some countries, it’s not uncommon to swipe on matches who turn out to be sex workers in pursuit of clients. If you find yourself in a seedy nightlife scenario where your date knows every single person working there, stay conscious of shifty motives or a ruse.

    6. Splitting the bill can help keep any expectations in check for both people, but if someone goes the distance to show you around, picking up a meal or a round of drinks is a nice gesture.

    7. No means ‘no’ in any country, and consent is the same in any part of the world. In some parts of SE Asia there is adolescent approach to dating and expectations of relationships, so be sensitive to your date’s understanding and expectations.

    8. Always practice ‘safe sex’ - condoms are readily available on every corner store in SE Asia. A lack of awareness of STD’s can be common depending on where you are, and the morning-after pill may not be readily available in some parts of SE Asia.

  • Should you find yourself a victim of sexual assault, seek immediate help via the TGS team so that we may respond with the support and advice that you require, which could involve medical, police and counselling services.