The Beginning of Our Journey in South Asian Matchmaking

We got our first client from South Asia around ten years ago, and that was when we first glimpsed the needs of single immigrants coming to America. There were one or two Indian matchmakers at the time, but nobody with the perspective we had—not being Indian. It was clear that there was a strong need for understanding the culture from a new American perspective, as it can be a lonely and frustrating journey.

I recently saw a post on social media from someone commending his father for taking the giant leap of faith to come, first to Canada and then to the States, leaving his wife, friends, and family behind. He couldn’t afford the expensive calls from Canada, but he would write his wife about the struggles and loneliness. Long story short, his family eventually followed, and they are forever grateful.

It’s stories like this that motivated me to want to become a bridge to embrace the community, and so our Indian division was established with Ambiance Matchmaking. We knew how to navigate through the many complexities, and our clients appreciate the understanding that we bring to the table.

A Deep Cultural Understanding

It makes me feel good to bring my knowledge base to clients, and they are refreshed to know I encompass what it takes to work with them. Indian immigrants have opened my eyes to a highly intelligent, respectful, educated, and driven group of beautiful people. Having interviewed thousands and thousands of South Asians, I know this isn’t something I would get by simply taking a trip to India. I gain insight into the heart and soul of people during interviews, with a big emphasis on families. There is no substitute for this.

I’ve always been intrigued by cultural diversity, and I’ve always liked a challenge. I’ve never understood racism. “We’re all people” has always been my thought, with each of us bringing our uniqueness to the world. I can appreciate those who wish to stay true to their faith and culture, and I also respect and understand that many are open to new possibilities. Both perspectives are valid, as everyone is on their own journey, trying to be the best version of themselves.

I do my best to get people to open up their minds to possibilities, but at the same time, crossing cultures isn’t for everyone. Thankfully, the majority of our clients are an incredibly well-traveled bunch.

The Importance of Cultural Knowledge in Matchmaking

I also encourage anyone who wishes to join the Ambiance Matchmaking staff to do their best to understand what it means to be from India. They gain more understanding as half of our members are either first or second-generation South Asian. It’s an enriching process to help people align with different versions of love. We have a high marriage rate with almost no divorces in over two decades, and for this, I am grateful.

When I get asked about success stories, I’m never sure where to begin. But since we are talking about cultural differences, I will share a favorite. We had a beautiful and successful woman come to us, and she was feeling down even though she had everything going for her. She talked about her past matchmaking experience, and it was not good.

We matched her, and while the matches were good, there were no keepers. I got brave with one of her last matches. She was Hindu, and I was going to match her with a Muslim man. He was amazing and loving. I thought to myself, “Her parents are going to hate me.”

Long story short? They began sending me photos of their dates, and before too long, I received an invitation to their engagement party.

Experience, Wisdom, and Cultural Understanding

I would say that a few things set us apart from other matchmakers, beginning with experience. With this comes wisdom. There are smart matchmakers out there, but wisdom supersedes—and it only comes with experience.

This isn’t something you can just dive into. There is an immense amount of cultural knowledge needed to understand whom you are going to be working with. I would also like to mention that many are going through a metamorphic understanding of who they are in their new setting. We have the tools and comprehension to help navigate this journey, which is monumental for success.

I’ve researched the geography of India, languages, traditions, holidays, and foods, as these factors play a role in matching certain individuals. I’ve watched numerous Indian programs. I’ll even turn on Bollywood when I am in Indian match mode. Let’s just say that I really get into it.

A complete understanding has taken me years, and it continues to grow—just like our members.