1. Profiles can only tell you so much. Most of the profiles you'll see are fairly generic: "family values", "kind and gentle", “subordinate to her husband”, "respectful", "strong maternal values", etc. Far less often will you hear descriptions such as “adventurous” or "passionate". Perhaps these women think these qualities are not what men want, but she is definitely gonna need them in order to successfully adapt to living in a foreign culture.

2. More mail order brides than you might think are well educated and professionally successful at home. The image of the impoverished, uneducated woman waiting for Prince Charming to swoop in and rescue her for a better life in a rich country is all too often not true. One of these kinds of women seek to marry and live abroad is their perception that their homeland lacks good husbands. In strongly male-dominated societies, men can be quite intimidated by a successful, intelligent woman.

3. They're not all out for money even if they are poor. While a better standard of living would have to be taken into consideration to marry a Westerner (which is why you don't see many mail order brides from Canada, Japan, or New Zealand, to name a few), you don't need to be rich to attract a bride from overseas. If you run into a gold digger, run the other way.

4. Her limited English skills may not be as big a problem as you might think. Of course, she'll ned to speak at least a bit of English unless you can speak her native language. But once you get her home she will have plenty of chances to practice, so she will inevitably improve.

5. Cultural differences don't necessarily weaken a marriage. The US Department for Citizenship and Immigration Services has estimated that the divorce rate for mail order brides is about 20%.

6. Walk like a man. Most mail order brides are from male-dominated cultures. Although most of these women are seeking a husband who will not demand submission from them, they do, more than most American women, desire a MAN. That means be decisive and don't act like a wuss-bag, begging for her approval. Many mail order brides are quite beautiful used to being groveled to, and SICK of having to choose between a domineering man who treats her like a diamond necklace and a weak man who worships the ground she walks on (but can't see past her beauty).