I think the reason your relationship didn't last long is because you seldom met your British boyfriend. If you were meeting him once a week and broke up with him after a month, I think there was not enough time invested into each other to form a deeper relationship. It might not have been your fault either. It could have been your boyfriend's fault. Since he is a philosopher, he might invest his time into thinking more than doing. Even if you were talking to him everyday on the phone or texting him, there is still the physical part of the relationship that I think is crucial to a good relationship. That fact that you both came from different cultures would be enough to each pick at each other's backgrounds. You might have been curious to know about British people. He the same with Chinese people, but for him, maybe he didn't invest his time. Things like going on a trip together, cooking and eating dinner/lunch together, picnic at the park etc. would have been ways to bond and invest ample time with each other at the same time learn about the other person.