www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

US EUROPE AFRICA ASIA 中文
Lifestyle

The single question on everyone's lips

By Alexis Hooi ( China Daily ) Updated: 2008-01-22 21:47:50

My single status has become a tasty topic for lunchtime buddies. "So what's your type?" they ask.

I usually work the night shift and getting up before noon can be a drag, but the chance to mingle and brush up my Mandarin is invaluable, especially when things get so personal.

"So-and-so knows some nice girls. He can hook you up."

The single question on everyone's lips

"Bu shi lao niu chi nen cao ba?" - literally, "You're not an old ox rummaging for tender, young grass right?" I.e. "You're not a cradle-snatcher, are you?!"

Being Singaporean Chinese, a rudimentary grasp of Mandarin allows me a decent conversation but it is the discovery of such nuances in a familiar language that delights me.

And other than the fact that I'll have to tread carefully when dating girls to avoid fueling the rumor mill - these proddings are probably nothing compared to what I'll be facing back home, sans Mandarin lessons.

I'll be going back to sunny Singapore for the Spring Festival, or what is more popularly known in the tropics as the Chinese New Year.

Think reunion dinners and family gatherings, where relatives get together and I'm one of the only older cousins still single.

What makes it worse is the practice of giving out red packets, or hong bao, containing cash to wish recipients good luck, health and happiness.

Married couples hand out the hong bao to the singles, regardless of age. Getting it from my brother, let alone my cousins, can be particularly embarrassing at the ripe age of 32.

And to think I really looked forward to all that pocket money as a kid.

I guess the Chinese really know how to put on the screws when it comes to family and the paramount importance of progeny.

It would certainly be interesting to see how it's done here on the mainland.

Another colleague was sweet enough to extend an invitation should I change my mind and stay in the capital for the coming holidays.

"Come spend the Spring Festival at my place. I know someone nice you can meet."

Still, it is small, thoughtful gestures like these that make Beijing a home away from home. It would be a treat and honor to share a meal with a family here. And it helps too that one of the requirements of being in the news business is curiosity - and a really thick hide.

Strangely enough though, this will be one Chinese New Year where I'm actually not in Singapore, but going back to celebrate it. Previously, the string of days off made for a really great excuse to jet off to some ski resort.

So thick hide it is as I prepare to make my way back. There's still always the feasting, drinking and gambling.

(China Daily 01/22/2008 page20)

Tags
Editor's Picks
Hot words

Most Popular
...
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久网站免费观看 | 在线观看亚洲欧美 | 久久综合九色综合欧洲色 | 久久精品亚瑟全部免费观看 | 久久国产精品-国产精品 | 日韩免费精品一级毛片 | 最新69成人精品毛片 | 欧美aaaa在线观看视频免费 | 高清视频 一区二区三区四区 | 亚洲天堂久久久 | 国产一区二区免费不卡在线播放 | 欧美一级俄罗斯黄毛片 | 免费观看欧美精品成人毛片 | 玖玖精品在线观看 | 国产精品无码久久综合网 | 97免费视频在线 | 日产一区二区三区四区 | 日本伊人精品一区二区三区 | 国产精品久久久久久一级毛片 | 性色tv | 久草新视频 | 久久三级毛片 | 欧美一级毛片免费看高清 | 国内精品久久久久久影院老狼 | 欧美人成在线 | 亚洲理论片在线中文字幕 | 成年女人免费视频 | 久久er热这里只有精品免费 | 日韩 欧美 自拍 在线 视频 | 99久久一区 | 伊人成人在线 | 亚洲国产欧美在线人成精品一区二区 | 亚洲精品午夜在线观看 | 自拍视频在线观看 | 亚洲一区二区在线成人 | 日韩中文字幕在线免费观看 | 亚洲国产成人久久精品影视 | 国产成人午夜性视频影院 | 国产91会所洗浴女技师按摩 | 久久91亚洲精品中文字幕 | 欧美性猛交xxxx免费看手交 |