User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: Getting Married in China

Hi Dorayaki. If you are 25 in China you were born 24 years ago so you would be a rabbit trying to marry in a Rabbit year and everyone knows that is bad luck. I'm pretty sure I made that up but that is like most of what you hear on this topic.

This makes me think that we could have a rating system for ChinesePod posts and comments ranging through 1. cruel (hopefully deleted), 2. annoying, 3. flippant, 4. helpful, 5. unquestionably knowledgeable. CAFHU - we could self-censor, giving other poddies some direction on our intentions. My comment sits somewhere between F and H - I have heard that you should not get married in your own year. But the time of day in which you were born is more important for determining your prospects in life; this trumps anything predicted by your year of birth. I just shifted my comment closer to H.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

Hey RJ - I've got one for you. You know how Australians put a 'y' on the end of anything that doesn't stay alert? Well even I was taken aback recently when I call a friend - she says to me: '...Just wait a minny while I say hooray to these mates'. Ah.. it's the minny to which I draw your attention.

Posted on: By Myself, So Alone

Yeah it is freaky, specially the way they hold your gaze (you wonder what they are thinking.) We were done in on a narrow mountain path - a classic ambush, as though they watch the cowboy movies - nowhere to go. And far enough away from other people; no-one could hear us scream... :) Very organized it seemed.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

I can't tell you about the oranges and lemons, sorry, have to wait for someone to pitch in. I have heard of the apples in a bowl of water; you have to grab it with your teeth without touching it with your hands. I guess we can assume that the games are not very sophisticated.

I can tell you stage 2 of the game where the happy couple are encouraged to get naked. After the clothes go, the new wife has to go under the blanket with a torch and give a full report to the friends standing around the bed. :)

Posted on: Getting Married in China

My friends tell me that going to KTV is the current ploy to avoid the more traditional games referred to in the podcast.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

Hey cinnamonfern, thanks for sharing your experience. Sadly I haven't yet got to go to a wedding (well, one I was invited to) but fingers crossed for this year.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

There's that inevitable word again - believe me nothing is inevitable until you pay your 9 RMB. (It's cheaper out west than in Shanghai.)

Posted on: Celebrating a Baby's First Month

I have half an answer to my own question. This is not a China wide tradition - I am told that this is not done by Han people in Yunnan (but a whole plate of red eggs may be offered to friends and family regardless of the baby's gender.) Minority groups have their own different traditions at this time.

And now I have another question: is this only a Shanghai tradition?

Posted on: Getting Married in China

Of course, having met the parents it does not mean that marriage is inevitable. There can be multiple meetings. That is the point of meeting the parents. :)

Posted on: By Myself, So Alone

Hi cinnamonferm

'One even grabbed me around the legs!' Thanks for your monkey story, it does make a good story. But I feel compelled to say (apologies to those who have heard my story before): be careful in future. Serious (possibly life threatening) monkey attacks are common; this is a daily occurrence in some places where monkeys and humans mix. I am lucky to be alive after suffering a vicious attack. (Most people haven't experienced this so I suggest you imagine a pack of incredibly large savage dogs.)