hearing from the employment officer soon.

41. What does your husband do? ( 5 - 8 )

My husband is a civil servant. He works for the Department of Health at a hospital near our home. He is responsible for keeping the patient records in the men’s wards. He loves his work, and is receiving a good salary, so we don’t have any serious worries. As a matter of fact we both agree that we have a lot to be thankful for.

42. Did you have a honeymoon, and if so where did you go? ( 5 - 8 ) Yes, We did have a honeymoon. We went to Dalian for a week, and stayed in a small hotel next to the beach. I will never forget the time we spent there. For example, it was very romantic, as we could sit on the beach in the evenings and watch the moon rising over the sea.

43. Did you and your spouse have to ask permission from your parents before you could get married? ( 5 - 8 )

No, not really. They knew we were going to get married. We only had to confirm the date with them to ensure that it would suit them and our families. In earlier times is was customary for the young man to get the permission from his girlfriend’s parents before they could get married.

44. Is living together without getting married acceptable in China? ( 5 - 8 )

It depends to what extent the couple would adhere to earlier customs. What I mean to say is that these days it is becoming more and more acceptable. For example, young people feel that they first want to get know each other even better by living together. When they are absolutely sure that they are able to adapt to each other’s lifestyles, they would then most probably decide to get married.

45. Do you think couples should life with their parent or on their own? ( 5 - 8 )

There are several reasons as for why I think couples should life on their own. Allow me to explain by mentioning some of them briefly. Firstly, I believe couples should become independent as soon as possible. For example, they should learn how to cope with the money at their disposal. Secondly, I believe they should be alone as soon as possible. For example, should they have an argument, they have to solve the problem by themselves.

46. What responsibilities should a couple take? ( 5 - 8 )

There are several responsibilities that couples should take. Allow me to explain by mentioning some of them briefly. In the first place, I believe they should be responsible for their own finances. For example, young couples usually do not