My impression is that there is a greater sense of obligation among the Chinese family. It may be the stereotypical American in me, but I don't like the idea of such an obligation. In my mind I don't have an obligation to my family. Instead, I volunteer myself to help them, and make myself available to serve them in any way I can. There is a distinction here - in one context there is a sense of responsibility which obligates the son serve his parents; in another, there is a sense of love and gratitude which allows the daughter to serve her parents.

Conclusion

Getting to know my boyfriend, and spending time with him over the past year has been a great experience. We have built a mutually supportive relationship which has added a lot of fun and value to both of our lives. From the broader perspective of living abroad and dating a local resident, being in this relationship has allowed me to feel like I am more connected to the environment. It has also tried our ability to be patient when we come across eating habits or interactions with family that are different from our own.

Marjorie is an American woman who has lived in China for three years, and has been dating a local Beijinger for the past year.