Giggling Chinese Girls

Many people warned me of the fascination with Westerners that Chinese women have, marry an American and fulfill the American dream, where the streets are all gold, everyone is blond, and wears fancy clothes. Some, including my Chinese teacher, warned me that I need to be careful because Chinese girls will throw themselves at you, buy you gifts, compliment how handsome and clever you are.

For a number of weeks, I couldn't imagine Chinese girls ever attempting to woo a foreigners. They are very passive, never say hi, and if you do, they hide their faces and giggle. Until last week, when these two shy girls, who began to wear high heels and dresses to the hospital, began a bold flirting attempt. She was bold enough to do this in clear vision of all the students and even through my translator because her English is not so good. " you are so handsome, that is why I come to this teacher's clinic everyday" and " you are so handsome, that is why I wanted to watch you needle patients and asked to see you needle technique." I chuckle this off, and thank them for the compliment, my version of the giggling.

The next day it expanded into "if you had a changsha wife you could call her Tanka (wife in Changsha local dialect, also a term of affection used for each other in groups among women)." I asked what should I call my American wife, and after that she hasn't come back to the room for more translator flirting. I suppose in Changsha, I'm the closest thing to Tom Cruise.