46. Did you have to ask for permission from your parents before you got married?

a. No, in fact my parents didn't even know I had got married until after the fact. I suppose I should have asked them for permission ahead of time, but they always let me do whatever I want to do, so I thought they wouldn't mind if I got married. Now that I think about it, I feel I really should have asked them.

b. Yes. Both my fiancé and I had to ask our parents for their permission. It was quite awkward at first, because our parents didn't know each other and they each had many questions to ask about my fiancé's family. I hope my fiancé didn't feel uncomfortable when my parents were grilling me about his family. But after an hour or so, they felt quite happy about our engagement, and gave us their blessings to be married.

47. Could you tell me what happens at a wedding in your country?

Well, it varies from place to place. But usually a wedding begins early in the morning. The bridegroom, together with some of his relatives and friends has to pick up the bride and her family from her home by beautifully decorated cars. Then the two families and friends will usually have a banquet together. The bride and bridegroom have to bow to their parents, Heaven and Earth, and to each other, then they have to serve the people with food, drinks, cigarettes and candies while some young people may try to play tricks on them. The whole thing will come to an end in the afternoon.

48. What kind of parent do you intend to be?

I want to have a good relationship with my child. I have seen so many kids who don't really know their own parents, and I don't want to end up like that. I do plan to be strict, but loving. I want my child to always feel comfortable to approach me, whether they've been good or bad. It's pretty easy to tell you what kind of parent I want to be, but when I actually become a parent, I'm sure I'll have to revise my ideals a bit.

49. What hopes or fears do you have for your children?

I hope my child will go to university, find a good job, and have a family. But, children have a very tough life these days. They must study all the time just to have a chance to go to university. They have very little time to play and enjoy as a child. I really fear that my child will be old before his/her time. Then, what's the point of having a child after all?

50. What sort of culture do you hope your child will grow up in?

I hope my child will still know something about China's ancient culture and traditions, and also have a chance to combine these with modern society. I don't want him to just accept everything that is "western" and throw away everything that is "Chinese". Certainly there are people who just think "western" things are better than "Chinese" things. I want my child to be proud of his Chinese heritage, but also be able to choose the best from the West.

51. As a parent, do you plan to raise your children differently from how your parents raised you?

a. No. In fact, my parents were really very good. They praised me and hugged me often. I remember the stories they told me and the way they spent time with me. I do hope to be the same kind of good parent to my child, as my parents were to me.

b. Yes. I want to hug and praise them more. My parents rarely complimented me about anything, though I know they love me very much. They just worked hard and provided for my physical needs, but they never, ever asked me about how I was feeling and things like that. I wish I could have communicated more openly with them.

52. How different is your life from the lives of your parents?

It's very different. I have had many more opportunities and a much more comfortable life than they had. I remember my father telling me stories about having just one egg to eat each week, and that was the highlight of his week. I can't really imagine life like that, so I'm grateful that I have a better life than my parents did. I appreciate their hard work to get us to this point in our lives.

53. Are you going to bring up your child differently?

I will let my child choose his own path in life. I will not be as strict with him as my parents

were with me. At the same time. I'll give him/her my advice and suggestions. I'll try to be a guide instead of an instructor.

54. As a parent, do you plan to do anything different for your child than your parents did for you?

I would like to bring up my child differently from the way I was brought up because I want him/her to have better chances in life. I want him/her to develop his/her imagination, creativity, persistence and independence.

55. Do you enjoy shopping?

a. Yes! I spend most of my weekends shopping. Even if it's just buying something small, I love to walk around and see what's on sale and what's available. My husband thinks I'm crazy about shopping, and he always tells me that I'm spending too much money. So, it's a bit of an issue of conflict between my husband and me right now.

b. No, not at all. I really can't stand it. Whenever my wife wants to go shopping, I just hand her some money and tell her to have a good time. I'd rather stay at home and just relax than fight the crowds in a busy shopping mall. I also hate just standing around and waiting for my wife to decide what to buy. It seems she takes an eternity to make a simple decision.

56. Who does most of the shopping in your family?

Well, I do most of the grocery shopping because there's a market very close to my work. It's very convenient for me to pick up milk or eggs or what ever on my way home from work. But, my wife also enjoys shopping very much. She usually does a lot of the clothes shopping for my son and me.

57. Do you enjoy cooking?

a. Yes, very much. I can cook many different styles of dishes — from Sichuan style to Peking duck. My husband says that I'm really a very good cook, and he always talks about starting a restaurant one day, and hiring me as his chief cook.

b. No. I really hate cooking. I just don't like to spend much time on cooking, so I usually eat in the cafeteria. I know the food's not very tasty in the cafeteria, but I don't have enough money to eat out in a restaurant all the time, and I'm too lazy and unmotivated to cook for myself.

58. Are you a good cook?

a. Yes. I learned everything from my mother who was really famous in our hometown for he cooking. I suppose she learned how to cook from her mother as well. I think that's how I won my husband's heart, by being such a good cook. He really appreciates good food, and I enjoy cooking for him.

b. No. I'm a terrible cook. No one has ever taught me how to cook. I barely know how to boil an egg. Well, I do know how to make instant noodles, but it's just a matter of pouring boiling water on them and waiting for some time. I don't like cooking either, but I do like eating. I suppose I'll have to marry someone who is a good cook.

59. Who does most of the cooking in your family?

My husband does most of the cooking. For some reason, he finds cooking more enjoyable than I do. He also gets home from work earlier than I, so he just starts cooking dinner. By the time I get home, dinner's almost ready. I do cook meals on weekends, but most of the time, it's my husband who cooks.

60. Do you have a lot of friends?

It depends on what you mean by "a lot" ... I do have one or two very close friends, which is all that I need. I don't have any trouble making friends, and I do have many good friends and acquaintances. But, really I feel most close to just one or two friends.

61. What is your major?

I majored in Accounting, a major part of the School of Business at my university. I mainly studied international accounting system inforeign trade, to be more specific.

62. Why did you choose software development as your major?

Because I'd always enjoyed working with computers and I was always good at math and logic. I was fortunate to have a computer in my home when I was in high school, and I spent quite a lot of time just playing around on the computer. My parents bought me all sorts of books on computer programming, and I just started to read them and pick up the ideas in them.

63. How do you like your major?

a. I enjoy it very much. I didn't know very much about it before I studied it, but I'm glad I chose it because it suits me a lot. My father actually suggested that I major in Accounting, because he thought that I would enjoy it.

b. I don't like it at all. I wish I could have chosen a different one, but it's next to impossible to change majors. I just hope that when I get a job, I won't have to do a lot of work in my major.

64. When and where did you graduate? What qualifications have you obtained?

I graduated in 1995 from Beijing Science and Technology University. I have a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, and I'm a licensed Professional Engineer in China.

65. Could you tell me something about your educational background?

I went to Peking University and studied Civil Engineering. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1992. Then, I worked for 3 years in a factory before I went back to school and continued my studies at Beijing Polytechnic University, where I just graduated last year with a Master's degree in Business.

66. Which university is the best one in your country?

Qinghua University is probably the best, although there are also others which are considered to be top notch. Still, Qinghua has the best international reputation, so I think most people would say it's the best.

67. Why do you think Qinghua is the best university in your country?

Because it is one of the leading centres of scientific research, not only in China but also around the world. Many of the professors are doing research projects with professors in other countries, and are at the cutting edge of new technology. Also, it is one of the most difficult universities to get into.

68. How are you as a student?

I am a very organized and highly motivated student. I study very hard, and like to constantly review my lecture notes and textbooks. After each class, I re-read all my notes and refer to them in the textbook. When I encounter something I'm not sure of, I make a point of finding the professor and asking him or her for further explanation. Also, I have a very good memory. Once I learn something, I remember it for a very long time.

69. How do you try to get good grades as a student?

I think it's important for a top student to be very intelligent, hardworking, and motivated.

Without these three key factors, a student will not achieve his/her full potential. Also, the very best student must be more intelligent, more hardworking and even more motivated than his peers.

70. Is there anything you don't like about your studies?

Generally I like my studies but I hate the examination system. There are too many examinations during my school years and most of the time we have to memorize lots of things in books. I'm not very good at that and I find it's a waste of time and energy. Other than that, I quite enjoy my school time.

71. Where do you work?

I work in the head office of Motorola. It's near the Lufthansa Centre, by the third ring road and Liangmahe Road in Beijing. I've been there since 1985.

72. What do you dofor a living?

I'm an engineer. But my day-to-day work involves quite a lot of management. In fact, I'm in charge of the Beijing branch of Motorola, and have a dozen or so engineers working under me to handle the technical part of the work.

73. What is your line of business?

I'm in the teaching business. I'm a professor in the Mathematics Department at Renmin

University. I've been there for 9 years already.

74. What is your job? What does your job involve?

I'm a sales manager. I'm in charge of overseeing sales operations for all of northern China, including Beijing. I have about 40 employees under me who are regional sales representatives.

75. What do you do on a daily basis?

Most of the time, I sit behind a desk and answer phone calls. It's not a very active job, but I do enjoy it most of the time, except when I get a phone call from a very angry customer. Sometimes, they just want to shout at someone, and because I'm the first one to answer the phone, I get the full vent of their anger.

76. How do you like your job?

I enjoy it very much. It does have its ups and downs, but really it's quite a good job. I enjoy the people I work with too, which really can make or break a job. We work very well together and can trust each other to do our fair share.

77. Tell me something about your job?

Well, I'm a French teacher. I teach undergraduate students who are majoring in French. I've been working for about 10 years already, teaching a whole variety of courses over the past 10 years. I suppose my teaching method is rather unconventional. I like to use French in the classroom as the

medium of instruction. Many professors still prefer to teach the second language while speaking Chinese. I really feel that students need to be challenged from the very start to overcome their insecurities of speaking a different language.

78. What made you decide to get into this field?

I didn't really plan to be a teacher at first, but my parents encouraged me to go into teaching. At first I really disliked it immensely. I lacked confidence and felt very insecure standing in front of a room full of students. Somehow, I made it through the first term, and managed a bit better the second. After that, I felt that I had made an impact on some of my students, and when they came to thank me for teaching them, I really was deeply touched. From that point on, I decided to work harder at preparing my classes so that I could teach them well. The following year went really well. I enjoyed my classes and the challenges of teaching. That's when I knew that teaching was the right profession for me.

79. What hind of hobbies do you have?

I'm a big basketball fan, even though I'm not very good at playing basketball myself. I love to watch the NBA on TV whenever I get a chance. I play ping-pong and volleyball whenever I can.

80. How did you become interested in your hobby?

When I was young, my father has always involved me in different activities. My father is a ping-pong coach in a high school. So I always have a chance to follow him when he coached. When I was in the school, I got a chance to play with other students in other sports. So that's how I developed my skills in different sports.

81. What do you do in your spare time?

I like to play on the computer and surf the internet. Once I get on the internet, I find that time really passes very quickly. Before I know it, several hours have passed and my back and neck are aching. I also like to go out for walks and read novels on ancient Chinese history.

82. How do you spend your weekends?

I usually sleep on Saturday morning if I can, study in the afternoon in the library, and go out with friends in the evening. On Sundays, I like to go shopping and just spend time walking around outside, if the weather is nice. If I don't have much money, I still like to go window shopping and I almost get as much pleasure out of that!

83. What is your favorite sport? What are the rules?

I like football most. The rules are basically this: There are two teams of eleven players. Each team tries to kick the ball into the other team's goal. You can't hit the ball with your hands, unless you're the goalkeeper. Also, football is a non-contact sport, so if you tackle an opposing player, you will be given a warning, and you might evenbe kicked out of the game if you persist.

84. What is the most popular sport in your country?

I'd have to say that football is really the most popular sport in China. There are literally millions of crazy football fans. Whenever there is a match on TV between China and another country, you can hear loud cheers and shouts all around the city whenever China scores a goal, and loud groans and moans when the other country scores.

85. What are the sports facilities like in your university/Beijing?

a. At my university, we have mostly outdoor facilities — a track, football field, volleyball and badminton courts, and ping pong tables. The university is just now installing a new sports facility, but I'm not really sure what it's going to be. I think there will probably be a weight room and maybe even a swimming pool.

b. Beijing has a lot of modern indoor facilities offering bowling, tennis, swimming, and other things. But, it's too expensive for most Chinese, and you have to belong to the club in order to use the facilities.

86. How do you spend your free time?

I attend training courses in the evenings. However, as a mother, I also take my son somewhere on weekends. For example, I may drive to the suburbs or the countryside around Beijing and go fishing, swimming and mountain climbing. I enjoy family life very much.

87. Do you like reading books or newspapers?

Yes, I like to read newspapers such as the 21st Century and China Daily. I usually read as much as I have time for, which sometimes is quite a lot. Both of these newspapers are in English, and I find that it really is a good way for me to practise my English.

88. Do you often go to the cinema/theatre?

a. Yes. On Friday nights, I usually go and watch whatever's playing. It's kind of a family

tradition that I started when my son was young.

b. No. I'm not really interested in the theatre. I'd much rather read newspapers and watch TV than pay for the theatre.

89. Which cinema do you often go to?

There's a cinema just around the corner from my home. It's called the Poly Plaza Cinema. It's probably one of the largest cinemas in Beijing, so they always play the most modern films. And, the ticket price is still fairly reasonable.

90. What kind of films do you like?

I definitely like comedy best. I don't see why I should pay money to be sad or scared, so I really don't like the tear-jerker type of films nor horror films. I don't mind adventure type films, just as long as they don't become horror films.

91. What kinds of things do you like doing when you're not working?

a. I'm kind of an indoor type of person, so I guess I like reading most. I am interested in reading all kinds of books and newspaper or magazine articles, especially those on current issues. I just want to be informed of what's going on in the world.

b. I'm kind of an outdoor type. I like to go swimming or play badminton with my family or

friends during weekends or holidays. If I have a longer vacation, I usually travel to further away places all over the country.

92. Do you often watch TV? What's your favourite programme?

a. No, I hardly watch TV at all. In fact, I don't find most programmes interesting. I think it's just a waste of time watching TV.

b. Yes, I like watching the news. But, I don't really watch many other shows on TV besides the news. I just don't have time to see what's on each week. Some TV shows are done in several parts. If you miss one or two episodes, you're really lost. So, because I don't watch TV that regularly, I really find that it's hard to follow a series when I miss several episodes. So, I don't watch them.

93. What kind of music do you like?

Definitely classical music. I have nearly every famous classical work ever recorded. I could sit for hours in a room with my stereo turned up, just listening to classical music. I have also attended several concerts here in Beijing, where world famous orchestras have come to play the great works of Mozart or Beethoven or Chopin or other composers.

94. Who's your favourite film star? Can you describe him/her to me?

I like Leonardo di Caprio. I first saw him when he starred in Titanic, and after that I was head over heels in love with him. He's very handsome ... blonde hair, blue eyes. He has this look about him that makes him seem very sad, but at the same time hopeful. I have his posters all over my room at home.

95. Do you enjoy travelling?

Yes, very much. I've been to most of the major cities in China, and I've also travelled to

Thailand and Singapore. I think that the more I travel, the more I want to travel. It's so interesting to see how other people live, and it helps me to have a better understanding of other people. It's really an amazing way to learn about different cultures — much more exciting and lasting longer than just reading about it in a textbook.

96. What do you know about Britain/Canada/Australia?

I've never been to Canada, but I know it's a developed country with excellent education and health care systems. The population is about 30 million, which I find surprising, considering its very large land areas. One of my foreign English teachers was from Canada, and he showed me many pictures of Canada. It's a very beautiful country, with many different kinds of landscapes. Also, it's quite cold there in the winter time.

97. What sort of accommodation would you most likely to live in when you get to England?

I think I will try to live in an apartment share with other students. Something like one-bedroom or a two-bedroom apartment. I was told living in room and board is more expensive than living in an apartment. Besides, I prefer to cook my own meals so living in dormitory or room and board are out of the question for me.

98. What problems or difficulties do you think you may have in Britain/Canada/Australia?

I will probably have some trouble with English at first. I heard that once you get used to using English all the time, it gets a lot easier to pick it up. I suppose I'll also need to learn how to do things in Canada. For example, I don't know how to buy an underground ticket and use the transportation system, mail a letter, open a bank account, and other things. I think that's pretty normal to have these troubles when I first arrive.

99. How will you try to overcome the difficulties? How will you deal with them?

I have friends who are already living in Australia. They said they would help me if I ran into trouble. In fact, some of my friends are recent immigrants to Australia, and have just gone through the whole adjustment process. I also have a couple of friends who were born and raised in Australia, who promised to help me adapt myself to the life there. Also, I've heard that people in Australia are very friendly. So, I hope to be able to ask them for a little help too.

100. Students' lives are quite competitive. Do you think you'll be able to manage the demand in Britain/Canada/Australia?

Yes, but I think it will be difficult at first. But I am sure my English will improve quickly. Once I get used to the British accent, I'll be able to understand things a lot better. Unfortunately, I have mostly focused on studying American English, so it will be a bit of an adjustment to learn British English. Also, I have been studying a lot of technical vocabulary to prepare me for studying my major in English instead of in Chinese.