CGTN Digital Roundtable participants (Photo/CGTN Digital)
Defining moments
"My own definition would be you go from dating into a relationship when you enter that area of emotional investment," Ireland native and Beijing resident Richard Hansard said.
"After one month, I asked him, 'Would you be my boyfriend?' so I officially asked him that. So he said, 'Aren't we already in a relationship?' I said, 'No, we were just dating but now I want to go into a relationship with you," Beijing native Cui Yihui said. "I think I am a little bit more Westernized since I studied in the US but he is more traditional Chinese."
Defining their relationship status was not the only culture clash some of the singles faced.
"The most shocking thing for me here is that when you go out with your partner, you have to carry her purse. In some parts of the world that is not acceptable," Abusufiyan told the roundtable gathering. "She is Chinese so I had to accept it because she's my girlfriend. But I found it very shocking."
This blending of cultures is certainly a possibility for the scores of singles living in China.
"I'm pretty recent in Beijing so I have had some opportunities to go out to have a drink," Portugal native Tiago Saavedra said. "You can see some pretty, beautiful women here."
While the foreign men participating in the roundtable had no problem expressing their interest in dating women who are Chinese, the foreign women were a bit more cautious.
"If I found the right guy and he happened to be Chinese then that's great. I just never saw myself being with a Chinese guy, but I also never saw myself living in China and here I am," Archdeacon told CGTN Digital. "I think it's important to be open-minded."
Relationship coaches the Mattoxs agree having an open mind is key. They said it is never too late to find love.
"In our work, we've witnessed that age is not nearly the factor that one might think when you have tools to accompany your love," Elitia Mattox told CGTN Digital. "In the last six months alone, we've celebrated the nuptials and engagements of 34-, 40- and 60-year-old female clients."
