For dreams
Luo, a friend of Liu's, married her American husband at 34 years of age. When they were registering in the civil administration department, she was "congratulated" because "you have already entered your 30s and were lucky enough to find a fine husband."
In Chinese social thinking, females are under huge pressure to get married before it's too late, instead of marrying the right one. And those marrying foreigners are even more fortunate.
Social customary concepts have become ill, not to mention the complex administrative system.
When she consulted the Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration for migration issues, the official treated her rudely when she just mentioned her situation of being pregnant. He surprisingly shouted "your pregnancy has nothing to do with us. Go to the hospital."
"I received a high education and have been behaving in a cultivated way. Upon going to any administration or service sector in China, I easily lose my temper and talk in bad manner."
Lv, a student in the States, was impressed by the social order when she went there. Disabled people can move around the buildings and city at ease. Professors are indeed in love with their research.
"My understanding about the U.S. is simple in two words – freedom and fairness. For instance, I am free to decide whether to remain single until however old I want, without the depressing gossip that usually surrounds a single woman," said Lv.
"Fairness is to respect the rights of everyone, including the disabled and the poor. I was astonished to learn that Latinos are accepted into the Ivy League schools at a lower threshold, because the country's insufficient care of this group makes it harder for them to study."
Dreams can be small, just like freedom, fairness, or a peaceful life. But the migrating to realize these dreams has more or less reflected the bitterness in the life of most ordinary Chinese.
