The Spouse Market
When a person is looking to get married in Norway, you can say they’re on the spouse market. In Shanghai however, there is an actual place where people can advertise.
Usually, it’s the persons mother (or in some cases grandmother) who are caring (not sure if I really agree though) enough to put out their kid’s height, weight, age, preferences, work type, current income, hobbies, and if the person’s not bad looking – a picture, on a paper sheet and hang it on the nearest bush or bench.
Their children are usually too busy working and making a career to look around for a boy- or girlfriend, and so I suppose those old people (with a wish for a grand kiddo) see it as their duty to find someone for them. There was a huge flock of elderly people in the park nearby Barbossa (a quite expensive place) on People’s Square, all of them looking to find someone – although not for themselves.
But what do the couples who end up marrying through this market say to their kids?
Kiddo: Daddy! How did you and mummy meet?
Daddy: Oh, eh, yeah. They were advertising for her at the spouse market..
Probably the worst explanation to give a kid.
I actually wanted to take a picture of one of the advertising sheets, but were told not to (by hand movements), and since I’m polite I only took one. Too bad that picture didn’t become readable.
Stuff on topic;
- I Spy Shanghai; Marriage park.
Tags: china, chinese, people's square, unusual