Life of Guangzhou - Translating Love

Some will rebuke them as money making matchmakers. Some will be grateful to them for helping their love life. Who are they? Their job is to translate love letters between Chinese women and foreigners.

Mr. Wolfgang from Germany and Ms. Huang are waiting for registration.

Ms. Ma serves as a translator in a transnational marriage introducing institute. In three years, she has translated over 20,000 love letters for hundreds of Chinese women. As a result 13 couples have found a match. She said that, she is translating love across cultural barriers and promoting peaceful affection amongst the middle aged.

Marrying for love or money?

It is generally thought that Chinese females are willing to reside in other countries for material reasons. Ms. Ma's first success was the pairing of a 45-year-old female Guangzhou engineer and a program manager from Ohio U.S.A. The women lived alone and had been divorced for over ten years.

After dating for six months the couple decided to walk down the aisle. The American program manager was not in a good position economically as his previous wife had been granted most of his property after their divorce. This latest marriage was purely for love.

Why do western men love Chinese females? Chinese females can be traditional and faithful to the family, which gives men a sense of security. Additionally, they are not as independent and self-concerned as many western women.

Chinese women are too shy to express love

"My beloved butterfly, I think you are naughtier than me. But to me you are also so smart. If one day I know the reason, you will have big trouble. But by the time you become my wife, I would have decided how to punish you..."

Who can image that this letter was actually written by a 52 year old American man? In contrast, Chinese women are often shy and dare not say "I love you."

After they have communicated by letter for a period, the man will be invited to China for the first meeting. Most of couples have already decided to marry if they choose to meet. When they register to marry, the matchmakers' job is finished.

(By Jessie Hwang, Alan Devey)