YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS?SHE’S GOT ANSWERS

(BUT YOU PROBABLY WON’T LIKE THEM)

There were two men fighting outside my apartment at 5 a.m.over a parking spot.They woke me up even though I Iive on the sixth floor.So ridicuIous! How do I prevent this from happening again?

Mr.SIeepy-at-work

Ah,wish I’d been there to 管管闲事 (guǎnguǎn xiánshì,get nosy)! Fights are the best opportunity to get the neighborhood 八卦 (bāguà,gossip).You 错过太多 (cuòguò tài duō,missed out on too much)! Also,看看你 (kànkan nǐ,look at you),living on the sixth floor,getting sleepy at work,you think you are 了不起 (liǎobuqǐ,something)? So many 毕业生 (bìyèshēng,new graduates) out there cannot find a job and 租不起 (zūbuqǐ,cannot afford) apartments,while you are still 赖床 (làichuáng,sleeping in) at 5 a.m.I think your problem is that you 不懂珍惜 (bù dǒng zhēnxī,do not cherish what you have).At 5 a.m.I am already at the park 打太极 (dǎ tàijí,doing tai chi).Here’s a 主意 (zhǔyi,idea):Whydon’t you tell the 吵架的 (chǎojià de,people who fight) to come do tai chi with me? It will help them be more 心平气和 (xīnpíng qìhé,calm),and 尊重他人 (zūnzhòng tārén,respectful of others) in 公共空间 (gōnggòng kōngjiān,public spaces).

I am 23 and I have never had a boyfriend.To be honest,I don’t think being singIe is a probIem,but why am I not one of those peopIe in a romantic reIationship?

Iris

Just think about all the 麻烦 (máfan,trouble) you’ve saved yourself by not having a boyfriend.More time for you to 旅游 (lǚyóu,travel) and develop some 爱好 (àihào,hobbies),unless you are a loser who doesn’t have any! Aren’t there a lot of 年轻姑娘 (niánqīng gūniang,young women)nowadays who preach about 独立 (dúlì,independence)and 搞钱 (gǎoqián,making money)? I know,I know,爱情 (àiqíng,love) is beautiful and all,but just wait until your boyfriend turns into husband and then a 酒鬼 (jiǔguǐ,alcoholic) and 赌徒 (dǔtú,gambler).Decades down the road you’ll still be sending them money! Don’t 着急 (zháojí,rush),they all say 强扭的瓜不甜 (qiáng niǔ de guā bù tián,“the forcibly picked melon is not sweet,” or forced results are hardly satisfying).I say,take a chill pill,投资自己 (tóuzī zìjǐ,invest in one’s self),and 顺其自然(shùn qí zìrán,let things happen naturally)—speaking of which,my square dancing friends might have some good 门道 (méndao,leads) for financial investment if you are interested...