I am really fascinated by the Boy/Girl relations here.
As you may already know, it isn't allowed for students in high school to date, or have any feelings for a particular person ...this may disturb their studies.
But after many conversations with my school mates, I realized they all have what they consider as a "boyfriend/girlfriend". Let me explain how it happens:
One of my classmates came to me, telling me she liked a boy in another class, I told her to go and chat with him, she was too shy; I gave her a hand. And after a few discussions, they finally ask each other: "can I be your favorite girl/boy? Or do you already have one?"
If the other agrees, they are officially "brother, sister", they sometime call themselves names like "uncle, aunt, mum, dad...", it's affectionate.
If that step has been taken, they can have lunch together, and have long long discussions, about their likes, their dislikes, just smiling at each other is sometimes enough, and if they really hit it off during that discussion, hell...who knows? they might even walk next to each other from the canteen to the classroom!!!
It's very different because of how discrete they have to be to avoid any trouble, but also because chinese people attach great value to others emotions and feelings.
I find it rather beautiful, and unfamiliar to watch these boys asking "how are your feelings today?" and listening with passion to the answer for 30minutes!
They told me love, if it comes too early, is "puppy love". They also said it does happen sometimes; and they can't help it... But this is when the teachers and parents Intervene: if there is a doubt whether a boy and girl love each other, the teacher picks up the phone, and discusses an appropriate punishment. (of course, the boy and the girl are immediately separated, it becomes very tricky for them to see each other)
