N: do you think chinese families have changed much in the last 50 years?
S: I think families everywhere have changed a lot in the last 5 decades.
N: what do you think is the biggest change?
S: well, in the past, three or four generations would li8ve together under the same roof. Nowadays, living in the same city as one’s relatives in becoming rare.
N: that’ true. You know, some husbands and wives don’t even live in the same city any more.
S: would you ever consider having your parents live with you when they get older?
N: I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned. I’d rather have my parents live with me than live in a retirement room.
S: that’s very respectable, but I could never live with my parents. I usually only see them at our christmas celebration—and that’s enough!
N: how about your other siblings? Do they spend a lot of time with your parents?
S: two of my sisters still live at home, even they have already graduated from university and have jobs. They enjoy spending their free time with my parents. I guess in that respect, I’m the back sheep of the family.
N: I see. Do your parents ever ask you to come home to visit them more often?
S: they’re always asking me to come home, but I think our relationship is better if we keep a distance from each other. Whenever we see each other, all we do is fight.
N: well, you know what they say. You can choose your friends, but not your family.