Happy to be leftover while everyone else enjoys marriage

My Chinese friends can't imagine a woman who doesn't want to get married some day. I shock them when I tell them it describes me.

Attaining the status of a Mrs has never been part of any of my carefully constructed multi-year plans - but in China, women have concrete goals for marriage, ones they fully intend to see come to fruition within a relatively short timeframe.

While I balk at what little time that leaves them for themselves, it's not only natural but also feasible, since they don't plan on dating too much. Family and friends have told these girls for years that there's no time too soon to start thinking about a husband - preferably, one they can bag with their first long-term relationship.