Close Quarters

On Sunday, our colleague Weifanchang and her husband Zhang invited us to their home for dinner. Joe was the guest of honor because it was Father's Day. The couple are newlyweds-- they waited to marry until Zhang had finished his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. He works for a government institute. Weifanchang (AKA Wendy) teaches English at NCUT.

The couple live on campus as do most university faculty. There is little privacy, which is a way of life here. I don't mind living on campus a few weeks every summer when I come here. But as a steady diet, I'd detest it. Like most Americans, I am something of a privacy freak. I even disliked parsonage living, where there was much more privacy than is afforded faculty here.

Though they are highly qualified, are Wendy and Zhang are junior faculty and don't get much space. Their apartment is about eight feet by ten feet, with a tiny bathroom and kitchen in addition. The double bed takes up most of the space. There was hardly room on the fold away table for what Wendy had cooked. They must be in love-- otherwise they'd have killed each other by now.

Photos: Wendy and Zhang; a gracious feast on a tiny table