Xiaoyu on Iris
What were you hoping for?
To start a new relationship in Beijing.
First impressions?
Gentle and quiet.
What did you talk about?
Movies, cartoons, music and dramas we watched; job and career development; our time in the US – mine in California, hers in New York.
Any awkward moments?
When we were going for a walk on a lovely night, it seemed quite natural to hold her hand. Yet I thought I should not do this. Too fast! And we can be friends instead of lovers.
Good table manners?
Yes.
What did you order?
Pork ribs, noodles, fried tofu.
Best thing about Iris?
Though she is several years older than me, it seems we enjoy the same contents, like Japanese dramas and cartoons. When she tries to share something she likes, she becomes really lovely.
Would you introduce her to your friends?
I will, she’s interesting!
Describe Iris in three words
Looking for herself.
What do you think she made of you?
Silly young boy, no idea of the future, not a good choice for boyfriend.
Did you go on somewhere?
Yes, for a walk to Legation Quarter.
And … did you kiss?
No kiss, of course.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
No need to change.
Marks out of 10?
8.5.
Would you meet again?
Guess so, not sure. Too much work to do.
Q&A
Want to be in Blind date?
Show
Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two
strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans
to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we
take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the
UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.
What questions will I be asked?
We
ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of
person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions
cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.
Can I choose who I match with?
No,
it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests,
preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely
to be.
Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don’t worry: we’ll choose the nicest ones.
What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?
Honestly
but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that
Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.
Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.
Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to apply
Email [email protected]
Iris on Xiaoyu
What were you hoping for?
A new friend to enlarge the life circle and share interesting things with. Maybe we can establish a good relationship from this special start.
First impressions?
An energetic and polite boy, then I found out that, although I don’t seem to know much about the industry he is engaged in, he has a lot of interests and hobbies in common with me.
What did you talk about?
Each other’s work, then about the ways to relax after work. He said that he liked skiing very much, but he was very busy with work. He usually relaxes by playing games, watching dramas and listening to music. We both love Cantonese songs, Japanese TV dramas and fantasy movies. It made me feel that we are old friends to each other by talking about these.
Any awkward moments?
None.
Good table manners?
Of course, he was polite.
What did you order?
Ribs, tofu balls, shredded radish, bayberry, noodles and mashed potato.
Best thing about Xiaoyu?
He has a lot of positive ideas about work.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
Not yet.
Describe Xiaoyu in three words
Young, well-educated and passionate.
What do you think he made of you?
He seemed willing to talk with me and we had a lot of common interests.
Did you go on somewhere?
Yes. There’s a famous hutong nearby that used to be the embassy district, which is similar to Xiaoyu’s home town of Shanghai.
And … did you kiss?
Nope.
If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Nothing, because everything felt natural and comfortable that night.
Marks out of 10?
7.
Would you meet again?
Maybe.
Xiaoyu and Iris ate at Zhazha Bistro, Beijing. Fancy a blind date? Email [email protected]
