I think most people are familiar with the episode Sex and the City, which concerns about four single women, three in their thirties, and one in her forties, discussing their sexual desire and fantasies, their travels in life and in love. Set in New York City, my favorite character in the episode is Carrie Bradshaw, the narrator of each episode as well as the weekly column director, “Sex and the City”, for the fictitious newspaper the New York Star. Miranda Hobbes is a career-minded lawyer with extremely cynical views on relationship and men. Samantha Jones, a businesswoman, with a career in public relations, is the oldest but the most sexually confident of the four. What I appreciate is that though she has quite a number of relations with guys, she is faithful to her friends and does all she can to benefit all of the four. As a traditional Chaoshanese, I strongly hold the faith to my future husband. What she has done with guys is my landmine; I dare not even touch it. So it did cause a fierce clash in my mind when I got touched with Sex and the City. But as I explore more and more about Manhattan, I realize it is also a way of life, as ours. The solo difference lies in the gender. In the eastern world, it is men who can enjoy the sexual promiscuity; while in the west, women take the place or at least equally have the right to do so without being labeled lascivious. Take China as a typical example. There were bawdyhouses almost in every dynasty everywhere for MEN in ancient China, of course no similar place for women. While today, there are still “red light areas” in some provinces, still, for MEN. Women are definitely not allowed to in all ages; otherwise, they will be despised not only by men but also by women themselves. Here, I must declare my stance. I am not going to criticize anybody or anything. I just tell the difference. And I quite appreciate the freedom in western countries though I do not intend to encourage the same thing in China. From the behavior of Samantha, I think the sex has been regarded as a kind of hobby, the same as playing basketball, watching TV and so on which create relaxation and entertainment.

  However, married couple is another issue to talk about. In Manhattan, I can see the same value shared both in the east and in the west--------loyalty to your husband or wife. Once married, it is not allowed to be off the track, either the husband or the wife. Sex is a hobby, which can be played with anyone you like before marriage but with your own spouse ONLY after marriage.

  Charlotte York, the most optimistic of the group, the one who emphasizes an emotional love opposed to lust, is a true romantic, always searching for her “knight in shinning armor”. In season two, Charlotte got married to Tray, who she thought was almost a perfect man, handsome, considerate, and good in bed. I have found an interesting fact. When the romanticist is trying to meet someone to get married, they will always sleep together to find out whether sexual concept is in common. Once not, though every other thing is pretty good, she will absolutely leave him. So I am just thinking what role does sex play in our relationship? And how important is it? What’s the proportion it takes up in the marriage? I find out the answer. Sex is just second to love. In China, we are always too shy to mention about sexual stuff, but it is clear that sex does play a great part in marriage. We have seen so many couples divorced for many reasons, mostly for disharmonious sexual life, yet not everyone publicly committed it. Maybe it was a shame to be known, they would rather claim that we found no more love between us.

  Another issue I pay attention to is gay problem. It becomes quite common to be a gay or a lesbian in New York City. I think it is unfair to look down upon them because this is their right to do so. Once the opposite sex doesn’t agree with you, you can totally change your direction. Why in China it receives contempt? Just imagine if from the ancient time, men only have sex with men, and women only with women, is it weird to see a man and a woman together? I think we should change our mind as everyone has his right to choose what suits him best.

  Though there are lots of criticisms about the episode as somebody think it is mentally unhealthy, I love it for it has unlocked my torrent of emotion and exposed cultural difference to my storming mind.

 （本文为英文网征文比赛二等奖获奖作品）