Allow me to introduce to you, from left to right, Purple, and Spring. Yes, I know, these sound like stage names, but this is what their Chinese names translate into English as. All of the Ice Tea Girls are classmates at the local university in Zhaoqing. They all are fairly fluent in English, and they continue to take several courses per semester. Being the "First Foreigner" they have ever met, it is my responsibility to unofficially represent my country. I try not to appear to be too much a letch as these two asked me to take them out on a sort of non-romantic date. Girls here are almost always seen with their best friend walking hand in hand or on the others arm as if they were in love. This may seem strange to Western Eyes. Asians are by no means more inclined to practice homosexuality than Westerners. In practice, homosexuals in Asian countries are closeted as they were in the Pre-1970's San Fransisco. Some who are old enough may recall a time when women in America could be seen holding hands and hugging in public and observers or bystanders placed no sexual connotations upon such sights until after gays in the west came out of the closet. While I had never thought to photograph such sights as one man sitting on another's lap in a friendly embrace, it is not uncommon to see in China and other Asian countries. But, then again, visitors will not often see men and women embraced in passionate kissing and so forth in public places in board daylight. Such things are reserved for darker corners of public parks after dark and the children are off the streets. These observations are by no means intended to lay any blame upon nor condone the actions or results of the gay liberation movements of the west. These are mere observations and personal speculation as a possible Pavlovian sort of cause and effect. I make these observations known for the benefit of future travelers sensitivities. Again, I hope you have enjoyed viewing these Cupie Dolls as I did photographjing them.