(For new reader and those who request 好友请求, please read my 公告栏 first)

Birth of the “Once and Future King” of the “English Speaking Countries of the World”

The British Commonwealth consists of some 80 nations of the world, Its titular head is the King of the United Kingdom which commonly known as England. Although the United States is not part of the Commonwealth, Winston Churchill famously said that the US and Britain are “two countries separately by a common language”. There is the “special relationship” between the two countries that is often talked about. Thus for the past week, the anticipation and actual birth of the royal baby of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kathleen Middleton was a media event in both England and the US 24/7. There was unprecedented TV coverage befitting the occasion, from the waiting, to the actual announcement, and just minutes ago the first glimpse of the new heir to the throne (3^rdin line of succession after his grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William), a most festive and happy occasion.

This brought to mind my own experience with the birth of my own children. Our son was born 51 years ago (early before the due date) when I was away on a two day business trip. When I returned home and found a note from my wife saying I should call the hospital. I did this and was informed that she is in the recovery room. My response was “recovery from what (being totally inexperienced at that time)?”. Our next child (a daughter 2 years later) was born in the traditional old fashioned movie style where the Father was told nothing anxiously in the waiting room until the doctor finally came out to inform me about the well being of the mother and the child. By the time of our third child (2nd daughter),modern delivery has come in to fashion. Father are allowed into the delivery room and able to watch the entire birthing process and see the baby take her first breath and utter the first cry. I wonder what is the process in modern China in the cities other than completely rural area? Perhaps some reader can enlighten me.