3+ months in, and still single!

Yes I know, the best way I can help my mandarin is to get a local girlfriend...

As well as the bar-crawlers, there are lots of nice girls in Shanghai - both educated/cultured Shanghainese, and fellow expats. As I understand it the expat guys here have it better off than the expat girls, I think because the guys are more willing to date locals.

I keep friends with a number of particularly nice girls here - for occasional dinners, drinks, and general chatting. Such is the life of a gentleman bachelor - dinner but no dessert, but that suits me just fine.

I feel the pressure on occasions from girls to move things on a bit more. It's a little unusual for me, but then I'm sure girls often have to experience this themselves - when guys are pushing them to move on.

I'm focused on learning mandarin right now, in pursuit of continuing my career. In this transitory stage, it doesn't quite feel right to pursue a relationship - so generally my preference right now is to remain single - however much my mandarin (or social life!) might improve.

So - I know my family have all been placing bets on how long it will take before I have a girlfriend here - what do you think it will be?