Friendship
美式友谊
Steve and Yaser first met in their chemistry class at an American university. Yaser was an inter-national student from
史帝夫和亚瑟最初是在一所美国大学的化学课里认识的。亚瑟是从约旦来的国际学生。他很兴奋能够认识美国人,他要更多学习美国文化;亚瑟希望他和史帝夫会成为好朋友。
At first, Steve seemed very friendly. He always greeted Yaser warmly before class. Sometimes he offered to study with Yaser. He even invited Yaser to eat lunch with him. But after the semester was over, Steve seemed more distant. The two former classmates didn't see each other very much at school. One day Yaser decided to call Steve. Steve didn't seem very interested in talking to him. Yaser was hurt by Steve's change of attitude. "Steve said we were friends," Yaser complained. "And I thought friends were friends forever."
刚开始史帝夫似乎非常友善,上课前他总是热情地和亚瑟打招呼,有时他和亚瑟一起读书;他甚至邀请亚瑟一起共进午餐。但是学期结束后,史帝夫似乎较冷淡了,这两个以前的同学在学校不常碰面了。有一天,亚瑟决定打电话给史帝夫,史帝夫似乎没有兴趣和他讲话,对于史帝夫态度的改变,亚瑟感到受伤害。「史帝夫曾说我们是朋友,」亚瑟抱怨,「而且我认为一朝是朋友就永远是朋友。」
Yaser is a little confused. He is an outsider to American culture. He doesn't understand the way Americans view friendship. Americans use the word friend in a very general way. They may call both casual acquaintances and close companions "friends." Americans have school friends, work friends, sports friends and neighborhood friends. These friendships are based on common interests. When the shared activity ends, the friendship may fade. Now Steve and Yaser are no longer classmates. Their friendship has changed.
亚瑟有点困惑了,对于美国文化,他是个局外人(外行)。他不了解美国人对友谊的看法。美国人把「朋友」这个字用得非常广泛,一般的泛泛之交和亲密伙伴都算是朋友。美国人的朋友包含有学校的朋友、工作的朋友、运动的朋友或是街坊邻居。这些友谊都是建立在共同的兴趣上,当共同从事的活动结束时,友谊也可能跟着消失了。现在,史帝夫和亚瑟不再是同学,他们的「友谊」也就改变了
In some cultures friendship means a strong life-long bond between two people. In these cultures friendships develop slowly, since they are built to last. American society is one of rapid change. Studies show that one out of five American families moves every year. American friendships develop quickly, and they may change just as quickly.
在一些文化里,友谊意即两人之间一种强烈的,一世之久的情感。在这些文化里,友谊发展得慢,因为要持久。但美国是个急速变迁的社会,有些研究发现每年每五个美国家庭之中,就有一个家庭搬家。美国人的友谊建立得快,但也可能改变得快。
People from the
从美国来的人可能刚开始看起来很亲切。美国人常能很容易地和陌生人聊天,他们交换关于自己的家庭、兴趣和工作的个人资料,他们可能热情地微笑说「祝你有愉快的一天」或是「待会儿见」,而同学也许会说「我们找一天聚聚」,但是美国人的友善并不意谓真正的友谊。
After an experience like Yaser's, outsiders may consider Americans to be fickle. Learning how Americans view friendship can help non-Americans avoid misunderstandings. It can also help them make friends the American way.
经过像亚瑟的经验之后,局外人也许会视美国人为善变的。了解美国人如何看待友谊,能够帮助非美国人士避免误会,也能帮助他们以美国人的方式交朋友。
Here are a few tips on making friends with Americans:
以下是一些和美国人交朋友的秘诀:
1. Visit places Americans enjoy: parties, churches, Western restaurants, parks, sports clubs.
到一些美国人喜欢去的地方:宴会、教会、西餐厅、公园和健身房。
2. Be willing to take the first step. Don't wait for them to approach you. Americans in Beijin may not know you speak English. They may be embarrassed if they can't speak your language.
乐意跨出第一步,不要等他们来接近你。在北京的美国人不知道你会不会讲英语。如果他们不会讲你的语言,他们可能觉得不好意思。
3. Use small talk to open the conversation. Ask them where they're from, why they came to
以闲聊来展开话题,问他们来自哪里,为什么到北京等等。切记:小心避免非常私人的问题,例如年龄、薪水、婚姻状况和长相。
4. Show an interest in their culture, their country or their job. (Americans like to talk
对他们的文化、国家或者工作表示兴趣。(美国人喜欢谈论自己)。
5. Invite them to join you for dinner or just for coffee or tea. Try to set a specific time. Americans sometimes make general invitations like "Let's get together sometime. " Often this is just a way to be friendly. It is not always a real invitation.
邀请他们和你一起吃饭或喝茶。要讲定时间,否则,美国人有时会用一些一般性的邀请,像「找个时间聚聚吧!」,但这只是表示友善的方法而非真正的邀请。
6. Don't expect too much at first. Maybe they're just being friendly. But maybe they do want to be your good friends. It will take time to tell.
不要一开始就对你们的友谊期待太多,也许他们只是表示友善,但也可能他们真的要做你的好朋友,这需要时间证明。
7.People like Yaser shouldn't give up trying to make American friends. Americans do value strong, life-long friendships, even with non-Americans. When making friends, it helps to have a good dose of cultural understanding.
像亚瑟一样的人不应放弃交朋友,美国人还是看重强烈,一生之久的友谊,即使是和非美国人士。交朋友时,对于文化有某种程度的了解将会有所帮助。
相关单词:semester
semester解释:n.一学期,半学年,六个月的时间
semester例句:
A student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester.每个学生一学期可能要修四五门课程。
I had an especially rough time during my first semester.我第一个学期的日子难受极了。
相关单词:decided
decided解释:adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
decided例句:
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
相关单词:casual
casual解释:adj.漠不关心,冷漠的;随便的,非正式的;偶然的,碰巧的
casual例句:
He earns a living by casual labour.他靠做临时工为生。
The guests wore casual clothes.客人们穿着便服。
相关单词:acquaintances
acquaintances解释:n.相识的人( acquaintance的名词复数 );熟人;对…有了解;(与某人)认识
acquaintances例句:
Claire has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances . 克莱尔交游很广。
We are the casual acquaintances of a long railway journey. 我们是在火车长途旅行中相识的朋友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词:bond
bond解释:n.结合,债券,契约,粘合剂,保证人,键,关栈保留;vt.存入关栈,粘着;vi.结合
bond例句:
This glue makes a good firm bond.这种胶水粘得很结实。
His word is his bond.他是讲信用的。
相关单词:friendliness
friendliness解释:n.友谊,亲切,亲密
friendliness例句:
Behind the mask of friendliness,I know he really dislikes me.在友善的面具后面,我知道他其实并不喜欢我。
His manner was a blend of friendliness and respect.他的态度友善且毕恭毕敬。
相关单词:fickle
fickle解释:adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的,不坚定的
fickle例句:
Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。
相关单词:learning
learning解释:n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
learning例句:
When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
相关单词:marital
marital解释:adj.婚姻的,夫妻的
marital例句:
Her son had no marital problems.她的儿子没有婚姻问题。
I regret getting involved with my daughter's marital problems;all its done is to bring trouble
相关单词:dose
dose解释:n.(药的)剂量,一服;v.给(药);(给…)服药
dose例句:
In the accident,the workers received a heavy dose of radiation.在那次事故中,工人受到大剂量的辐射。
He gave me a dose of medicine for my cold.他给我开了一剂治感冒的药。
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