陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作，今天是星期五下午，陈豪正在跟美国同事Amy聊天。9 E. q; |1 a' x6 U2 I6 Z. Y" q* {5 Y
（Office ambience）* P4 S- X4 J p! H: Z' ~
A: 陈豪，do you have any plans for the weekend?7 T: ^0 J8 E) S, V$ u
C: 这个周末还真有活动。我们老板夫妇请我到他们家去玩儿，我没告诉你吗？说实话，I am a little nervous.
$ [$ T2 c0 c+ qA：What are you nervous about?
2 F* e) i( h7 T9 E8 z1 w; E- SC: 我怕自己会有失礼的地方。唉，你给我讲讲，在西方，去别人家作客有什么需要注意的吧。
" }/ f) _. m' cA: Do you have gift for your hosts?
; ~' t- I6 N- KC：礼物，可我不知道买什么呀。
' ~5 Q" J" ?) x+ d: G2 gA：Here's what I do. I take a gift with me when I know my hosts' taste and hobbies./ U. F" a* h" N3 E2 k
C：那要是不知道他有什么爱好呢？! Y7 Q" Q8 G Y8 \: @ L) e
A：When I don't have a clue, I pay attention to what they like while I am there. Then I send a special gift after the visit.
6 H% u7 g( b {! u- h4 LC：我怕吃不惯他们家的饭，所以准备自己带饭去。1 W m8 H# \/ T
A: Unless you have food allergies or need to follow a special diet that would be rude. The rule is to "make do".
$ Z* E, v; P$ k9 n" M# uC：我倒是没有食物过敏。那要是不爱吃呢？* S: z5 S# y3 ~/ V8 `
A: If there is something you don't like, don't let your hosts know. Have a little bit of everything to be polite but fill up on the things you like.+ _- D4 T) P `3 ]& T
C: 你说得有道理，我可以每样儿都尝点，哪个合胃口就多吃点儿。你放心，不好吃我也不会告诉他们的。还有Amy, can I take my dog Freckles?
b0 W6 P" b( o( Z/ T+ k. AA：绝对不行. Unless they invite Freckles, ask your neighbors if they could look after him.7 g% ~. V. ]+ r9 h" X, V- ^- I
C：那我到他们家能看电视吗？
( U) s/ p7 f* ^6 B% i! hA：They may ask if you want to watch television and if you have any favorite shows. 不过，要是没人问你，那他们看什么，你就应该跟着看什么。1 U+ D6 I+ L' O5 {+ s
C：他们睡觉以后我能看吗？
( n1 Q e+ O, NA：I hate to disappoint you, but if your hosts go to bed, you should retire to your room.* r1 b' y' M3 p F
C：我要是不困呢？. I* F1 V7 ?) ]# [# y6 B
A：Take something to read. It's much more courteous to read quietly in your room than to stay up with the televising blaring.% r3 ]& X4 I L! k
******
5 R, Q" q+ Y. M! E7 j( @* ?' u6 Q! k+ mC：Amy, 我还有什么地方需要注意吗？
0 P, k7 ?0 A" y4 ]0 j; cA：Don't forget when the visit is over to send a handwritten thank you note?' O, u9 M) G+ ~4 c# z
C：一定要手写吗？我能不能写个e-mail，表示感谢呢？
2 J/ c$ j I$ M4 A' k8 e) H8 aA：绝对不行。E-mail is too impersonal.
8 ]) u" K. T; s0 O: FC：可我没有像样的卡片和信封呀。
* y W) r+ t& {) tA：Then buy some and take it with you along with a pen and some stamps. You can write the note before you leave their house and mail it on your way back home.
* c" S* a0 E+ c% eC: 我还以为这个周末可以好好放松一下呢。看来我得随时注意，做个好客人，可别闹什么笑话。
: _% q ]8 f( c E2 @A：没错。还有就是要enjoy yourself. |
发表于 2012-8-14 19:12:39
