陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作，惊天是星期五下午，陈豪正在跟美国同事Amy聊天。# o$ J% [$ M, \" ~7 S# [
(Office ambience), ~' l3 ^' g& Q6 C: }9 S
A: 陈豪，do you have any plans for the weekend?" s Q) c5 I; @+ h6 o' A
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.
5 [ I! _: l2 M& |( S6 L3 A5 B" Q A：What are you nervous about?: d/ V5 C; @$ r. J; m/ V/ V" _
C: 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。
+ L( V9 s: f# Y. W4 F; K& }- Z A: Do you have gift for your hosts?" {1 z: \" k: z- u: v1 g4 d
C：礼物，可我不知道买什么呀。7 c. `& [: v9 O% `6 c
A：Here's what I do. I take a gift with me when I know my hosts' taste and hobbies.
( u6 I4 z7 N: v C：那要是不知道他有什么爱好呢？
. |1 y [3 c' Y) C4 J8 ~ 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.
! S& }7 T# w+ F) a C：我怕吃不惯他们家的饭，所以准备自己带饭去。
$ H) B) Q9 i0 q! J A: Unless you have food allergies or need to follow a special diet that would be rude. The rule is to "make do".
* K; @8 w( u( }; X, o& w* o+ r C：我倒是没有食物过敏。那要是不爱吃呢？
. Z9 ?! e* G1 w9 L* W 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.: g3 H, t/ N9 O; Y* z
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?5 ~8 K; `0 }: y
A：绝对不行. Unless they invite Freckles, ask your neighbors if they could look after him.4 d! h' f% p1 M) l/ e1 ?4 X+ m
C：那我到他们家能看电视吗？, n+ T8 \: h" B& [
A：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。. P% F0 S8 G: m D4 j) t9 N8 L2 @
C：他们睡觉以后我能看吗？) `( D& \1 j' Q k% h" u0 J3 ]
A：I hate to disappoint you, but if your hosts go to bed, you should retire to your room.0 A8 K6 l% \/ b$ X; I1 R+ `( b
C：我要是不困呢？9 F( h7 G& z3 i ]
A：Take something to read. It's much more courteous to read quietly in your room than to stay up with the televising blaring.$ I/ g: P0 ]$ X4 U( K. O
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7 B, r! N! O- A/ w C：Amy, 我还有什么地方需要注意吗？
1 Z% X' V# C: L- D. N A：Don't forget when the visit is over to send a handwritten thank you note?. g7 \. I. p7 ]. w
C：一定要手写吗？我能不能写个e-mail，表示感谢呢？
- R5 a( o/ j8 a0 T4 }6 m1 W A：绝对不行。E-mail is too impersonal.
: w o9 [( I* L, }# c% I4 s8 P C：可我没有像样的卡片和信封呀。
4 R0 _6 _8 n+ W9 c- ` A：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." H! ~& e+ O- C* U# }5 {
C: 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。
% ^+ z( m, C5 M \ A：没错。还有就是要enjoy yourself. |
发表于 2012-8-14 19:12:39
