美国国家公共电台 NPR--Two friends tell the story of their reunion after years of separation

Two friends tell the story of their reunion after years of separation

Transcript¹

In this week's StoryCorps, two childhood friends from Hong Kong who were separated in their youth and eventually reunited as adults in the United States.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

It's Friday. Time for StoryCorps. Today, a story about friendship. Pak Yan and Joe Chan were born in Hong Kong and inseparable as kids. They learned² to ride bikes together and walked each other to school every day. But in the sixth grade, Joe's family moved to the U.S., leaving Pak wondering what became of his best friend.

PAK YAN: I vividly³ remember that night you left. I saw the ship in the harbor⁴. And then remember, when the ship is moving out, you've got a roll of paper streamer. And you throw it to me. I hold it in my hand, and we hold the streamer together. And this details is always in my mind. After you left, we sent letter to each other, about one letter per week.

JOE CHAN: Those were the days before email and instant messages. So these are one-page letters that we send by air mail. But then gradually, as time passed, I think we sort of lost contact. Now I thought that my best friend was lost forever.

YAN: Actually, I kept every letters you sent to me. And remember I work in a Christmas tree factory?

CHAN: Yep.

YAN: I do the packaging. All those artificial⁵ Christmas tree - they all ship to America. So I thought, oh, maybe Joe Chan would get one.

CHAN: So what made you decide to look me up?

YAN: When I was 30 years old, I came to the United States, too. I know you were in America, but there's a big question mark in my mind. Where is Joe Chan? But America is so big. One afternoon, type your name - Yahoo search. I found 108 Joe Chan in America.

CHAN: So did you call every Joe Chan on that list?

YAN: Yes. I left a lot of message and then hope one of the message is you.

CHAN: Yeah, I remember that day real well when I heard your voice. I got really excited. So I called you back right away.

YAN: I was overwhelmed⁶ when you called me back. I was just - can't believe I finally found you. I was very happy.

CHAN: And since that time, we try to find time at least once a week to have a bike ride. And we will have dinner together. It's like we just picked up where we left off. You have less hair. That's about all.

YAN: (Laughter).

CHAN: I think as we get older, I think there's a part of our wisdom is to realize that friendship is one of those things that you cannot put a price tag⁷ on.

(SOUNDBITE OF BLUE DOT SESSIONS⁸' "GREY GREY JOE")

MART?NEZ: Best friends Joe Chan and Pak Yon, who are both in their 70s. This holiday weekend, NPR and StoryCorps invite you to use the StoryCorps app to interview a loved one as part of the Great Thanksgiving Listen. More info at thegreatlisten.org.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

3 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

4 harbor   

n.海港，港口；vt.庇护，藏匿；心怀(怨恨等)

参考例句：

• The harbor lies to the south of the city.港口在城市的南边。
• At that time,our ship was tied up at this harbor.当时我们的船停靠在这个港口。

5 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

6 overwhelmed   

[ overwhelm ]的过去式

参考例句：

• She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. 她感到愧疚难当。
• If (one was) overwhelmed by passion, it could lead to serious blunders. 当感情完全淹没理智时，就可能铸成大错。

7 tag   

n.标签，附属物，名称，谚语；vt.附以签条，尾随，添饰，指责，连接；vi.紧随，尾随

参考例句：

• Please tag your baggage.请在你的行李上贴上标签了。
• The clerk attached a price tag to each article.店员给每一件商品系上标价签。

8 sessions   

n.（尤指法庭、议会等）开庭( session的名词复数 )；（自发或俱乐部的）聚会；会期；（进行某活动连续的）一段时间

参考例句：

• A few sessions talking to a counsellor should straighten him out. 跟辅道员谈几次就会使他改正过来的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sessions will enable you to discuss problems with fellow asthma sufferers. 这些环节让你和其他哮喘病患者一起讨论问题。 来自《简明英汉词典》