【英语趣味课堂】背包客-Backpackers

Jeff: Now the world is small and there's this type of people who are called backpackers, and you've been a backpacker, or you are a backpacker. What's a backpacker and what do you think of them?

Jonathan: I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I'm a backpacker. I actually have a bag that rolls on wheels, so I don't know if I fit that category¹. When I was younger, then I certainly did go around with the backpack and considered myself to be a little bit a part of that community. I wouldn't say I really would consider myself one anymore because a lot of people that I meet who consider themselves to be backpackers, they almost have a little bit of an unusual perception² of what they are, and they think somehow they're different from say tourists, and I meet people who say these things, like, I'm not a tourist, I'm a traveller³, or "I'm not a tourist, I'm a backpacker" in some way suggesting that they are above being a tourist in some way, but in the same hand, I'll meet people who are in some area like say Khao San Road in Bangkok, which is famous as being a backpacker street, and I meet people who stay there for two weeks and only talk to other backpackers, and they end up at the end of their holiday saying how much they love Thailand, whereas⁴ the realty was they never really went anywhere except perhaps to a little bit to a temple or something.

 

Jeff: So, are backpackers boys and girls, old people and young people, Indians and Canadians. Is there any, like, are all backpackers Americans for example?

 

Jonathan: Oh, no, actually, I meet very few Americans when I travel surprisingly. It seems that certain nationalities⁵ have a greater predisposition to travel. I meet as many Canadians as I do Americans despite the population of the United⁶ States being ten times larger than that of Canada's. I meet a lot of New Zealander's, whereas their population is comparatively tiny, but they can come from any place. I've met backpackers from all kinds of different walks of life, different age groups, different nationalities, but you do find that the majority of them are young people. Perhaps they're taking a year off before or after college. Maybe they just want to see a little bit of the world before they know they're going to be rooted in one place because perhaps from their field of study they think that their future is going to be more or less planned out and they want to get a bit of travel in before they embark⁷ on their career.

 

Jeff: So you have a wheely case, and you're not really a backpacker so is it OK if I call you a wheely-packer?

 

Jonathan: I suppose you could call me that, but I'm not sure whether other people would know that term, and if you don't mind, I'm not going to refer to myself as a wheely-packer.

 

Jeff: OK. Good luck on your next trip.

 

Jonathan: Thank you.

1 category   

n.种类；类别；范畴

参考例句：

• These questions may be included in the same category.这些问题可以归入一类。
• Class the books in this category.按目录把书分类。

2 perception   

n.感知，感觉，觉察(力)；认识，观念，看法

参考例句：

• What's your perception of the matter?你对此事有什么看法？
• He was a man of keen perception.他是一个感觉敏锐的人。

3 traveller   

n.旅馆；旅游者

参考例句：

• Almost every traveller carried about a camera.几乎每个旅行者都带着相机。
• It is nothing but a traveller's tale.这只不过是海外奇谈。

4 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。

5 nationalities   

n.国籍( nationality的名词复数 )；民族群体

参考例句：

• The minority nationalities account for six per cent of the population. 少数民族占人口的百分之六。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock. 中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

7 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。