欢乐美语:New Orleans: A Mix of Cultures 文化熔炉

　　INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., We’re down south in New Orleans, Louisiana, America’s colorful Port city, at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Richard wants to photograph some typical New Orleans scenes. Andreas wants to hear some typical New Orleans music. Both of them want to find a cheap restaurant. Maybe along the Mississippi River they’ll find all these things and a surprise opportunity.
ACT I
Richard: This, Andreas, is the real New Orleans, the Mississippi River: three hundred years of cotton, sugar, and jazz. You can almost taste the history.
Andreas: I can almost taste the seafood²! Boy, I’m hungry! There’s a restaurant over there. It doesn’t look too expensive.
Richard: The sign says, “Marie’s Cajun Cooking.” Come on. Let’s try it. What does” Cajun” mean?
Richard: The Cajuns are people. They came from Canada many years ago. Some of them still speak a mixture of French and English. And Cajun food is delicious.
[They enter the restaurant.]
Andreas: Shall we sit by the window?
Richard: Let’s do that. We can catch the breeze³.
Waitress: Evening! What can I get you fellas?
Richard: We want some typical New Orleans food. What do you recommend?
Waitress: Oh, the usual. Jambalaya. Gumbo.
An: Jambalaya. I’ve heard of that. Is it good?
Ri: If you like rice mixed with seafood and spices, you’ll love jambalaya.
Andreas: Sounds like Greek food. I think I’ll try it.
Richard: I think I’ll have the gumbo soup, please.
Waitress: You got it. What would you like to drink?
Richard: I’ll have iced tea. Andreas?
Andreas: Me, too.
Waitress: Okey dokey. I’ll be back.
Andreas: [to Richard] “Okey dokey”?
Richard: She means “OK,” “all right.”
Andreas: If you say so. Hey, Richard. What’s that music on the radio?
Richard: That’s Dixieland jazz music.
Andreas: It’s good. I love the rhythm⁴.
Richard: Jazz music. New Orleans is famous for it. Hey, take a look at that old fishing boat. And the sunset behind it. I’ve got to take a picture. [He takes some photographs.]
Waitress: [She returns.] Here we go. Two iced teas.
Richard: Thanks.
Waitress: You all from around here?
Richard: No. I’m from New York. Andreas here is from Greece.
Waitress: So what brings you to New Orleans?
Richard: Andreas is touring the States, and I’m looking for things to photograph here.
Waitress: What kind of things?
Richard: All kinds of things. The pictures are for a book about America. Have any ideas?
Waitress: Hmm. Yes. I do.
Richard: Tell me.
Waitress: My brother has a fishing boat. It’s over there. It’s called the Mississippi Princess. You come down early in the morning and tell him you know me. I’m sure h won’t mind. He’ll probably let you go out with him.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Richard and Andreas are guests on the fishing boat Mississippi Princess. They’re in the Gulf⁵ of Mexico, off New Orleans, Louisiana, with Captain Blanchet, a Shrimp⁶ fisherman. He’s fishing for shrimp. Richard’s taking pictures. And Andreas is asking a lot of questions.
ACT II
Blanchet: [singing to himself] Jambalaya, and a crawfish pie, and a file gumbo.
Andreas: jambalaya? Last night, I ate that for dinner at your sister’s restaurant.
Blanchet: I’ll say this for Marie. She’s a real Cajun cook. She takes after our mama.
Richard: Captain Blanchet, Andreas and I want to thank you for letting us join you on your fishing boat today.
Blanchet: My pleasure, Richard. Any friend of my sister’s is a friend of mine. Now you two stand back while we put out these nets.
Andreas: Yes, sir.
Blanchet: I don’t want anybody to get hurt.
Richard: We’ll be careful. I’d like to take some pictures. Would you mind?
Blanchet: Not at all. Just don’t get in the way.
[Richard begins to take photographs.]
Blanchet: [shouting] Billy, tie that rope Jean, slow the engine and head into the waves.
Richard: Now, there’s a picture of a real sea captain.
Blanchet: [He laughs.] It ought to be. I am a real sea captain. That should do it. If the shrimp are out there, we’ll get them.
Andreas: How many pounds of shrimp can you catch on a good day?
Blanchet: On a good day, I might catch a lot, but the market might be low.
Andreas: Can’t you wait for the price to go up?
Blanchet: I can, but the shrimp can’t. They will spoil⁷.
Andreas: Hey, what’s that big bird out there? It dived into the water.
Blanchet: That’s a pelican⁸. It’s diving after fish. It’s probably looking for my shrimp!
Andreas: Boy, being a fisherman isn’t easy!
Blanchet: But it’s a good life. I love being on the sea early in the morning. I love smelling the salt air. I’m not the type to work in an office all day. [He continues to work and sing.] Jambalaya, and a crawfish pie, and a file gumbo, ‘cause tonight I’m…
Andreas: That’s a nice song. What are the words?
Blanchet: [singing.] Jambalaya, and a crawfish pie, and a file gumbo. [talking] Those are all seafood dishes. [singing] ‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cherie mio. [translating] I’m going to see my sweetheart. [talking] You see, singing makes the work easy.
Andreas: In Greece, the fishermen sing, too.
Blanchet: Greece! Are you from there?
Andreas: Yes, I am.
Blanchet: Well, how’s the fishing?
Andreas: Oh, it’s good. Why? Are you looking for a new place to work?
Blanchet: Oh, no. I’m looking for a place to go on vacation. Of course, even on vacation, I love to fish.
[They all laugh.]

1 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 seafood   

n.海产食品，海味，海鲜

参考例句：

• There's an excellent seafood restaurant near here.离这儿不远有家非常不错的海鲜馆。
• Shrimps are a popular type of seafood.小虾是比较普遍的一种海味。

3 breeze   

n.微风；轻而易举的事；vi.来去匆匆，急速走

参考例句：

• A little breeze is blowing in from the window.微风从窗户里吹进来。
• The clouds are pale and a light breeze is blowing.云淡风轻。

4 rhythm   

n.韵律；节奏

参考例句：

• He has an ear for the rhythm of Irish speech.他对爱尔兰语的节奏很敏感。
• His poem has a pleasing rhythm.他的诗有和谐的韵律。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 shrimp   

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

• When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
• When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。

7 spoil   

n.战利品，赃物，奖品，掠夺，次品；vt.损坏，破坏，溺爱；vi.腐坏，掠夺

参考例句：

• Don't bunch the flowers up so tightly,you'll spoil them.别把花束得这么紧，会弄坏的。
• Overacting will only spoil the effect.表演过火，效果反而不好。

8 pelican   

n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟

参考例句：

• The pelican has a very useful beak.鹈鹕有一张非常有用的嘴。
• This pelican is expected to fully recover.这只鹈鹕不久就能痊愈。