South African in London

BBC Learning¹ EnglishLondon LifeSouth African in London
Jackie:  Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton. You're listeningto BBC Learning English dot com.
　　Today: what's it like to be a foreigner living in London?
　　Clips² LindsayJackie:  We're going to talk to Lindsay, from SouthAfrica.
　　Lindsay introduces herselfJackie:  There's a big South African community inLondon, with people who've livedhere for years and years and others who've just come to geta taste of London Life. Lindsay grew up in South Africa,but she has a UK passport because her father is British,that's part of the reason she came here. What are the otherreasons why she decided³ to come and live in London for awhile?
　　LindsayIt's my heritage⁴, even though I've grown up in South Africamy dad has always instilled⁵ the British pride in us and Ijust felt there was so much culture and so much history.
　　I've always been interested in the King and Queens. I stillfind it amazing that Big Ben goes off every 15 minutes. Mydad used to phone me in South Africa and he used to play itfor me over the phone - it's almost like we're still livingin the 1800s. The history really captivates me.
　　Jackie:  Did you catch the other reasons? Lindsaysaid her father had 'instilled her with British pride',which means taught her to feel pleased or proud that shehas a connection to Britain. She also said she wasattracted by the culture and history,especially Big Ben – the famous giant clock by the riverThames. Lindsay said London's history captivated her. Ifsomething captivates you, you are really interested in it.
　　Voice:  That book was really captivating – I couldn't stopreading it!
　　BBC Learning English dot comJackie:  So, apart from all the excitement of thehistory and culture, what is it really like coming to livehere for the first time? Two expressions we're about tohear:
　　'Novelty⁶' and 'to be homesick'.
　　Novelty – something that's interesting because it's new.
　　Voice:  My son loved his new toy at first, but after awhile the novelty wore off and he got bored of it.
　　Jackie:  To be homesick – to miss your own home orcountry and wish you were there. Voice:  I hatebeing away from my family. It makes me feel reallyhomesick.
　　Jackie:  Now let's listen to Lindsay talking abouthow it felt for her when she arrived inLondon.
　　LindsayI think it's a process which I'm seeing a lot of SouthAfricans go through. I think when you move here first it'sa novelty, it's exciting, everyone is interested in why youare here and you're meeting so many new people. And thenyou go through- after three months you go through ahomesick period where you feel everybody you meet is new soI just got tired ofmeeting people that had only known me for like two months,I kind of missed the people that really knew me.
　　Jackie:  So at first everything was exciting, butafter a while, the novelty wore off and she began to feelhomesick. How does she cope⁷ with homesickness and othernegative feelings?
　　LindsaySo you go through a homesick period, but I think for meI've always remembered that this is something that I'vealways wanted to do and I know there are 1000s of peopleback in South Africa that would kill for this opportunity.
　　So [I] keep my head up and remember the positives.
　　Jackie:  Did you get the answer? Lindsay copes⁸ withhomesickness by remembering that she is very lucky to behere because lots of other people in South Africa wouldlove to be able to come to London, but can't. She used theexpression 'to kill for'. If you say you would kill forsomething, it means you really want it.
　　Voice:  I would kill for that dress, but it's just tooexpensive.
　　Jackie:  Lindsay says she 'keeps her head up', whichmeans to try to stay strong and confident in a difficultsituation.
　　Voice:  I know you hate your new job, but keep your head upand do the best you can.
　　Jackie:  The next expression Lindsay will use whichwe're going to looks at is 'open- minded', which means tonot have a fixed⁹ opinion or idea about something.
　　Voice:  I know you think you'll hate everyone at thisparty, but you should keep an open mind. Not all herfriends are horrible and you might meet some people youreally like.
　　Jackie:  So, finally, back to Lindsay. What's heradvice to people from different countries coming to live inBritain for the first time?
　　LindsayI would say to be open-minded and to try and experience asmuch of the culture as possible. If they just open theireyes and their minds to what these people have gone throughand how they live and how they've been brought up I thinkit gives you a deeper understanding of who you are. Livethe English way for a while!
　　Jackie:  Good advice for anyone going to any foreigncountry – keep an open mind, and try to live how theylive!

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 clips   

n.剪（ clip的名词复数 ）；剪短；剪报；（塑料或金属的） 夹子v.用别针别在某物上，用夹子夹在某物上（ clip的第三人称单数 ）；剪掉；缩短；给…剪毛（或发）

参考例句：

• toe clips on a bicycle 自行车上的踏脚夹套
• Use the crocodile clips to attach the cables to the battery. 用鳄鱼嘴夹把电缆接到蓄电池上。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

5 instilled   

v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Nature has instilled in our minds an insatiable desire to see truth. 自然给我们心灵注入了永无休止的发现真理的欲望。 来自辞典例句
• I instilled the need for kindness into my children. 我不断向孩子们灌输仁慈的必要。 来自辞典例句

6 novelty   

n.新奇事物，新奇（感），新颖廉价的物品

参考例句：

• My mother bought a novelty pen for me.我妈给我买了一支新颖的笔。
• At first I enjoyed all the parties,but the novelty soon wore off.起初我喜欢参加一切聚会，但这种新奇感很快就消失了。

7 cope   

v.(with)竞争，对抗；对付，妥善处理

参考例句：

• He had a lot of work,but he was able to cope.他的活虽多，但还能应付得来。
• They have to cope with a mountain of problems.他们得应付成堆的问题。

8 copes   

成功地应付，对付( cope的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job. 既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。
• Integrated temperature sensor copes with the non-linear defect of conventional sensors. 集成温度传感器可以解决传统温度传感器的非线性问题。

9 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。