美国国家公共电台 NPR How A Half-Hour In A U.S. Embassy Changed A Life

 

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

There are times when we can connect surprisingly deeply with someone and then never see them again, a missed connection. A while ago, we asked you to tell us your missed connection stories and let us help you find that person. Christopher Francis emailed us about someone he met 45 years ago. Their encounter only lasted about a half an hour, but it changed the course of Christopher's life. That's because he grew up Tamil, a persecuted¹ ethnic² minority in Sri Lanka. In the 1970s, tensions between the Tamils and the majority Sinhalese government turned deadly.

CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS: It's very tough times we went through. Almost everyone got burnt and killed. They escaped and ran.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Christopher survived those dark days, but he knew he had to leave his homeland. His dream was to make it to the United States, which, as a child, he'd read about in the local library.

FRANCIS: I looked at the pictures or read about it and everything - well, just fascination³ about America. That's number one. Number two, I knew that - I can't remember where - in America, sky's the limit. And you are welcome, and you are given every opportunity.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Through a chance meeting, Cristopher ended up with a job prospect⁴ in Virginia. But there was one big hurdle⁵, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was known in his community for denying visa applicants⁶. Everything hinged on Christopher's meeting with the vice⁷ consul⁸, a man named David Harr (ph).

FRANCIS: I prayed before I went to see him. It was a 2 o'clock appointment. When I went there into the embassy, I was the only person there seeking visa. I knew before I went there, it was impossible to get a visa simply because you have to be professionally qualified⁹. I did not. I just had a high school degree. You have to be politically connected to get things done, and I did not. I was a minority person. Number three, wealthy person can always buy influence and get things done. And I came from a very poor, poor family. So he looked through. He asked me a couple of basic questions. And then I knew - I was getting a feeling that I'm not going to be approved for a visa. Then he asked me about my family. So I felt that he became very sympathetic towards me, and I felt that because I'm a Tamil.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's OK. Take your time.

FRANCIS: So I felt that he was able to understand me. He helped me to give me the visa. I strongly feel that.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Why did you write to us to have us find him?

FRANCIS: The more I reflect on my life here and all the blessings¹⁰ and everything - what I have been given, the American dream, and also the fact that I see folks who are trying to come to this country, and it's difficult for them. Initially¹¹, I did not have time. Or I was focused on my career and all those things. But now I feel that I have to find him so I can personally express my gratitude¹². Thank you for that.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: When you say that you got the American dream, you moved to this country, and what do you do now?

FRANCIS: Yeah, I became a nurse. And also, I climbed the ladder. And when I got my first promotion¹³ - when I called my mother, she cried. She said, in your own country, they did not give you any opportunity to do anything because you were an ethnic minority. Here, you come to this country. You had a green card, not even a citizen. But you're a department head. You have 35, 40 Americans working under you. It's a - what a beautiful country.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Well, we did a public record search, and we contacted the State Department. And I want you to know that we found David, and he's on the line right now. And he's been listening to you tell your story. He is joining us from his home in Naperville, Ill. David, are you there?

DAVID HARR: Yes, I'm here. And I must say, I'm just so overwhelmed and impressed. Clearly, during that interview, although he might have been kind of startled by some of the tough questions we all have to ask in those interviews, what must have appeared before me in both documentation and the person was somebody who really had a lot of talent, a lot of promise. And with the documents and the presentation he must have made, it would have been a real pleasure to have issued him the visa. And I very glad it worked out for him. And then, it sounds like he's said a very interesting and worthwhile life since he came to the States.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Christopher, what do you want to tell David?

FRANCIS: Oh, I'm kind of speechless. Here, I've been trying to contact you and locate you for so many years. And I tell all my family members that I still have my passport right here with you. (Crying).

HARR: Well, as a visa issuing consul, you know, it's - one of our joys is to see people to whom we issue visas come and really make good and have - immigration in any sense is a real life-changing experience. And sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't. And in this case it's been very gratifying to hear that story.

FRANCIS: I was so petrified¹⁴ to walk into your office. And you were so - such a pleasant - you were so bubbly. You welcomed me, shook hands with me. You were so kind. I was so happy. When I went back and told family, no one would believe that I got the visa. So I'm really grateful, sir.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Obviously, as you mentioned being a consular¹⁵ officer, you have these opportunities. Is this the first time someone's reached out to thank you?

HARR: This is the first time somebody has reached out like this. And I'm very grateful for this - and I do say very grateful - to hear his story and grateful for his success.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Christopher, any last words?

FRANCIS: Well, it is still like a dream to me after all these years. I would pinch myself. I'm a very blessed person. Thank you, Mr. Harr.

HARR: Thank you for sharing. And thank you for remembering me.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: That was David C. Harr, retired¹⁶ vice consul now living in Illinois, and Christopher Francis in Virginia. Thank you both.

FRANCIS: Thank you.

HARR: Thank you very much.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Christopher and David are now making plans to see each other in person. We are looking for more interesting stories, so if you want help with your missed connection, email us a voice memo¹⁷ with your story. The address is [email protected].

1 persecuted   

（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人

参考例句：

• Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。
• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

4 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

5 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

6 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 consul   

n.领事；执政官

参考例句：

• A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。
• He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。

9 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

10 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

12 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

13 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

14 petrified   

adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• I'm petrified of snakes. 我特别怕蛇。
• The poor child was petrified with fear. 这可怜的孩子被吓呆了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 consular   

a.领事的

参考例句：

• He has rounded out twenty years in the consular service. 他在领事馆工作已整整20年了。
• Consular invoices are declarations made at the consulate of the importing country. 领事发票是进口国领事馆签发的一种申报书。

16 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

17 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？