商务礼节美语第152期:下岗,解雇 laid off(下)

　　Paul和Sara夫妇俩人跟老朋友Jesse和Miika 一起吃饭，Jesse刚失业，打算回去完成硕士学位。
P: But that's gonna take you at least two years to finish!
J: Actually, I can do it in 10 months by online correspondence¹ course.
M: You know...distance learning. It used to be sort of dodgy, but in the last couple of years even the big-name schools are getting in on the act.
Jesse说，通过网上教学，online correspondence course十个月就能拿到硕士文凭。Miika说，远程教学原来好象不可靠dodgy，但是最近几年，Even the big-name schools are getting in on the act. 就连很多名牌大学都加入了进来。 Big-name schools名牌学校。get in on the act. 加入进来。
S: Yeah. I've done some research into online distance learning myself. I'm thinking I should get a nursing degree. All the career-guidance web sites say nursing is a field that's definitely growing. They say millions more qualified² nurses are going to be needed over the next 20 years.
Sara说，她正在考虑去学护理，因为nursing is a field that's definitely growing. 护理绝对是一个正在成长的领域。今后二十年需要数百万合格的护理人员。
P: But just getting by on Miika's income isn't going to be enough, no?
J: No, you're right. I'm going to bite the bullet and take a part-time job with Miika's dad. In tough times, pride is not a virtue³.
S: Especially when you have a family to feed. Paul and I worry everyday that his firm might get into trouble.
光靠Miika一个人的收入肯定不够。To get by是勉强过日子的意思。Jesse准备bite the bullet忍辱负重，去给老丈人打工，因为in tough times, pride is not a virtue. 困难时期，骄傲可不是什么优点。
S: Well, I'm not worried about you. I think you both have exactly the right attitude and have made exactly the right plans to make it through these troubles.
J: Yeah! I'm pretty optimistic about things.
P: What's that saying? Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger?
M: That's the one!
S: Let's do this again next month
J: It's a date!
分手前，Sara说Jesse和Miika一定能渡过难关，make it through these troubles. Paul补充说，What's that saying? 那句话是怎么说的来着？Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger杀你不死者会让你变得更强壮，类似中文里说的，大难不死必有后福。Sara建议下个月再聚。Jesse说It's a date. 一言为定。

1 correspondence   

n.信件，通信（联系）符合，一致，相似

参考例句：

• He showed me all the correspondence relating to the matter.他把与这件事有关的全部信件都给我看了。
• What she has just said isn't in correspondence with the views of the majority.她刚才所说的同大多数人所持的观点不一致。

2 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。

3 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。