商务礼节美语第174期:Christmas in America美国圣诞节(上)

　　来自中国的雇员Dana跟同事Charlie聊天儿，说自己要去美国朋友家过圣诞节。
Dana: Hey Charlie, you're from Boston right?
C: Yeah, I'm from Newton. It's a suburb¹ of Boston.
D: I'm going to be visiting your hometown for Christmas.
C: Really? Boston is beautiful at Christmas time. Maybe you'll get to experience a real white Christmas! Are you going there for business?
D: Actually, I was invited by an old friend of mine. He was an exchange student in Beijing in the 1980s. We've known² each other for over 20 years now.
Dana要到Charlie的hometown家乡，Boston去过圣诞节。波士顿是美国东北部的大城市，冬天经常下大雪，所以Charlie 说，Maybe you'll get to experience a real white Christmas. 没准你能体验一下真正的白色圣诞节呢！ Dana说，自己不是去波士顿出差，not for business, 而是去看一个认识很久的老朋友。
C: I see. So you're going to hang out with your friend for the holidays?
D: Yes, but I'm a little nervous.
C: Why would you be nervous?
D: Because I'm going to be staying with his family. I've never experienced³ an American Christmas. What if I say or do the wrong thing?
C: Oh...there's nothing to worry about. Christmas is a time of goodwill⁴. People are supposed to forget about any differences and be nice to each other. Usually every one is in a really good mood.
跟老朋友hang out一块儿过节，为什么还会紧张呢？原来，Dana担心自己不了解过圣诞节的风俗，会说错话，或是做错事。
Charlie安慰她说，没什么可担心的，因为Christmas is a time of goodwill. 圣诞节是展现友好的时候。大家一般心情都很愉快、平和。Everyone is usually in a really good mood.
D: So give me a basic rundown. What are the Christmas traditions?
C: Each family is different, but basically⁵ you just go with the flow. If your friend's family is religious⁶ they might go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
D: I've never attended a church service before...that sounds interesting.
C: The singing and music can be quite beautiful, but many American families just hang around at home on Christmas - talking, watching TV, eating food and opening presents.
Dana让Charlie给她简单讲讲美国人过圣诞节都有哪些传统，a basic rundown of the Christmas traditions. Rundown 每个家庭都不一样，教徒一般圣诞前夜或是圣诞节早上会去教堂，但是很多美国家庭就待在家里，聊天、看电视、吃东西、拆礼物。他建议Dana, Basically you just go with the flow. 客随主便就对了。美国人过圣诞，还有哪些传统呢？我们下星期继续听。

1 suburb   

n.郊区，郊外，近郊

参考例句：

• Toward the suburb the houses begin to thin out.靠近市郊的地方房屋渐渐稀少。
• Disneyland is in Los Angeles suburb.迪斯尼游乐场在洛杉矶的近郊。

2 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

3 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

4 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

5 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

6 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。