英闻天下——588 Doing Social Work: a Popular Lifestyle on Holiday

 　　Collecting garbage or helping¹ those less fortunate than yourself; social work like this is now a popular choice for young city dwellers² to spend their leisure time.

 

　　Gao Peng volunteers at care centers for the elderly in his spare time. He helps with washing, and chats to the old timers to make them feel less lonely.

 

　　Gao Peng says they need to be cared for just like everyone else.

 

　　"A hug or a kiss, the seniors, they hug me very hard. I can feel they're really in need of affection."

 

　　Volunteering at this care center has taken almost all of Gao Peng's spare time over the last two years. He has studied psychology³ and nursing to aid his work. But he really enjoys talking to these older people.

 

　　"I take it as a lifestyle. I don't think it consumes too much of my time. I enjoy it."

 

　　In a nation wide study by Xiao Kang Magazine and Tsinghua University, more than half of those surveyed claimed to have participated in activities combining leisure and social works. More than 90 percent of respondents said they would like to be volunteers.

 

　　However, Shu Fumin, director of Xiao Kang Magazine reminds people that such activities come with responsibilities.

 

　　"Firstly, being a volunteer social worker in your holidays is your own decision. This may be harder than you imagine. You may find yourself focusing on work instead of enjoying your free time."

 

　　Shu Fumin suggests people that want to volunteer in the community should start with simple work that don't consume too much energy or time.

 

　　"One of the most popular choices is environmental protection. There are many projects like 'Carry one more kilogram', 'Bring your garbage bag', etc. Another alternative is to help care for disadvantaged people in remote and rural areas. Of course, you can also help senior people and orphans⁴ at a care center."

 

　　Shu Fumin says it's not the amount of social work you do that counts. The important thing is balancing your own time with the amount of effort you spend volunteering. This is the key to a fulfilling holiday.

 

　　For CRI, I am Li Dong.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 dwellers   

n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

4 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。