英语访谈对话 378 Dorm Life

 　　Todd: Miki, when you were in college where did you live?

　　Miki: My first year I lived in the dormitory that was quite close to the campus. It was about a five minute walks so it was very convenient but I'm not sure that that many people actually enjoyed living in the dormitory because there were so many of us packed into such a small space that one did not get a sense of privacy¹ at all. I shared a room with two other girls and 24 hours a day there was always someone near you, next door, down the hall if not in your own room, and a very small space. In Japan perhaps this wouldn't have been such a large problem because the sense of personal space and privacy perhaps isn't as strong growing up, but really in the United States if you grow up with you own room, it you grow up with your own sense of self and if, you know, you have personal space that you define² just instinctively³ which, you know, maybe three feet in front of you, a meter, or if you have your own personal room itself, it's very difficult to move from that sort of sense of individuality and personal private space, to move into the dorms, and to have to share, all of that, and then always have a smile on your face, if you don't want to be considered a bitch.

　　Todd: Yeah, so what about food? What did you eat for food? Did you have a kitchen? Did you cook?

　　Miki: In the dormitories, no! We had a dining hall. I don't quite remember what it was called, but it was a common area where everyone went downstairs at the same time. It was only open, three hours in the morning, 3 hours in the evening, and we all shared our time together, kind of like a family, I suppose, and we must have eaten just normal American food. I don't remember.

　　Todd: Yeah! Yeah! How about your laundry? How would you wash your clothes?

　　Miki: That I forget! I think we had laundry machines every other floor in the dorm building. But I actually don't remember. Sorry!

　　Todd: And what would students do for fun? for socializing?

　　Miki: Oh, I think the bigger question is whether students did anything besides socialize, you know, right, I mean, if you're a freshman⁴ the chances of you actually doing work are actually quite small, especially in that sort of a social setting where,Todd: Even at Beckley?

　　Miki: Oh, are you kidding me? Yes! Berkley is highly competitive⁵ but it's also highly, it's a highly social atmosphere, especially in the dorms, well, and then once you move into a communal⁶ area, if you're there with your friend, then I don't think a whole lot of studying goes on.

　　Todd: Wow! That's funny! Oh, thanks!

　　Miki: Surely!

1 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。

2 define   

vt.解释，下定义，阐述，限定，规定

参考例句：

• Please define the words.请解释这些字的意义。
• It's hard to define exactly what has changed.很难解释清楚到底发生了什么变化。

3 instinctively   

adv.本能地

参考例句：

• As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 freshman   

n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女)

参考例句：

• Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college.杰克决定大一时住校。
• He is a freshman in the show business.他在演艺界是一名新手。

5 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

6 communal   

adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的

参考例句：

• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.在楼梯平台上有一处公共卫生间供4套公寓使用。
• The toilets and other communal facilities were in a shocking state.厕所及其他公共设施的状况极其糟糕。