VOA慢速英语2020--匈牙利一家人疫情期间在世界各地航行

Hungarian Family Sails around the World during Pandemic

A Hungarian family of four is sailing around the world on a 15-meter boat called "Teatime."

In late June 2020, they left a port in Croatia and started sailing around Italy and Spain. They next stopped on the island of Cape¹ Verde before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

The family spent the Christmas holiday in the French territory of Martinique. They were recently in Marigot, on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. They expect to sail towards the Panama Canal next.

The family is not trying to reach their goal quickly.

Life on the boat is slower. It is similar for people quarantined at home because of the worldwide coronavirus health emergency.

Domonkos Bosze is the 48-year-old father. He works² in the Information Technology business and made a home office on his boat. Now, his family is always close by.

"For me it is a fantastic experience that I can spend a lot more time with my kids, instead of getting home late from work totally exhausted³," said Domonkos.

The family chooses where they will sail next based on the weather and seasons. Domonkos and his wife Anna have sailed for more than 10 years. They planned the trip long before the COVID-19 crisis⁴ began.

The family had their worries about starting a risky⁵ trip during a global health emergency. The situation made it difficult to decide if it was the right time to go. But in the end, their determination pushed them to sail around the world.

Sailing the sea on the boat ‘Teatime'

At the beginning of the trip, living on a small boat with four people was difficult. With time, they learned⁶ how to live together. The boat is named "Teatime," after the family's habit of sitting down to drink tea and talk together.

The biggest problem they had was during a six-hour storm crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They lost a toaster and a satellite phone.

They follow the changes in coronavirus rules in each country and take a test or go into quarantine when required.

"When we arrived in Martinique...we told authorities⁷ that we just spent 16 days on the open seas and they accepted that as quarantine," Domonkos said.

They have enough food for a month. The six- and eight-year old daughters love watching their parents catch fish, such as tuna or mahi mahi.

The two girls do remote learning⁸ and plan to study in local schools if possible, to learn in different cultures. Anna said the trip gave her freedom, although she cooks regularly and helps with the sails if needed.

"We saw dolphins jumping at the bow of the boat and swimming with us, with the sea totally calm," she said.

Depending on COVID-19 restrictions⁹, the family plans to sail this year or the next towards the Pacific Ocean. They say their trip could last up to six years more. That is because they might stop for longer periods of time in the southern Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Words in This Story

quarantined –adj. a period of time during which a person who might have a disease¹⁰ is kept ways from others to prevent spreading that disease

fantastic –adj. extremely good

exhausted – v. to use all of someone's mental or physical energy

determination –n. a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult

toaster – n. an electrical device¹¹ used for heating¹² up bread

authorities – n. people who have the power to make decisions and enforce¹³ rules and laws

remote – n. far away

bow – n. the front part of a boat

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

4 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

5 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

6 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

7 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

9 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

10 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

11 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

12 heating   

n.加热，供暖，暖气装置；adj.加热的，供暖的

参考例句：

• They will install a heating and lighting system in our house.他们将在我们家装上供热供电系统。
• If the pressure is too low,the heating system will act up.如果压力太低，供暖系统就会出毛病。

13 enforce   

vt.实施，执行；强制，强迫；加强，坚持

参考例句：

• You have no right to enforce your own views on me.你无权把你自己的观点强加给我。
• They tried to enforce agreement with their plans.他们企图迫使人们同意他们的计划。