【英语时差8,16】适应新生活遇到困难

Dear Annie:

When my husband retired¹ from the military, he was offered a great job in another state.

The problem is this city. It is unfriendly, crime-ridden and filled with alcoholics² and people who dump trash everywhere. I am also sick of the weather. It is either hot and dry or hotter and drier.

After four years, I have made no friends. I find myself crying more often than not. I find myself being overly critical of things that used to just roll off me. I need friends－women to shop with, lunch with and do all those other girl things.

My husband told me of other wives who hated this place at first, but after 10 years of antidepressants ended up loving it. But I don't want to take drugs for 10 years.

My husband doesn't want to move because he likes his job. Divorce is not an option. Any suggestions? － Not the Land of Enchantment³

Dear Not:

No one should need drugs in order to adapt to a new home. Invite some of your husband's co-workers and their spouses⁴ for dinner. Start a book club. Host a holiday party for the neighbors. Developing friendships takes time and effort. If you are stuck in this city, please don't give up trying to make connections.

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 Alcoholics   

n.嗜酒者，酒鬼( alcoholic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many alcoholics go on drinking sprees that continue for days at a time. 许多酒鬼一次要狂饮好几天。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Do you have a copy of the Alcoholics Anonymous book? 你手上有戒酒匿名会的书吗？ 来自互联网

3 enchantment   

n.迷惑，妖术，魅力

参考例句：

• The beauty of the scene filled us with enchantment.风景的秀丽令我们陶醉。
• The countryside lay as under some dread enchantment.乡村好像躺在某种可怖的魔法之下。

4 spouses   

n.配偶，夫或妻( spouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Jobs are available for spouses on campus and in the community. 校园里和社区里有配偶可做的工作。 来自辞典例句
• An astonishing number of spouses-most particularly in the upper-income brackets-have no close notion of their husbands'paychecks. 相当大一部分妇女——特别在高收入阶层——并不很了解他们丈夫的薪金。 来自辞典例句