關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀
關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀
美國是一個(gè)旅行的民族,其民族意識中的旅行情結(jié)賦予美國文學(xué)一種旅行的敘事本體。下面是學(xué)習(xí)啦小編帶來的關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀,歡迎閱讀!
關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀篇一
在倫敦旅行時(shí) 去哪里跑步和健身
Taking one’s fitness regimen on the road is a must for many travelers, and London, with its parks and attractions, certainly seems just the place to take off on a five- or 10-mile run while enjoying views of, say, the Houses of Parliament or St. Paul’s Cathedral.
許多人在旅行期間仍不忘健身,而在擁有眾多公園和景點(diǎn)的倫敦,似乎更應(yīng)該跑上五英里或十英里,同時(shí)欣賞沿途的風(fēng)景,比如威斯敏斯特宮或圣保羅大教堂。
That’s the beauty of running for fitness, isn’t it? Anywhere, anytime. In London, though, it turns out it’s not quite that easy.
這就是跑步健身的妙處,不是嗎?隨時(shí)隨地都可以進(jìn)行。不過在倫敦,跑步實(shí)際上沒那么容易。
Imagine Times Square on a weekend night with its milling throngs. Now transport all those people to London’s narrow sidewalks (some only four feet wide), and try running through that.
想象一下周末的夜晚,紐約時(shí)報(bào)廣場上如織的人群?,F(xiàn)在把這些人全部放在倫敦狹窄的人行道(有些只有四英尺寬)上,然后在人群中跑步。
And the pedestrians have nothing on the overall traffic pattern: terrifying double-decker buses, which, at 36-plus feet long, 8-plus feet wide and 14-plus feet tall, have no margin of error; streams of bicyclists; intense and unfamiliar left-hand traffic; short blocks and long lights.
比行人更麻煩的,是整體的交通狀況:可怕的雙層巴士——長度超過36英尺,寬度超過8英尺,高度逾14英尺,路線不容更改;川流不息的自行車流;讓人很不習(xí)慣的靠左行駛的密集車輛;短短的街區(qū)和漫長的紅綠燈。
Forget focusing on your cadence and stride length. The focus needs to be on survival, with the help of what became my mantra on a recent trip: Look to the right, look to the right, look to the right.
別指望能關(guān)注跑步的節(jié)奏和步伐。你需要注意安全。一個(gè)頗有助益的口訣是:向右看,向右看,向右看。這已經(jīng)成了我最近的旅行中的咒語。
Here are a few tips for running, and some suggestions for indoor exercise options if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
以下是幾條跑步建議,如果天公不作美的話,我這里還推薦了幾家室內(nèi)健身場所。
Scenic Jogging: Where and When
在景區(qū)跑步:如何選擇時(shí)間和地點(diǎn)
One of the most scenic runs is along the Thames, especially along the South Bank. But you’ll have to be an early riser, said Alex Butler, a Washington, D.C., marathoner who travels to London frequently.
一處風(fēng)景絕佳的跑步地點(diǎn)是沿著泰晤士河,尤其是沿著南岸。但你必須早起,經(jīng)常來倫敦的華盛頓馬拉松運(yùn)動(dòng)員亞歷克斯·巴特勒(Alex Butler)說。
“When I run along the Thames, I try to be back by 8 a.m.,” said Mr. Butler, adding that many of the runners he sees in the South Bank at that hour are locals who commute by jogging, carrying backpacks with office gear and clothing. “It’s important to be out early before the tourists arrive,” he said.
“我沿著泰晤士河跑步的時(shí)候,都盡量在早上8點(diǎn)前返回,”巴特勒說。他還表示,那個(gè)時(shí)間段他在南岸看到的跑步者,很多是用慢跑代替通勤的當(dāng)?shù)厝?,在背包里裝著辦公用品和衣服。“一定要在游客到來之前早早出門,”他說。
Indeed, the South Bank and Southwark are home to many a tourist attraction — the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe. Queen’s Walk (the uninterrupted-by-traffic-lights promenade right next to the river and Mr. Butler’s preferred running path) offers some of the most majestic views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben to the west as well as the Tower of London and Tower Bridge to the east. So get there early.
的確,南岸和薩瑟克匯聚了諸多景點(diǎn)——倫敦眼、泰特現(xiàn)代藝術(shù)館,還有莎士比亞環(huán)球劇院。在皇后步道(泰晤士河畔的步行街,沒有交通信號燈打斷,是巴特勒十分喜歡的跑步路線),可以欣賞到一些非常壯麗的景觀,如西側(cè)的威斯敏斯特宮和大本鐘,以及東側(cè)的倫敦塔和塔橋。所以一定要早到。
If early morning doesn’t work for you, parks are your best bet just about anytime (but some parks close in the evening).
如果你不能早起,那么公園將是你最好的選擇,在任何時(shí)間都可以去(不過有些公園晚上閉園)。
I was staying in the King’s Cross area, so I had to figure out how to get to Regent’s Park, the closest park of decent size. As it turns out, one way there offers a nice run itself. The Regent’s Canal towpath is traffic-free (except for bikes), almost 10 miles long and an excellent way to experience London off the beaten tourist path.
我當(dāng)時(shí)住在國王十字區(qū)。我必須搞清楚如何抵達(dá)攝政公園,因?yàn)槟鞘请x我最近的大公園。實(shí)際上,去攝政公園的路上就很適合跑步。攝政運(yùn)河的纖道上沒有車輛(除了自行車),差不多10英里長,是在傳統(tǒng)旅游線路之外感受倫敦的絕佳路徑。
There is a “but.” It’s not always easy to follow the path, which in one spot (Islington) disappears into a tunnel requiring the out-of-town runner to navigate the streets until the path picks up a mile down the road. Of course, I got lost.
但有一個(gè)問題。要保持在這條路上不太容易。因?yàn)槁窌谝粋€(gè)地點(diǎn)(伊斯靈頓)消失,由隧道取代,外地的跑步者必須穿越另外幾條街道,直到一英里之后這條路重新出現(xiàn)。當(dāng)然,我迷路了。
It turned out, though, that getting lost was a happy mistake, as I found the excellent Yogahaven (more on that later) and the highly informative London Canal Museum. Did you know that in 1890s London, there were 300,000 horses, some of which helped deliver giant blocks of ice for refrigeration and ice cream -making?
但實(shí)際上,這次迷路成了一次愉快的犯錯(cuò)經(jīng)歷,因?yàn)槲野l(fā)現(xiàn)了Yogahaven(下文將詳細(xì)介紹),以及讓人大開眼界的倫敦運(yùn)河博物館。你知道嗎,在1890年代的倫敦,曾有30萬匹馬負(fù)責(zé)運(yùn)輸制冷和制作冰激凌所需的巨大冰塊。
Regent’s Park, which is full of jog-friendly paths surrounded by greenery and gardens, has a perimeter just short of three miles. The surface is asphalt. If you want to add a little more distance and steep elevation, continue into Primrose Hill Park to the north of Regent’s Park. In fact, Primrose Hill at 250-plus feet above sea level offers a panoramic view of London, and a plaque with a lovely William Blake quote: “I have conversed with the spiritual Sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill.”
攝政公園里到處都是適宜跑步的小路,它們被青蔥的草木和園林所環(huán)繞,周長接近三英里。路面鋪的是天然瀝青。如果你想要增加一點(diǎn)距離和坡度,那就接著跑到攝政公園北邊的櫻草花山公園。實(shí)際上,在海拔250多英尺的櫻草花山上可以飽覽倫敦全景,公園的一塊牌匾上寫著威廉·布萊克(William Blake)的美麗詩句,“我曾與太陽之神交談。我看見他在櫻草花山上。”
Another good place to run: expansive Hyde Park, which is adjacent to Kensington Gardens to the west, and Green Park and St. James to the east. You’re certain to encounter a fair number of tourists given the park’s proximity to Buckingham Palace. Still, it’s big enough to avoid zigzag running and “sorrys,” and you can string together more than seven miles without repeating stretches.
另一個(gè)跑步的好去處:寬敞開闊的海德公園,這里西鄰肯辛頓公園,東臨綠園和圣詹姆斯公園。由于離白金漢宮很近,你肯定會遇到相當(dāng)多游客。不過,海德公園仍然足夠大,不至于總是拐來拐去或撞到別人,可以不重復(fù)地跑出超過七英里的路線。
Rainy Weather Options
雨天的選擇
If the weather is poor, there are many ace indoor options, such asYogahaven (yogahaven.co.uk) in Islington, where drop-in classes cost 16, or .30 at class="main">
關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀
如果天氣不佳,還有許多一流的室內(nèi)健身場所可供選擇,比如伊斯靈頓的Yogahaven(yogahaven.co.uk),在這里臨時(shí)上一節(jié)課的費(fèi)用是16英鎊,即23.30美元左右。我當(dāng)時(shí)趕上了一節(jié)很棒的高溫瑜珈課,教練是亞當(dāng)·胡斯勒(Adam Husler),他在倫敦的很多地點(diǎn)授課。
“Four out of five people who live or work in central London have probably taken a yoga class of some form,” Mr. Husler said. In addition to Yogahaven, he points to Indaba (indabayoga.com; 12 to 16 per drop-in class) and triyoga (triyoga.co.uk; four London locations offer several dozen classes daily of Pilates and yoga; 16 per drop-in class) as being among the biggest studios in the city and the ones most likely to have international guest teachers.
“在倫敦中心生活或工作的人,有80%的人參加了某種瑜伽課,”胡斯勒說。除了Yogahaven,他還提到了Indaba(indabayoga.com;單節(jié)課的價(jià)格是12英鎊到16英鎊)和triyoga(triyoga.co.uk;在倫敦的四個(gè)地點(diǎn)開課,每天提供數(shù)十節(jié)普拉提和瑜伽課程;臨時(shí)上一節(jié)課的價(jià)格是16英鎊),說它們屬于倫敦規(guī)模較大的瑜伽工作室,最有可能請到外國客座教練。
At Indaba — a four-floor studio in Marylebone that offers at least a dozen classes a day of different styles and levels — I attended a 90-minute Yogasana — Experienced class at 10:30 a.m. on a Thursday. It was packed with at least 50 mostly 20-something dancer-types who made difficult arm-balancing positions look as accessible as a child’s pose. One of the most memorable parts of the experience was when the wiry, dreadlocked instructor, Stewart Gilchrist, played the Clash’s “London Calling” right before closing meditation.
Indaba是位于馬里波恩的一間瑜伽工作室,總共四層,每天至少提供12節(jié)不同類型和難度的瑜伽課。一個(gè)星期四的上午10點(diǎn)30分,我參加了一節(jié)90分鐘的Yogasana高級班課程。教室里有至少50位20多歲的學(xué)員,他們頗有舞者風(fēng)范,把難度極大的手臂平衡姿勢做得似乎易如反掌。這次體驗(yàn)的最難忘部分是,精瘦結(jié)實(shí)、梳著長發(fā)綹的教練斯圖爾特·吉爾克里斯特(Stewart Gilchrist),在冥想結(jié)束前播放了沖撞樂隊(duì)(Clash)的“倫敦呼喚”(London Calling)。
If spin classes are your exercise of choice, the big dogs in town are Psycle and Boom Cycle — with two center-city locations each. I tried a 45-minute Boom Cycle class (boomcycle.co.uk; drop-in 16 per ride). With its emphasis on music and choreography over effort and athleticism, the bubbly instructor felt more like a cheerleader than a coach. Nevertheless, the dark, sweaty room was packed and the minutes flew by.
如果你的運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目是動(dòng)感單車,可以考慮去Psycle或是Boom Cycle,它們在市中心都各開了兩家店。我在Boom Cycle(boomcycle.co.uk;臨時(shí)上一節(jié)課的價(jià)格是16英鎊)上了一節(jié)45分鐘的動(dòng)感單車課。這里更重視音樂和編舞,而不是力量和耐力,熱情奔放的教練感覺更像是拉拉隊(duì)長,而不是教練。燈光昏暗、熱火朝天的健身教室里人滿為患,時(shí)間過得飛快。
Its competitor, Psycle (psyclelondon.com; 20 per drop-in class), features 45- to 90-minute sessions, and is also known for its music-driven classes.
另一家是Psycle(psyclelondon.com,臨時(shí)上一節(jié)課的價(jià)格是20英鎊),有45分鐘和90分鐘兩種課時(shí)可供選擇,也是以音樂主導(dǎo)的課程著稱。
Or you can just forget about the yoga and cycling and take an early morning run — rain or no rain — along the misty Thames.
或者,干脆忘掉瑜伽和單車,去晨跑吧,無論下不下雨,就沿著薄霧籠罩的泰晤士河。
關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀篇二
夏季出國旅行需注意
Cholera in the Dominican Republic. Dengue fever in the Caribbean. Measles in Ukraine.
Lee Tamplin圣布拉斯島海灘多米尼加共和國的霍亂,加勒比海的登革熱,烏克蘭的麻疹。
With summer travel season here, so are new warnings about health hazards in many exoticdestinations. Granted, I'm probably more paranoid than the average middle-aged traveler,having been a bone-marrow transplant patient with a weakened immune system. And my ideaof adventure travel is anywhere without a Four Seasons hotel. But in developing countries-andeven in many developed ones-many travelers over 50 face special concerns, especially if theyhave chronic health conditions or take medications such as steroids that suppress theimmune system.
隨著夏季旅游旺季的到來,也出現(xiàn)了許多新的有關(guān)國外目的地的健康危險(xiǎn)警示。的確,作為一個(gè)做過骨髓移植、免疫系統(tǒng)減弱了的人,我可能比一般的中年旅行者更多疑。而且我所認(rèn)為的冒險(xiǎn)旅行是去一個(gè)沒有四季酒店(Four Seasons)的地方。但在發(fā)展中國家,甚至在很多發(fā)達(dá)國家,許多50歲以上的旅行者的確面臨著特殊的問題,尤其是如果他們有慢性病或服用類固醇等抑制免疫系統(tǒng)的藥物,問題就更大了。
"We see a lot of people who, after retirement, want to take the trek of a lifetime in Nepal, but itisn't the same as going to Kansas City, and a lot of them don't realize this," says PhyllisKozarsky, an infectious-disease expert at Emory University and travel health consultant for theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, both in Atlanta. Many popular areas lack basicmedical care, let alone easy access to a local drugstore.
埃默里大學(xué)(Emory University)傳染病研究專家、美國疾病控制和預(yù)防中心(Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention)旅行健康顧問科扎斯基(Phyllis Kozarsky)說,我們看到很多人在退休后想去尼泊爾徒步,但這跟去堪薩斯城可不一樣,而他們很多人都意識不到這一點(diǎn)。埃默里大學(xué)和疾控中心均位于亞特蘭大。很多熱門地區(qū)都缺乏基本的醫(yī)療保健設(shè)施,更別說方便地在當(dāng)?shù)厮幍曩I到藥了。
See Your Doctor
看醫(yī)生
Four to six weeks before foreign travel, it's wise to visit a doctor for recommended vaccines andcautionary medications such as malaria pills and a prescription antibiotic in the event of a badstomach bug. But it is also important to pack mosquito repellent and other precautions foroutdoor activities in areas where malaria, yellow fever and other insect-borne diseasesabound─and to stock up on other important items.
出國旅行前四到六周去看醫(yī)生是明智的做法,詢問醫(yī)生應(yīng)接種哪些疫苗,以及應(yīng)該準(zhǔn)備哪些預(yù)防藥物,比如瘧疾丸和用于治療嚴(yán)重胃病的處方抗生素。但要是在瘧疾、黃熱病及其他昆蟲傳播疾病多發(fā)地進(jìn)行戶外活動(dòng),攜帶驅(qū)蚊劑及采取其他預(yù)防措施也同樣重要,還應(yīng)儲備其他重要物品。
"I walk through the aisles of my local pharmacy and carry the things I'd like to have with me inthe event of a minor illness," such as pain relievers and anti-diarrhea medication, says Dr.Kozarsky.
科扎斯基博士說,我會去自己本地的藥店轉(zhuǎn)一轉(zhuǎn),拿些防治小病的藥物,比如止痛藥和抗腹瀉藥物。
The CDC travel health website has a regularly updated list of health risks and vaccinationrecommendations and requirements for specific countries. Some clinics use a softwareprogram, Travax, which tracks disease risk data. Paul McKinney, developer of the program andmedical director of the travel clinic at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, says it also helpsidentify vaccine requirements for travelers who may be going from one foreign country toanother. For example, travelers going to India from the U.S. don't require a yellow-fevervaccination, but if they are first visiting countries where yellow fever is endemic, India mayrequire them to be vaccinated.
疾控中心旅行健康網(wǎng)站列出了具體國家的健康風(fēng)險(xiǎn)和建議接種的疫苗及要求清單,并且會定期更新。有些診所會用Travax軟件程序,它能夠跟蹤疾病風(fēng)險(xiǎn)數(shù)據(jù)。該軟件的開發(fā)者、肯塔基州路易斯維爾大學(xué)(Universityof Louisville in Kentucky)旅行診所主任醫(yī)師麥金尼(Paul McKinney)說,該軟件還能幫助確認(rèn)在國外不同國家間旅行者的疫苗要求。例如從美國到印度的旅行者不需要接種黃熱病疫苗,但如果他們要先去黃熱病多發(fā)的國家,印度可能會要求他們接種疫苗。
Vaccine Risk
疫苗風(fēng)險(xiǎn)
Live vaccines such as the one for yellow fever can be risky for those over 60 or 65, Dr.McKinney warns, because of a higher likelihood of side effects. Patients taking steroids, whichlower resistance to viral infection of any kind, are also less likely to have a good response toa vaccine.
麥金尼博士警告說,黃熱病疫苗等活疫苗對60或65歲以上的人會有危險(xiǎn),因?yàn)楫a(chǎn)生副作用的可能性較大。服用類固醇的病人也可能對疫苗的反應(yīng)不佳,因?yàn)轭惞檀紩档腿梭w對各種形式病毒感染的抵抗力。
It's also important to be up-to-date on routine vaccinations such as flu and tetanus beforeleaving the U.S. A shingles vaccine for those over 65 can reduce the chance of being struckwith a painful and debilitating case of the virus, which is related to childhood chickenpox.Measles are also a growing concern in Europe, Dr. Kozarsky says. If you're unsure whether youhad measles or a childhood vaccination for it, a blood test can determine if there areantibodies to the disease.
還有很重要的一點(diǎn)是,在離開美國前應(yīng)接種最新的流感和破傷風(fēng)等常規(guī)疫苗。65歲以上者接種帶狀皰疹疫苗能減少嚴(yán)重感染這種病毒的幾率,這種病毒與兒時(shí)的水痘有關(guān)。科扎斯基博士說,麻疹在歐洲也日益受到關(guān)注。如果你不確定自己是否得過麻疹或小時(shí)候接種過疫苗,那么血液化驗(yàn)可以判定你是否有麻疹抗體。
Travelers also need to be careful about organisms that can penetrate the skin while swimming,or bacteria found in drinking water-as well as raw foods such as salad and fresh fruit.
旅行者還需要小心在游泳時(shí)能穿透皮膚的有機(jī)生物或飲用水中以及沙拉和新鮮水果等生食中發(fā)現(xiàn)的細(xì)菌。
In Case of Emergency…
萬一遇到緊急情況……
For the worst-case scenario, it is also a good idea to consider an emergency medicalevacuation program. Before a trip to Russia last year, Marvin Freedman, a retired JusticeDepartment investigator and avid world traveler, bought a membership from MedjetAssist, onthe recommendations of some fellow travelers. He admits he was skeptical it could deliver aspromised: evacuation to the hospital of his choosing for the 0 plan.
如果遇到最壞的情況,最好是考慮緊急醫(yī)療后送方案。去年前往俄國之前,熱衷世界旅行的美國司法部退休調(diào)查員弗里德曼(Marvin Freedman)在一些同行者的建議下,購買了MedjetAssist的會員計(jì)劃。他選擇的是價(jià)格260美元的計(jì)劃,保證能在發(fā)生情況時(shí)將他護(hù)送到醫(yī)院。他承認(rèn)起初自己對其是否能實(shí)現(xiàn)承諾有所懷疑。
While poking around historic towns in the Golden Ring area outside Moscow, Mr. Freedmanpicked up a bug that worsened by the time he got to St. Petersburg. Admitted to a hospitalthere, he was pumped full of antibiotics by doctors who diagnosed a bacterial infection. Buthe wasn't getting better. After a few days he placed a call to MedjetAssist, where he wasconnected to doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center who determined he neededto be brought home.
在游覽莫斯科郊外金環(huán)地區(qū)(Golden Ring)的古鎮(zhèn)時(shí),弗里德曼感染了一種疾病,在他到圣彼得堡時(shí)病情開始惡化。他住進(jìn)了當(dāng)?shù)氐囊凰t(yī)院,醫(yī)生診斷他是細(xì)菌感染,給他注射了抗生素。但他并沒有好轉(zhuǎn)。幾天后,他打電話給MedjetAssist,聯(lián)系上了匹茲堡大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)中心(University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)的醫(yī)生,他們認(rèn)為他需要被送回美國。
The next morning, a Lear Jet with a flight doctor and a nurse arrived to take him on the firstleg of a long journey back to Wisconsin. Doctors there determined it was in fact a viralinfection-which doesn't respond to antibiotics-and discontinued the drugs. After making afull recovery, Mr. Freedman says he is undaunted from globe-trotting and already has ajourney to India in the planning stages.
第二天一早,一位航空醫(yī)生和護(hù)士乘坐一架Lear噴氣式飛機(jī)抵達(dá),帶他回到了威斯康星州。那里的醫(yī)生認(rèn)為這實(shí)際上是一種病毒感染,因此不會對抗生素產(chǎn)生反應(yīng),醫(yī)生停用了之前的藥物。完全恢復(fù)后,弗里德曼說自己對環(huán)球旅行的熱情并沒有受到打擊,現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)開始籌備印度之行了。
關(guān)于旅行的英語文章閱讀篇三
"間隔年":一場探索自我的旅行
With a bachelor's degree in actuarial science, Anxin's life could have followed a predicable coursesince graduation last year: Secure a post in a bank or an insurance company, deal with figuresand charts and earn a handsome salary.
去年畢業(yè)并取得精算學(xué)學(xué)士學(xué)位后,安芯(化名)本可過上按部就班的生活:在一家銀行或保險(xiǎn)公司中找份工作,整日與數(shù)字、圖表打交道,拿一份不錯(cuò)的薪水。
Or, in common with one-third of her classmates, she could have continued her studies in theUnited States or Britain in the hope of securing a good job and a high salary.
或者,就像班上三分之一的同學(xué)那樣,她可以選擇到美國或英國繼續(xù)求學(xué)深造,以便日后畢業(yè)能夠找份高薪的好差事。
However, while most of her schoolmates have become regular 9-to-5ers or are studying formaster's degrees, the 23-year-old chose a path much less traveled and volunteered to workoverseas.
然而,當(dāng)大部分同學(xué)或成為普通“朝九晚五族”,或開始讀研時(shí),23歲的安芯卻選擇了一條少有人走的道路,她選擇到國外去做志愿者。
In Kolkata, India, she cared for seriously ill men at Kalighat, a hospice for the sick, destitute andthe dying established by Mother Teresa. At the Father Ray Foundation in Pattaya, Thailand,she taught English to poverty-stricken kids and worked with autistic children.
在印度加爾各答,安芯來到特蕾莎修女為疾病纏身、窮困潦倒和病危之人所創(chuàng)辦的收容所“靜心之家”(Kalighat),在那里照顧重病患者。她還在泰國芭堤雅的雷神父基金會教授貧困兒童英語,并參與自閉癥兒童的治療工作。
What initially led to her yearlong journey was "gap year", a term she learned from a Germanfriend in 2010 during an exchange program at San Diego State University in the US. Thepractice, which is thought to have originated in the UK in the 1960s, involves students primarily,traveling, engaging in volunteer work overseas or undertaking a working holiday abroad.
正是“間隔年”令她開始了長達(dá)一年的旅行。2010年時(shí),她在參加美國圣迭戈州立大學(xué)的一個(gè)交換項(xiàng)目時(shí),從一位德國朋友那里聽說了這個(gè)詞。人們認(rèn)為“間隔年”這一做法起源于20世紀(jì)60年代的英國,本來是指一些學(xué)生前往海外旅行、參加志愿者工作或是選擇邊打工邊度假。
"I found it very interesting. I though 'a lot of Europeans are doing it, so why shouldn't I?'" saidAnxin.
“我發(fā)現(xiàn)這很有意思。很多歐洲人都在這么做,為何不試試呢?”安芯說。
Well-established in the West, the idea of the sabbatical was introduced to China just a fewyears ago. However, it has become increasingly popular among young people as they try tolearn more about the world in general and themselves in particular after 16 years of exam-oriented education, before they enter a fast-changing society with an increasing emphasis onspeed.
在西方已被廣泛接受的“間隔年”休假理念直到幾年前才傳入中國。盡管如此,在年輕人中,這一做法越來越流行。這些年輕人在接受了16年的應(yīng)試教育之后,努力想對整個(gè)世界、尤其是對自身有一個(gè)更深入的了解,然后再踏入這個(gè)瞬息萬變的快節(jié)奏社會。
Anxin, who hails from the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, said she chose theactuarial science course because her father studied mathematics. Although she showed talent,she wasn't really interested in the subject. "I didn't want to do something I have no passionfor. I felt confused and lost. I wanted to learn more about myself on the road," she saidrecently, when sharing her experiences with around 150 students in Beijing.
來自重慶的安芯說,她之所以選擇精算學(xué)專業(yè),是因?yàn)樗赣H曾研究過數(shù)學(xué)。雖然她在這方面很有天賦,但她對精算并不是很感冒。“我不想做一些自己毫無激情的事情。我感到困惑和迷惘。我想在旅行的路上多了解自己一些,”近日她與150名來北京的學(xué)生分享個(gè)人經(jīng)歷時(shí)這樣說。
However, she admitted that it wasn't easy to get the idea across to her parents: "My fatherasked, 'Are you crazy? It's not easy to find a good job today, yet you are going to be avolunteer overseas?'"
但她也承認(rèn)讓父母理解這一想法并不容易:“我爸爸問:‘你瘋了嗎?如今找個(gè)好工作多不容易,你卻想出國去做志愿者?’”
"And when I told him that Pattaya was one of my destinations, he asked, 'Isn't that placefamous for its sex industry?'"
“而當(dāng)我告訴他我要去芭堤雅時(shí),他問道:‘那個(gè)地方的色情業(yè)不是很出名嗎?’”
However, the determined senior reassured and persuaded her family by outlining a soundplan. She also translated the introductions of all the NGOs she was going to work for so theycould read about the organizations for themselves.
盡管如此,那時(shí)還在上大四的安芯早已下定決心,為家人列出一份萬無一失的計(jì)劃,打消了他們的顧慮,最終說服了他們。她還翻譯了一些她要參加的非政府組織的介紹,以便家人能夠親自了解這些組織的狀況。
Not just about fun
間隔年不僅為了玩樂
In the West, the term "gap year" usually refers to a period before college or immediatelyafterwards, but the current definition in China is slightly different. A lot of people didn't knowabout gap years during their school days or were not financially able, have chosen to make upfor the missed lesson after working for a few years.
在西方,“間隔年”通常指升入大學(xué)之前或大學(xué)畢業(yè)后緊接著的一段時(shí)間,而這個(gè)詞在中國的現(xiàn)階段定義略有不同。大多數(shù)人在上學(xué)時(shí)并不知道“間隔年”,或者沒有經(jīng)濟(jì)能力去付諸行動(dòng)。因此他們選擇在工作幾年后再補(bǔ)上這一課。
Badao is one of those who undertook a delayed gap year. After working as a film productioncoordinator for three years, she traveled to New Zealand at the end of 2010 on a workingholiday visa.
巴道便是這些選擇遲到的“間隔年”中的一位。在做了三年的電影制片協(xié)調(diào)員之后,她于2010年年底拿到打工度假簽證,前往新西蘭旅行。
New Zealand has become a popular destination for Chinese gappers, because it is the onlycountry that offers a working visa for residents of the Chinese mainland. "The scenery in NewZealand was really amazing, but the trip wasn't just about sightseeing. You have to work reallyhard and it can be really demanding," said the 28-year-old.
新西蘭已經(jīng)成為最受中國“間隔客”歡迎的國家,因?yàn)樾挛魈m是唯一一個(gè)向中國大陸居民簽發(fā)工作簽證的國家。“新西蘭景色迷人,但這次旅行并不僅僅是一次觀光之旅。你必須非常努力工作,有時(shí)真的很吃力。”28歲的巴道這樣說。
She was employed in factories that processed strawberries, apples and kiwis, working up to 14hours a day to earn enough money to support her on her later travels. "But I found I was quitecool with it. After a year of working, travelling and thinking, I realized that our real needs arevery simple. Success is not about making money and achieving a high position; but whether youcan do what you want and live a healthy life."
她在一家加工草莓、蘋果和奇異果的工廠里工作,為了賺夠錢去支撐接下來的旅程,她每天要工作14小時(shí)。“但我發(fā)現(xiàn)我完全能應(yīng)付自如。經(jīng)過一年的工作、旅行以及思考之后,我意識到我們真正需求的非常簡單。成功與賺錢和地位高低無關(guān),而在于你是否可以做自己想做的,并選擇一種健康的生活。”
"Be the change"
你可以改變
Gap years and working holidays are still relatively new concepts in China, so a lot of people tendto romanticize them before setting out.
在中國,間隔年和打工度假仍是相對新穎的理念,因此很多人在出發(fā)前容易將其理想化。
"For me, a gap year need not necessarily be a whole year; it could be just a few months or afew years. It's not a luxury trip or an escape from the real world. It's more like an expeditionin which you learn about yourself," said Mao Hexin, a co-founder of Freegapper.com, China'sfirst website to focus on gap years.
“對我而言,間隔年不一定非要是一整年時(shí)間,它可以是幾個(gè)月或是幾年。這不是一次奢華之旅,也不是逃避現(xiàn)實(shí)。它更像是一次自我發(fā)現(xiàn)之旅。”國內(nèi)首家“間隔年”網(wǎng)站Freegapper.com的創(chuàng)建者之一,毛和新(音譯)這樣。
"You shouldn't expect a different world when you come back. Instead, you should 'be thechange.'"
“你不應(yīng)期望結(jié)束間隔年后,自己會看到一個(gè)全新的世界。相反,變化的應(yīng)該是你自己。”
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