Can't wait to return - This Week

Culture Clash (文化冲突)

An eye-opener
By Aggie
Picture by Zhu Lijun
Have you been hit by culture shock? I have.

My first encounter with culture shock took place when I dined out with some foreign and Chinese friends on a winter evening.

Our foreign friends said they would like to give us a treat right before the meal. We had a good time, eating and chatting happily. At the end of the dinner, they divided the payment equally and paid for each` s share. None of them found it embarrassing to reckon accounts clear with friends, especially in the face of them. On the contrary, it was just because they were friends, they should make clear their relationship and money. However, I was a bit ill at ease at that very moment.

Then on our way to the bus stop, a middle-aged woman beggar approached us for money. Most of us turned a blind eye to her presence. Tim, one of American boys, went to the nearby McDonald’s and bought a hamburger. We were puzzled at his deed, thinking that he might not have eaten enough. Unexpectedly, he went back to find the beggar with the hot hamburger. Disappointingly, she was gone.

We asked Tim why he bothered to do so. His explanation was new and convincing. He said the woman who wandered about in such cold weather must have been in real trouble. Though our sympathy had been taken advantage of by some deceptive people, we could not give up such good nature. We could help in a more meaningful and rewarding way. If the woman was given money, she might misuse it and our good deed would be spoiled. But if she was given food, she could feed herself and our kind heart might come to a satisfactory result.

Culture shock opens up a new perspective for me to look at things. How about you?

Cool English （时尚英语）

伟大的女性—“三八”节随想
By Suky

“三八”节快到了，Suky今年也要过节啦。组织上说要下乡去，嘿嘿，难道是体验劳动妇女的日常生活？不过说起来，身为MM中的一员，还是忍不住在妇女节到来之前，自吹自擂一番。

1. Women have strengths that amaze men. They carry children， they carry hardships， they carry burdens but they hold happiness, love and joy.

女人有着令男人惊叹的力量。她们养育孩子，她们历经苦难，她们承受重担，但她们拥有幸福、爱和欢乐。

当她们想惊叫时她们微笑。当她们想痛哭时她们歌唱。幸福时她们哭泣，紧张时她们大笑。这是女人的肆意与率真，认真想想，Suky和她的朋友们好像就是这样“疯”一样的女子。
2. They fight for what they believe in. They don’t take “no” for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
她们为她们的信仰而战。当她们坚信该有更好的解决办法时，她们不会接受“不行”这样的答复。你可以说我as stubborn as a donkey，但是你不能限制我不这么活。

3. They love unconditionally. They are smart， knowing that knowledge is power. But they still know how to use their softer side to make a point.
她们无条件地爱。她们聪慧，清楚知识就是力量。但她们也知道如何利用自己温柔的一面去表明自己的观点。

4. A woman’s touch can cure any ailment. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
一个女人的抚摸能治愈任何疾病。她们知道一个拥抱一个亲吻能愈合一颗破碎的心。
所以生病了, 不要找医生啦，找个MM就好了, 省钱哦。

5. Women do more than just give birth. They bring joy and hope. They give moral support to their family and friends.
女人做的不仅仅是生儿育女。她们带来欢乐与希望。她们给家人和朋友以精神上的支持。

6. Women have a lot to say and a lot to give. And all they want back is a hug， a smile and for you to do the same to people you come in contact with.
女人有许多话要说 (不要嫌她啰嗦，需要你的倾听哦），有许多东西要给予。而她们所希望得到的回报只是一个拥抱，一个微笑，只是要你也同样对待你所接触的人。
女人有时想感动别人，可最先被感动的就是自己，呵呵，就像现在Suky这样。如果你也认为女性是这样的伟大，那么男性同胞们，在女人们的节日到来之前，给你可敬的，所爱的，可爱的女性朋友们一个拥抱，一个微笑，一份惊喜吧。

Crossword Puzzle （填字游戏）

ACROSS
2. Bring to court for money.
3. Jack Sprat ate no ___.
4. Little child.
5. I am, he is, you ___.
6. Said Simple Simon, "Have you ___ wares?"
7. The right size and shape in clothing.
8. Belonging to us.
9. A ___ of soap.
10. She.

DOWN

1. No ifs, ands, or _ _ _s.
2. Past tense of sit.
3. Enemy.
4. Make an effort.
5. Hard-working insect.
6. What you breathe.
7. Animal hair.
8. Part of a rowboat.
9. Ask.

The following people have won free tickets: 宗光,郑雪峰,魏彩虹,朱春磊,路遥,陈妍妍，董威，廖群，林丹，张景良。Please go to the Jinying Cinema (世贸金鹰影院) within two weeks.

Humorous English （幽默英语）

By Nicco
Picture by Zhu Lijun
A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?” and the father replied, “I don’t know, son. I’m still paying!!!”

Writing English （英语写作）

Advice to writers from Ernest Hemingway
来自海明威的写作建议
Edited by Jack
Question to E.H. (海明威): How does a writer train himself?

Ernest Hemingway: Watch what happens today. Imagine we are watching a fishing scene, if you get a kick out of it while the fish is jumping remember back until you see exactly what the action was that gave you the emotion. Whether it was the rising of the line out of the water and the way it tightened like a fiddle string until drops started from it, or the way he smashed and threw water when he jumped. Find what gave you the emotion; what the action was that gave you the excitement. Then write it down making it clear so the reader will see it too and have the same feeling you had.

Then get in somebody else’s head for a change. As a man things are as they should or shouldn’t be. As a man you know who is right and who is wrong. You have to make decisions and enforce them. As a writer you should not judge. You should understand.

Listen now. When people talk listen completely. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe. You should be able to go into a room and when you come out know everything you saw there. And not only that. If that room gave you any feeling you should know exactly what it was that gave you that feeling. Try that for practice. When you’re in a town stand outside the theater and see how people differ in the way they get out of taxis or motorcars. There are a thousand ways to practice. And always think of other people.

Bookshelf
新书上架

By 王鸽鹏
《24小时求职英语》
对于求职者来说，3月无疑是黄金时期。无论是高校毕业生还是“跳”一族，准备一份内容详实、语言生动而富有吸引力的求职履历是首当其冲的事。当然，面试时的考前准备和备战技巧也是轻松打胜仗的关键。如果你要应聘的是外贸公司或是外企，英语履历和英语面试常识自然就是打开企业大门的金钥匙。

那纸薄薄的英语求职信和个人履历表让你犯难了吧，那场前途和光明未卜的英语面试让你忐忑不安了吧，还有那些学位、职业、学科等专业术语让你头疼了吧。别急，到市内新华书店找到这本《24小时求职英语》，先学“自传信函”，再背“语句集锦”，最后一关“实况演练”。都掌握了吗？好，你可以胸有成竹地走进那扇虚掩的希望之门了！