Another bus story
By Nicco



Wherever one is on this planet, if one wishes to study human behavior then cities are the best place, in particular around airports and railway stations. If one had a camera, which could tell a thousand words, there would be no need to tell this little story as Xiamen is no different from other places.

It happened about a month ago outside McDonald's in front of the Railway Station.

Waiting at the Xiamen Railway Station for friends in the early morning, one watches the world go by! In front of me a group of ten people with plenty of baggage and large backpacks arrived-obviously waiting for a bus! A few minutes later, others arrived and a heated argument started over reservations. Then things calmed. A few minutes later a small 24 seat bus arrived to pick up this group.

The crowd climbed aboard, taking naturally the first five rows with their mountain of baggage occupying all the forward space, between the seats as well. Problem! The driver had gone off to have a drink or something. The vehicle had no luggage storage area. However the bus would not leave until it is full. Then other passengers arrived. That's when the problems started. The new passengers could not get to the back seats of the bus because of the mountain of baggage which was blocking the aisle. Arguing and physical gests proved nothing in trying to solve the problem. The driver seemed in no way willing to resolve the problem.

More passengers arrived and it appeared that there were more than 24 people trying for the available seats. A bright idea! Climb through the open windows at the back to get a seat first with the baggage. Within a few minutes people were climbing through the back windows on a first come first serve basis! Others in the station looked at this spectacle.

A few minutes later, the driver arrived, completely ignorant to what he had missed. Whether the passengers had tickets or not one does not know, but at least eight people were left standing as the fully charged bus headed off into the distance!

 

 

请多给我一点时间
By Suky

这个星期忙着做自己的事情,一直没有时间继续Cool English,直到最后被编辑催得满头大汗.其实磨磨蹭蹭并非Suky本意,分秒必争说起来容易,做起来难哪!神,请多给我一点时间吧!

1. Anyway, you got to do your research every single day.
无论如何, 你每一天都必须要作研究.
大家都知道每天就是 everyday 吧!但是我想一定有很多人不知道老美很喜欢用 every single day 来强调不但是"每天",而且是"每一天", 大家听得出语气上的差别吗?像我就是every single week要做一个专栏.不论 every single day 或是 every single week 都是一种强调用法,加强语气.

2. You can take your time though.
但是你可以慢慢做.
例如我们的校车每次停下来,车门一打开, 司机就会说, "Take your time."他的意思就是叫我们慢慢来,不用太匆忙.Suky多希望有一天,编辑大人会对我说这句话啊.

3. Now, we are out of time.
现在, 我们时间不够了.
最常听老美说的就是 out of time, 如开会 时间快到了,主席就会说, "We are running out of time. (我们时间快用完了.)" 至于时间超过的话,则是用 "We are over time."

4. Give me ten more minutes.
再给我十分钟.
老美会这么说, "Give me another ten minutes" 或是 "Give me ten more minutes." 这个more常常会出现在一个数字的后面,指再多一点.如还需要五块钱就是 five more bucks, 再来一次就是 one more time.

5. I don't want to be the last-minute person next time.
我下次不要再临时抱佛脚了.
Last-minute person 专指那种任何事情都要拖到最后一分钟才做的人.当然, 根据每个人拖的程度,也有人被形容为 last-second person,或是 last-hour person.这些都是用来形容那些喜欢临时抱佛脚的人.不过或许这就是人的天性 , 像我就是不折不扣的 last-minute person.

 

 

Ask the Chef!
By Chef

Chef's Profile: This chef is not just any chef, not only does he know everything there is to know about cooking, but also he is an absolute guru in Engish writing. Therefore, if you ever feel hungry or stuck in your English writing, you should go ask the Chef!

Last week's assignment:
One of you colleagues has quit the job and please write him/her a farewell email to wish him/her all the best.

Wendy wrote:
Dear Tom,
I am sorry to hear that you (1)has quit your job. (2)After all, we have good cooperation during these years. (3)We undertake tasks together, we are rewarded prize together, we are golden partner. And you are not only a partner, you are my dear teacher, too. I am appreciated your unselfish help. I couldn't help being (4)depressed when I heard the news that you had left our company. (5)What's your plan in the future? And if you need any help, please let me know.Good-bye and good luck, my dear friend. I am sure you should find a new job soon and achieve success in a new field.
Yours sincerely,Wendy(6)

Chef commented:
(1) You后面当然应该是have, 在写作的时候这些细节一定要记住.
(2) After all是用来转折的,而经过我仔细的分析,发现这两个句子应该是因果关系, 所以最好用"as".
(3) 这几句话最好用过去式,另外第二句中的"reward"多用做名词,而作动词时,它更有酬谢的意思.所以在这最好用"be awarded".
(4)"depressed"是"沮丧,抑郁"的意思,甚至可以算作心理疾病,所以它用在这里可能有点过头.
(5)接下来的几句话有些次序不清,看一下我帮你改的,会不会更通顺一些?
(6)这封信总体写得不错,如果我是Tom的话,收到这封信后肯定会马上请您吃顿饭,一起回忆一下一起工作过的美好时光.

Chef revised:
Dear Tom,
I am sorry to hear that you have quit your job, as we have had such a good time working together over the past few years. We have been great partners through all of those assignments undertaken and goals we achieved together. Not only are you a good partner of mine, but you are also my teacher through all of the unselfish help you have offered in the past. What are your plans for the future? I am sure you will find a new job soon and achieve great success in whichever field you choose. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever the future holds for you.
And please remember that if you ever need any help, I am just an email or phone call away.
Yours sincerely,
Wendy

This week's assignment:
You have just gotten back from a business trip on market research. Please write a short email to your boss to report that your trip was a success.

编者按:
近来同学们的来信水平越来越高,错误也越来越少,令chef我老人家感到无比欣慰,希望大家继续努力学习,和Common Talk一起进步!另外,在将您的作业发送到thecommonchef@yahoo.com的同时,别忘了附上您的中文名字,以便向您送出电影票.

 

 

Classic English

There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are simple things, and because it takes a man's life to know them, the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave. - Ernest Hemingway

 

 

决定一生命运的心态



或许你太过羡慕别人反倒轻视了自己,或许你过分为难自己而关闭了心灵的那扇窗,于 是,欣赏自己对你来说难如上青天;或许你遭遇过失败,经历过痛苦,于是,你的世界一片阴霾,轻灵的心态无法再一如既往地悠然;或许工作、生活、情感赋予你太多的压力和困惑,于是,你沉溺于颓废之中无法自拔......总之,审视自己:快乐成了罪过,追求成了没落,欲望成了枷锁,幸福成了施舍.时光交错中,高品质的生活就像沙漠中的绿洲虚无缥缈.
推荐你看这本书,里面荟萃了数则生动有趣而极富哲理的故事,并从中提炼出体贴的妙方,帮你驱走烦恼,解除忧虑.有了健康快乐的心境,还担心漫漫人生路苦海无边?!幸福的微波,荡漾在一念间.市内新华书店为你解忧.