来自中国的雇员Dana跟同事Charlie聊天儿，说自己要去美国朋友家过圣诞节。
Dana: Hey Charlie, you're from Boston right?
C: Yeah, I'm from Newton. It's a suburb of Boston.
D: I'm going to be visiting your hometown for Christmas.
C: Really? Boston is beautiful at Christmas time. Maybe you'll get to experience a real white Christmas! Are you going there for business?
D: Actually, I was invited by an old friend of mine. He was an exchange student in Beijing in the 1980s. We've known each other for over 20 years now.
Dana要到Charlie的hometown家乡，Boston去过圣诞节。波士顿是美国东北部的大城市，冬天经常下大雪，所以Charlie说，Maybe you'll get to experience a real white Christmas. 没准你能体验一下真正的白色圣诞节呢！ Dana说，自己不是去波士顿出差，not for business, 而是去看一个认识很久的老朋友。
C: I see. So you're going to hang out with your friend for the holidays?
D: Yes, but I'm a little nervous.
C: Why would you be nervous?
D: Because I'm going to be staying with his family. I've never experienced an American Christmas. What if I say or do the wrong thing?
C: Oh...there's nothing to worry about. Christmas is a time of goodwill. People are supposed to forget about any differences and be nice to each other. Usually every one is in a really good mood.
跟老朋友hang out一块儿过节，为什么还会紧张呢？原来，Dana担心自己不了解过圣诞节的风俗，会说错话，或是做错事。
Charlie安慰她说，没什么可担心的，因为Christmas is a time of goodwill. 圣诞节是展现友好的时候。大家一般心情都很愉快、平和。Everyone is usually in a really good mood.
D: So give me a basic rundown. What are the Christmas traditions?
C: Each family is different, but basically you just go with the flow. If your friend's family is religious they might go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
D: I've never attended a church service before...that sounds interesting.
C: The singing and music can be quite beautiful, but many American families just hang around at home on Christmas - talking, watching TV, eating food and opening presents.
Dana让Charlie给她简单讲讲美国人过圣诞节都有哪些传统，a basic rundown of the Christmas traditions. Rundown 每个家庭都不一样，教徒一般圣诞前夜或是圣诞节早上会去教堂，但是很多美国家庭就待在家里，聊天、看电视、吃东西、拆礼物。他建议Dana, Basically you just go with the flow. 客随主便就对了。美国人过圣诞，还有哪些传统呢？我们下星期继续听。 |